Advice on options for leaving Florence to return to the U.S.

Why wouldn't you fly home from Florence? Their airport is small, easy to navigate, and with connections all over Europe.

I readily agree with Kayla. When I have been in Florence, as a final stop in Europe, I have always flown from Florence. Easy flights to Frankfurt on Lufthansa, and then connecting non-stop flights to numerous US cities. While my preference is Lufthansa and United, and thus my decision to go through Germany, there are other flights to other major European airports with connections to the US. Easy and convenient. The time and expense of traveling by train or bus to a major airport seems to me, not worth the hassle or the cost. Fly out of Florence is my recommendation too.

If you have the ability to fly out of Florence I recommend that; you’ll save on the train tickets and avoid the hassle repositioning to another city. However some airlines don’t serve Florence or if they do the onward connections might not work for you.

Assuming Florence is not an option, most nonstop flights to the US depart in the morning, so it may be difficult to get to Milan or Rome from Florence for an early departure time. Consider an overnight in Rome or Milan if you have an early flight the next day.

If you’re checking bags I would suggest arriving 2 hours ahead minimum at FCO. Immigration and security wasn’t bad but there was a long line to drop bags at the counter (Aer Lingus).

FCO is roughly 2.5 hours from Florence by train, typically with a change at Termini station in Rome. I do see a direct train at 0705 arriving FCO at 0922 for a random day I picked.

MXP in Milan is roughly 3.5 hours from Florence by train also with one connection.

Going to Frankfurt seems unnecessary unless you want to visit Germany or can get a vastly better deal on the tickets.

All responses are speculation since your request is very unusual. Most people would simply fly from Florence. You need to give some explanation as why you think it is necessary to return to Rome or Milan? The Florence airport has good connections to move of Europe for a return flight to the US. Assume you are returning to Houston, best option for a one stop flight would be Lufthansa via Frankfurt.

As noted with prior posts, no doubt flying out of Florence would be "easiest".

In researching that same question for our last trip in April, we decided to instead add in taking the train to Rome for a couple days, visit a few sites we missed last time there, then fly out of FCO via United back to US.

We don't do super early flights anymore (Florence was very early to make connecting Intl flights in Frankfurt or Munich - again United) and I've read too many issues with Air Dolomiti canceling flights and running notoriously late out of Florence (with high likelihood of missing connection). Also, we only travel with carry on luggage, and Air Dolomiti has a much stricter policy for carry on size. None of what we wanted to hassle with at the end of the trip.

That worked out great for us, as weather in Rome was wonderful and we timed evening Mass at St. Peters.

Not sure who your carrier of choice is, United had flights at 9:45 Newark and 10:30 Dulles which would be hard to get to coming from Florence that morning. Of course, your risk tolerance and willingness to fly early, check luggage, run snug schedules, etc will likely provide you with different choices.

DurJim, your comments are the very things, I was thinking about.... the flight and connection for United, using Air Dolomiti is very tight in Frankfurt and I worry about delays, etc.. and yes all of the flights to connect are very early.... We are bringing carry-on luggage, and that's another issue and gamble with Air Dolomiti. I'm now leaning towards a train to Rome, with an additional day.

Thanks everyone!

We have flown INTO Florence but never home from there.... it is a small airport for sure. I'd train to either Rome or Milan the night before your flight definitely not the same day as your flight.

Lufthansa (air dolomiti) dep from FLR at 6:40 arrive FRA at 8:15
Lufthansa dep from FRA at 10:00am arrives at IAH at 13:35.

That is the flight I would take from Florence.
1h and 45 min is sufficient for Frankfurt.
Air Dolomiti is part of Lufthansa Group, they will get you to the plane on time. It would be very unusual that you won't make the flight. In over 30 flights out of Florence I missed the connection only twice. Once with Lufthansa (mechanical issue, flight could not depart from FLR, therefore rebooked the next day), once with AirFrance (stuck in Paris due to snow which cancelled flight to SFO).

if you prefer to visit Rome for a day, that is another story, but I'd rather fly out of Florence if I'm not in need to visit my relatives in Rome. Regarding getting up early, the difference is minimal. Flights direct to the US with United from Rome depart a bit later (10:35 to IAD, or 1100 to EWR), but they require to be at the airport 3 hours ahead (in FLR you can show up one hour before departure and no problem making the flight), and unless you sleep at FCO, the Rome airport is not that close to the city center (35 min by taxi without traffic). Florence airport is 15 min from the city center (less than 4 miles).

Daughter flew back from Pisa (PSA) on BA via LHR to USA. Easy train connections from Florence to Pisa and then people mover/train to PSA.

In reference to the last reply, the option of British Airways from Pisa, via London Heathrow (LHR), is a feasible option if you go to Washington Dulles (IAD), but not if you fly to Houston (IAH).

There is only one flight a day with BA from Pisa and arrives at LHR at 13:55.

The only direct flight to IAH (with BA/AA code share) departs from LHR at 14:35, therefore it would be next to impossible to make that connection in only 40 min.

We flew home from there via Paris and it was great. The Florence airport is small and close to town.

I had this exact issue when trying to book a return flight. My primary concern was not wanting to have 2 connections; I was willing to have only 1 connection. Of course, it depends on your final destination in the US.

By changing the DAY I departed I was able to find a single-connection return flight to my final destination in the US. Also, I had to check BOTH airline websites: for example American Airlines is associated with British Airways; I ended up booking through British Airways. I fly American to Italy, but British Airways retuning with only one connection on both legs.

What is the minimum amount of time needed before my flight, if arriving by train at FCO Rome airport?

The day before, will be the most common advice.