The month of July has arrived and Italians are starting to prepare for the holidays, days that have always, in the popular imagination, been synonymous with travel, displacements and new places to visit and love.
But nowadays the word "journey" has also become synonymous with flights, trolleys, airports and, in the worst case, endless delays and waits attributable to the various companies. Phenomena that those who provide these services try to prevent in every way, trying to win the approval of travelers and above all to make the journey as fast and comfortable as possible.
Fiumicino airport seems to have managed to hit the target, as regards services such as cleanliness, courtesy of the staff and waiting times at passport control. In the first quarter of 2016, the Roman airport managed to conquer the highest approval rating among passengers for the various services provided. The Airport Council International (Aci) has certified Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), a company of the Atlantia Group that manages not only Fiumicino but also Ciampino, a score of 3,89, a result that has allowed the Italian hub to surpass in the ranking the airports of Madrid, Paris (Charles De Gaulle) and Frankfurt.
ADR has also made available some useful advice for tackling the journey and speeding up stopover operations. A sort of handbook that every traveler would do well to consult in order to learn about those little tricks that allow you to avoid hitches.
Before going to the airport or while you are already there, it is a good idea to follow some simple "rituals" that will allow each of us to speed up travel operations.
Parking
For those who decide to go to the airport with their own means, the advice is to book parking in advance. Taking Fiumicino airport as a reference, ADR offers passengers around 8.000 parking spaces for long-term parking divided between comfort and economy.
As regards the BCDE convenience car parks, which together with the T1 and T3 short-stay car parks have obtained the European Parking Standard Award (ESPA, established by the European Parking Association and assigned to car parks that meet certain stringent quality criteria) guarantee certification. over 4.000 fully covered parking spaces, with the exception of those on the top floor, located in 5 multi-storey structures located directly in front of the Terminals, to which they are connected with pedestrian accesses and covered paths equipped with treadmills.
Added to these are the Economy car parks, a little further away, but also cheaper: a further 4.000 parking spaces connected to the Terminals in about 10 minutes by a free shuttle service with an average frequency of 15 minutes.
Finally, the presence of reserved and free parking spaces for disabled people located in the BCDE comfort zones and in the economy car parks in all sectors, as well as the so-called pink car parks, located inside the two main car parks, should be highlighted. There are 80 covered and monitored courtesy parking spaces dedicated to new mothers, pregnant women and women on the go.
Hand luggage
Pay attention to the size and weight of hand luggage, one of the main reasons that often slow down travel operations. The suitcase must be no larger than 115 cm overall, while the weight limits of the baggage are dictated by the airline. It is therefore advisable to always check and avoid exceeding the permitted limit.
As far as hand luggage is concerned, ADR recommends a further precaution: insert a ticket with personal details in the suitcase in order to allow identification in the event of non-delivery by the carrier.
Travel documents and timetables
A few days before the trip it is advisable to check the expiry date of your identity document or passport. It is advisable to go to the airport well in advance, especially for intercontinental flights, for which you must present yourself at the airport at least 3 hours before departure for check-in and the relative security checks. Before going to the airport, check the Terminal from which your company departs (for Fiumicino www.adr.it).
As regards Fiumicino airport, in order to facilitate travel operations, the "Sportello al Volo" is operational in the Departures hall of Terminal 3, which ADR has conferred on the Municipality of Fiumicino and which will be dedicated to issuing of identity, for those who should realize, only at the airport, that they have passed the validity date.
Check-in
At the reception desk, present yourself with your ticket and a document (passport or identity card). Check in advance that the country of destination does not require special vaccinations or an entry visa.
Security checks
To speed up check times and avoid hitches, it is advisable to follow the video instructions on the monitors installed in the security area and, before reaching the metal detector, deposit everything that, detected by the machines, could require a more in-depth check on the metal detector. passenger and baggage. At the check-in counter, the list of objects not allowed on board and the limitation of liquids allowed in hand luggage is available.
