4:00am water taxi to Venice airport

Hi, Giangilberto from Milan, the Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia (I’ve included the link) operates a 24-hour call center, importantly, you can book and pay online in advance and print out your confirmation, and the water taxis are connected to a central hub via GPS.
You save 5% by booking a round trip, and the price is fixed in advance so there’s no haggling at the pier at 3 a.m.
During "acqua alta" (exceptionally high tide), some bridges over secondary canals become too low to pass under, so the route might change, in thick fog, the water taxis slow down or in extreme cases suspend service.
These are rare occurrences, but December is a month when they can happen, so it’s worth knowing about them beforehand rather than finding out at 3 a.m.
Exceptionally high tide shouldn't be an issue for you, though, since you’re departing from Zattere, you’re already on the Giudecca Canal and won't need to navigate any secondary canals.
In any case, my practical advice would be to book with plenty of time to spare before your 6:30 a.m. departure and to save the consortium's number so you can call the evening before or on the night itself.

https://www.motoscafivenezia.com/en/

Thanks, Giangilberto! So, you think booking with the Consorzio is a better idea than with an individual water taxi like Venice Taxi Boat? Also, are there ever strikes? The last time we were staying in Venice, the vaporetti were briefly on strike.

So, regarding strikes, I've got to know the day you should take a taxi or a vaporetto, without the day, I can't tell you if there will be a strike or not.
However, I'll send you a link to the official website of the Italian Ministry of Transport where all the updated strikes are listed.
The calendar is constantly updated, so my advice is to check it, not every day, but frequently, because a strike that is currently reported could be reduced or revoked.
As for taxis, I've always been happy with those from the Consorzio.
You can also use those from Venezia taxi, which have more or less the same travel conditions.
I know they also offer a 5% discount, if you can round trip from the airport. They have the option of booking it online, and they should also be active 24 hours a day. I repeat, I've always traveled with the Consorzio because I've been happy with them, but I'll send you the link to those from Venezia taxi as well. If you want to tell me the day you have to leave, I'll check the strikes calendar for you. Or, in any case, you can do it yourself from the link I'll send you.

https://scioperi.mit.gov.it/mit2/public/scioperi

https://veneziataxi.it/en/

We are pretty good about checking that strike website, but thanks again! Strikes aren't listed for December yet.

I'll keep an eye on the fog situation, too. And book the water taxi well ahead of time.

I hope we can stand or sit in the outside section of the water taxi, just for fun. Even though it will be dark out.

I hope we can stand or sit in the outside section of the water taxi, just for fun. Even though it will be dark out.

and, in December, plenty cold on the water. Be prepared to wrap up well

We are ready for it! Three of our five trips to Venice have been in December.

hey hey nancys8
agree with giangilberto about motoscafivenezia.it
it was so worth it at that ungodly "dark thirty hour". saving $$ on your flights makes up for this. they met us as close to hotel or stop on canal, such a relief to be booked without waiting for one to come around. no stress
understand about saving on flights, but i always look at arrivals/departure times out of venice. night before we have picked up bread, cheese, salami or a wrap to take on flight since many places will be closed. good luck & happy travels
aloha

Another option is to take the "N" boat from Zattere at 2:44 am that gets you to Piazzale Roma at 3:09 am to get the land taxi to the airport. There is also an "N" boat at 3:44 am if you want to cut it close.

Y'all have turned a worry into an adventure!

If find a little odd that a Milanese like Giangilberto actually thinks that water taxi could ever strike. Or that the Consorzio is different from individual drivers.

The strike question came from nancys8, not from me, she asked because the vaporetti were on strike during her last visit.
And I gave her both options, Consorzio and Venezia Taxi, with links to each. My preference for the Consorzio is personal experience, nothing more.
Happy to be corrected on facts, but neither of those things is in my reply.