When to Arrive At The Airport

Old May 12th, 2016, 12:13 PM
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When to Arrive At The Airport

We have a flight out of Venice going to Athens that leaves at 10:25am on a Friday. What time would you recommend that we need to get to Marco Polo Airport by? I'd prefer not to cut it too close but I don't want to give up time in Venice just sitting at the airport!
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Old May 12th, 2016, 12:16 PM
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Your flight departs at 10:25AM. Boarding is probably 10:00AM.

What exactly would you be missing in Venice by getting to the airport at 8:00AM versus 8:30AM? Genuinely curious.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 12:24 PM
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but you could just as easily get there at 9am and have an extra hour in bed.

are you checking any luggage? if you are, I'd suggest aiming for closer to 8.30am - then you can have breakfast at the airport. Last time I was there the cafe was offering spremuta, coffee and a cornetto for €5 and it was pretty good.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 12:32 PM
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Get to the airport at 9:00 for a 10:25 flight? That's flying too close to the sun for my liking.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 12:55 PM
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My best recently (last month or so) was 45 minutes before departing time. I've done better but it was before the hassle and when I knew the airport.

Intra EEC I still consider one hour enough - esp with no checked luggage (which I never have).
But I don't take your flight.

Last we took a flight, the whole family to the Caribbeans, we arrived smack 2 hours before departure time, with luggage. We had 15 minutes to spare.

Recommendations from airlines are usualy 2 hours for EEC, 3 for overseas. Since I'm so much smarter I do 1 and 2, unless I've never been before to the airport. Until I miss my flight but it has never happened yet.

Marco Polo is small and easy to navigate.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 12:59 PM
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what are you going to do with all that time, Sparks? typically European flights allow you to check in up to 30 -40 mins before departure. OK, that is cutting it fine, but I've regularly turned up an hour or so before a flight and had no problems at all, and on my most recent flight from LGW [hardly a small airport] we did it in 40 mins from getting off the train to the gate which included 5 mins delay while the luggage belt in security broke down.

These are not transatlantic long haul flights - she's only going to Athens.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 01:06 PM
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what are you going to do with all that time, Sparks?

Unless I am staying at a hotel next to the airport, I plan to arrive two hours before take-off. I have no control over traffic or slow queues. If that means I clear security with 90 min to spare then I go to the lounge and enjoy peace, quiet, and a coffee. And perhaps some last minute shopping.

I'll sleep on the plane. It's a gift.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 01:12 PM
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I believe we all have a superpower or two. And one of mine is always being behind a couple who acts like the last time they flew was in 1998. Seriously? You are actually trying to bring on a half liter bottle of water and and you said you have no computer or tablet to pull out but oh wait, you didn't think you had to pull out your iPad? And you set off the x-ray because you forgot your pocket knife and 4.27€ in change was in your pocket. Jiminy Freakin' Christmas, someone shoot me now. This is why I drink in the lounge.

Not much of a superpower, is it?
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Old May 12th, 2016, 01:13 PM
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I get stuck behind them immigration too. I knew this line was moving too fast to be true.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 01:16 PM
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your choice, sparks.

but unnecessary in most of Europe and certainly in Venice. The ATVO bus takes 20 mins from Piazzale Roma to the airport come rain or shine; if you were VERY unlucky it might take 30 mins I suppose and if the OP takes the Alilaguna there won't be any traffic to worry about at all.

I'll sleep on the plane. It's a gift.>>

it's a two hour flight. just about time to read the inflight magazine and have a cup of coffee.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 01:25 PM
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You don't have to pull out your iPad, at least not in the US
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Old May 12th, 2016, 01:43 PM
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You don't have to pull out your iPad, at least not in the US>>

you do in the UK, not sure about Venice.

sparks - remind me never to go to an airport with you, won't you?
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Old May 12th, 2016, 10:07 PM
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annhig, going with me to the airport is worth it alone for the stories you can tell later.


You don't have to pull out your iPad, at least not in the US

When was the last time you have flown inside of Europe?
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Old May 12th, 2016, 10:22 PM
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Definitely DO pull out the Ipad.

Rule nr 1 of frequent traveler is to spot the guys who will take hours in the queue.
Like the arrogant pater familias who herds his family around waving the tickets in his hand. You can be sure he forgot one passport and keeps his belt, change etc.
Or the old lady who flew last time in 1965 when there were no controls and who is totally deaf.
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Old May 12th, 2016, 10:28 PM
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Whathello knows what's up.
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Old May 13th, 2016, 12:53 AM
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When was the last time you have flown inside of Europe?>>

about a month ago. The normal procedure at security in Europe is bags and coat in one container, shoes perhaps in another, and i-pads and laptops in another. phones can stay in bags but can otherwise go with money etc. - no need for them to be sent through separately.

Whathello - you should have been behind the pair who clearly had misread the instructions and were busy putting their shampoos etc inside their carry on luggage, not inside the clear plastic bag into which they placed their passports etc. Much hilarity ensued.
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Old May 13th, 2016, 01:39 AM
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My query was aimed towards jubilada.

My camera is 50/50 on whether or not I have to pull it out. The last two times I flew (MAN-ATH and MAN-CPH) in addition to pulling it out of my pack, security wanted me to open up both ends of all of my lenses to ensure there was no funny business in there.

German security always enjoyed having me lay out my camera separate and swapping it for explosives. I don't look THAT suspicious!
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Old May 13th, 2016, 06:12 AM
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German security always enjoyed having me lay out my camera separate and swapping it for explosives. I don't look THAT suspicious!>>

who knows why they do what they do? shoes on, shoes off, i-pads in the bag, i-pads out of the bag - I suppose that the idea of this check-in hokey cokey is so that the terrorists can't predict what is going to happen but it certainly doesn't make life easy for the law-abiding majority.
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Old May 13th, 2016, 06:50 AM
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I don't disagree.
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Old May 13th, 2016, 06:58 AM
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I had to pull out my Kindle in Dulles (DC area) and have TSA pre-check.

In Venice, 1.5 hours is the closest I'd go unless they enlarged that airport recently. If you don't have a pre-printed boarding pass, 2 hours.
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