INTRODUCTION
Hello dear FlightReporters,
The last months have been very busy with university. I’ve finished my last year of Architecture and hopefully I’ll graduate next December. Since I couldn’t get any vacation during my last term I decided to make something special during Summer.
Fortunately, it happened that a cousin of mine usually leaves his house in Paris to relatives and friends during summer days. Having visited Paris when I was 8 years old, I didn’t think twice to ask him. The house is in the 2e Arrondissement, in the heart of city.
I decided to stay there the first days of August, since he told me the house would have been free until the 8th of the month.
bOOKING OPTIONS
Around the 20th of May my cousin confirmed that I could get the house from 31st July to 8th August.
I checked on SkyScanner and the best solution appearead to be flying to Orly with Vueling
31st July VY6253 FCO - ORY 13:30 - 15:40
8th Aug VY6933 ORY - FCO 21:35 - 23:25
Total price: 280 euros
Bagpack and checked bag included, no cabin baggage
Unfortunately I was kinda busy that days and when I came back on Vueling website the 3rd of June the ticket had risen to 325 euros
So I started to explore other solutions with Vueling
I skipped immediately the 6:50 flight from Rome since I didn't want to ask my parents to bring me at the airport so early (moreover the flight wasn't so cheaper)
A good solution seemed this:
31st July VY6253 FCO - ORY 13:30 - 15:40
8th Aug VY6250 ORY - FCO 9:35 - 11:40
Total price: 310 euros
Bagpack and checked bag included, no cabin baggage
Even if the price was good, I wasn't really sure about leaving in the morning from Orly, considering it would have take me one hour to get there from my accomodation
Just for curiosity I took a look to Italian State-owned rail company, Trenitalia, which offers a six-hour high speed train from Milan to Paris-Gare de Lyon
Even if the price was fair (270 euros) the journey between Rome and Paris would have taken 10 hours with a change in Milan.
I got on ITA Airways website and I finally found this itinerary:
31st July AZ324 FCO - CDG 15:10 - 17:20
8th Aug AZ313 CDG - LIN 16:55 - 18:35
8th Aug AZ2075 LIN - FCO 20:00 - 21:10
Total price: 266 euros
Bagpack, cabin baggage and checked baggage included
I decided to go for this solution since the price was the cheaper, the time were fine and the stopover in Milan didn't pose an issue for me
Since I was booking in such an advance I add ITA Airways insurance, which costs 20 euros
Being under 35 I was able to use a discount from European Youth Card
This brought the flight price from 266 to 250 plus the insurance, for a total of 270 euros.
routing
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3AZ2075 - Economy - Milan → Rome - Airbus A320
TRANSFER IN LINATE
After landing from Paris we're left at the terminal minutes around 18:40
Almost one hour before the boarding time, set for 19:30
Since Linate doesn't allow direct connection for passengers disembarked with the bus I made my way out of the baggage reclaim hall
I then went upstair to access the departure lounge again
In six minutes I cleared the security checkpoint
As in FCO, Linate is equipped with new-generation X-ray machines that allows passenger to keep electronic devices in the bag and bring liquids over 100mL
Mandatory passage through the duty free
My BP printed in Paris says gate A8, but I'll check again
Apparently in the departure lounge is still (or, worse, already) Christmas…
As I'd imagined the gate was changed from A8 to A19
Gate A19 was already set for boarding
The apron was quite populated that afternoon
British Airwyas A320, Air Dolomiti E-Jet and ITA Airways A320s
ITA Airways A319s in old livery
The one in the background, EI-IMG, carried me here from Paris
Initially my today flight was scheduled to be operated by this A320, EI-IKG
easyJet A320neo pushing back
ITA Airways A320 taking off
Iberia A321 docking at the gate
Ten minutes before scheduled boarding it came our plane:
ITA Airways A320-200, EI-DSY, delivered to AirOne in December 2008 (14.7 years old), then transferred to Alitalia and kept as part of ITA's fleet
It's equipped with 171 seats in mixed C-Y configuration
The plane is dedicated to cyclist Felice Gimondi
Disembark took around 20 minutes and boarding was called immediately after
Blue door shot as usual
As on the previous flight my seat was 6F
And this meant extra-legroom
Parked next to an Air France A220
I really love Emporio Armani branded hangar
Exactly at 20:00, the scheduled departure time, doors were closed and armed
The crew reported an estimated flight time of 50 minutes and 25°C in Rome
Five minutes after we pushed back
ITA Airways A320 carrying a special livery to promote Friuli-Venezia Giulia region
We'd depart northward on runway 36
Short taxi as usual
the flight
15 minutes after scheduled we started our take-off run
Love the long shadow of our plane
Linate's apron with lake Idroscalo in the background
Banking over Segrate
Mondadori and IBM headquarters are easily recognizable
Lake Idroscalo and Linate Airport
Milano disappearing in the sunset light
Crossing Po river as we gently climbed
Approaching Tyrrean Sea coastline
Portofino, a renowed rich vacation town
La Spezia, on the southern tip of Liguria region
15 minutes into the flight a beverage-only service was done
I chose a sugar-free coke
Livorno and Pisa
Pisa Airport is very close to the city center
Three islands of Tuscan Archipelago
Pianosa, Elba and Capraia
Pianosa hosted a maximum security prison until 1997
Monte Argentario with two other islands of Tuscan Archipelago: Giannutri and Giglio
In 2012 Giglio island became worldwide known for the sank of Costa Concordia cruise ship
Half a hour into the flight descent was announced and the cabin was set for landing
Meanwhile we were approaching Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia harbour with Aida Cosma cruise ship sailing away
Ladispoli and Cerveteri, a few miles north of FCO
We'd land from north
Sun had already set, giving wonderful colours to the sky
At 20:56, fifteen minutes before planned, we smootly touched down at Rome "Leonardo Da Vinci" International Airport
The brake was extremely gentle and we used the whole runway to slow down
This implied we didn't vacate through a rapid-exit-taxiway, but using the last slow taxiway
Weird considering how long are the landing runways at FCO (3900m each)
Taxi was quite fast and in a bunch of minutes we reached pier A31-52
We parked at the beginning of the pier, next to another ITA Airways A320
First time using the whole runway to slow down
Rome has been my home for 24 years and I've flew to and from FCO dozens of time
I've saw this airport growing and getting better every time
And I cannot be more proud of this recognition
Well done Aeroporti di Roma!
Being disembarked at the beginning of the pier the way to the baggage reclaim area was quite short
Moreover pier A31-52 is the closest to the main building
I got at the baggage carousel 20 minutes after touchdown and baggages were already there
Mine came out of the belt in no time
After claiming my baggages I rejoined my family at the kiss and ride
Less than half a hour after the landing gear met the runway
Definitely a good time for such a big airport and with two luggages to reclaim
That's the end of this Parisienne vacation
Stay tuned for the next reports and wish everyone buon volo!
