The Flight
Depart Charlotte Douglas International on American Airlines flight 720. Overnight transatlantic — you arrive Rome Fiumicino on October 14 at 9:50 AM local time.
Try to sleep on the plane. The more rest you get, the better your first day in Rome will feel.
Set your watch to Rome time as soon as you board — this mental shift matters. Start adjusting to local time immediately.
Hydrate aggressively. Skip the wine on the plane if you can — arriving dehydrated makes jet lag significantly worse. Bring an eye mask and earplugs. The more sleep you get, the better Day 1 goes.
Pre-Flight Checklist
Download offline Google Maps for both Rome and Florence before you leave the house. You will not regret this. Italian data roaming works but the offline maps are faster, save battery, and work in the metro and in basements.
Eye mask, earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, a travel pillow if you use one. A change of clothes if your checked bag is going through on its own. Chargers, adapter, and anything you'd miss if checked luggage was delayed for a day.
Compression socks for the long flight are not glamorous but your feet and legs will thank you on Day 1 when you're walking the Roman Forum for two hours.
- Set watches to Rome time the moment you board the plane — not when you land
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate — airplane cabins are extremely dry
- Skip the wine on the flight if you can — arriving fresh is worth it
- Download offline Google Maps for Rome and Florence before leaving home
- Arrive at CLT with extra time — international check-in lines can be long
- Eat a real meal before boarding so you're not dependent on airplane food for nutrition