It was our first time. The landing was a little rocky but ahead of schedule. The plane was due to head back to Dublin shortly so there was no unnecessary delay getting us off and on our way.
I think only 40 minutes elapsed from when we touched down to when we were on the road in our hired car. Since that includes the passing through Passport Control, Customs and having the obligatory cup of coffee I think that’s good going. Yes we only had cabin baggage and that makes a difference but 40 minutes from plane to car – that was a serious record breaker.
It was our first time using Ciampino and I can guarantee that it won’t be the last.
Travelling from Dublin we don’t have the luxury of a direct flight to Pescara. After trying Dublin – London – Pescara, Dublin – Frankfurt Hahn – Pescara and even Dublin – Bologna followed by a train to Pescara, we prefer Dublin – Rome and then a pullman or a hired car to our final destination.
Usually we use Fiumicino but this time based on a significant saving with Ryanair we picked Ciampino.
Here’s a tip when travelling with Ryanair – read the conditions, accept them and follow them. Make sure your bag dimensions and weight comply, and live with the fact that you’re not likely to be perfectly comfortable for the entire journey. Try to be Zen-like and keep your head while all around you…
Ciampino is a smaller and far more compact airport than Fiumicino. It doesn’t cater for the same number of flights, it doesn’t have as many weary travellers passing through and it doesn’t have the same facilities – but because of this after landing you get out quicker and that is usually the most important goal on arrival.
Let’s talk about my destination. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred I head east to Abruzzo. Because I start from Ciampino I’m already 30 minutes ahead than if I started from Fiumicino.
Add the two savings together and you are at least an hour ahead.
I admit that only having cabin baggage helps and if you had checked-in luggage and had to wait at the carousel these numbers would alter, but surely they’d be affected the same way no matter what airport you used.
I’m a convert to Ciampino and I think the only thing that would pull me back to Fiumicino would be a significant difference in flight coasts or availability.
I’ve talked about arriving, but what about departure?
Since we were likely to hit the Rome Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA) traffic around 8am to 9am on a weekday we decided to give ourselves plenty of time to get to Ciampino. Once we joined the GRA I think we only had to stay on it for 12 km. Traffic can slow up anywhere but my experience of the journey from Abruzzo to Fiumicino is that the GRA with its many entry and exit points is the main culprit. Considering you are on it for 30km going to Fiumicino and 12km to Ciampino which would you prefer?
As I wrote earlier Ciampino doesn’t have a lot of facilities. It looked to me that there was only one bar/café in the departures area (before going through security) and it was mobbed. If you have a long wait it did not seem to be a relaxing place to spend time. We went outside and sat for half an hour and then we had an inspired idea.
Your reward for reading this post almost to the end is a tip – if you have to wait a while for your flight from Ciampino walk around to the arrivals area and get your coffee there. It’s a small bar with limited options but apart from the regular wave of the newly arrived, it’s ideal.
Finally as I passed through Passport Control at the B gates I could see a monument though the lounge window. The inscription reminded me of something I had read about but had forgotten. Ciampino and Abruzzo have an important aviation connection. In October 1930, at Ciampino Nord military airport, the D’A.T. 3 helicopter, piloted by Major Marinello Nelli, designed by Corradino D’Ascanio (Popoli, Pescara February 1, 1891 — Pisa, August 6, 1981), rose 18 metres in the air, travelling a distance of over 1 km, flying for almost 9 minutes. In its day it broke three aviation records.
Retrato de Corradino d'Ascanio (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Corradino D’Ascanio went on to join Piaggio and designed the Vespa, how cool is that?!
