Anyone flown out of Venice Marco Polo (VCE) airport to US/Canada lately?

I flew from VCE to Newark on September 27 (last Tuesday). There were no issues at all except that I had trouble finding the departure gates for flights to the US. It turns out they are downstairs. There were signs, but they were too subtle for me. My flight departed at 11:05 AM. In an excess of caution, I got to the airport at about 7:30 AM. I didn't time my progress through the various steps of the process, but none of the steps were time-consuming.

I didn't have to remove my shoes; I don't remember whether electronics and liquids had to be removed from my bag; I know those were the rules at Newark, where I changed planes.

One point of possible interest is that when I approached the Emigration area to get my exit stamp, the gatekeeper warned me that there are few services (not much except toilets and a coffee bar) once you pass that point. She suggested I might want to wait awhile before proceeding. Accordingly, I spent some time wandering in a couple of shops. I can report that the Venetian glass was considerably more expensive than in the city or on Murano in percentage terms, but for someone interested in inexpensive doodads, the price difference wouldn't amount to too much in actual dollars.

The Emigration official was surprisingly chatty: Where had I been, for how long, etc. I was Schengen-legal, but the entire length of my trip was about 3-1/2 months; that may have triggered the questions. I wasn't grilled--it was more like a social conversation, but it went on long enough that someone behind me with a looming departure got vocally antsy.

One other thing: The departure board initially said my gate would be assigned at 10:05 (an hour before departure), but I kept my eye on it, and at some point the board was revised to say the gate would be assigned at 9:35, which turned out to be accurate. Perhaps it's an hour in advance for Schengen flights and 90 minutes in advance for others. I was glad to have the 90 minutes, though I didn't need them on this occasion.

I don't think it's safe to extrapolate from my experience to departures at other times and/or on other days of the week.

I was on the same flight as acraven but a day later (on Wednesday). Going through security took forever. Two cruise ships dumped off passengers at the same time and created chaos and huge lines at security. The day you depart makes a huge time difference.

We flew Venice to Newark Monday September 19 via United. It took approximately 30 to 40 minutes from the time we reached the United counter for check-in and luggage drop off to our gate. There was no line at United. No Issues with united or luggage to or from Venice.

Thanks, everyone!

The day you depart makes a huge time difference.

I was going to mention this as well. I haven't been through Marco Polo since 2017, but on a Sunday morning there were several cruise ships unloading and so morning was a zoo. We were there 3 hours early and made our gate with about 20 minutes to spare.

My flight departs on a Wednesday morning (next week) and it appears there are four flights back to the US from Venice that morning/early afternoon: an 11:05, an 11:20, a 12:15 (mine), then a 13:15. There may be some other non-Schengen flights, but I assume these are the likely big contributors to passenger traffic going in the same lines I'll be in - e.g. passport control vs. the Schengen flights.

FYI, I have an option to arrive at VCE at 10am or 9am for my 12:15 flight. Obviously the earlier one gives me more breathing room, but I've got a 2.5 hour shuttle ride (from Slovenia) and really hate to get up even earlier than I have to. The airport website recommends arriving 3 hours early. I won't have any checked bags, so maybe 2:15 would be OK. So many times in the past I've gotten to the airport waaaay early for these flights home and then had an hour or two to kill.

I've contemplated that at worst if I miss the flight, I would probably be able to go the next day on the same flight without it being catastrophic (won't cost me $1,000 or anything - using miles). So maybe this time it's worth the slight risk of not getting there super early.

Andrew,

On Tuesday, September 13, we arrived at VCE terminal about 8:30 am for our AA flight departing at 12:15 pm. The AA check in counters opened at 8:45 am. By arriving early, there were only a handful of people queued up to check in. We we in the security line by 9:00 am with maybe 10-15 people ahead of us. It took about 10 minutes to clear security, but that’s only because we arrived early. From past experiences we’ve learned it’s best to give up an extra hour’s sleep in order to avoid lengthy check-in and security lines that are inevitable later in the morning. Makes for must less stress. Also helps if you can use the Marco Polo lounge, located past security on the floor above the departure gates, to enjoy a leisurely breakfast while waiting for your flight to board.

Tx Travelers, I honestly don't remember - do I need to check in at the airport even if I don't have checked bags? I thought I could just check in online and go right to passport control then security. But I haven't flown back to the US in a few years now - memory is foggy, and I can't remember when I stopped using paper boarding passes...

I would probably be able to go the next day on the same flight without it being catastrophic (won't cost me $1,000 or anything - using miles).

Well, MAYBE.

Is your airline still showing seats available to purchase with miles the day after your scheduled flight? If not, you could be just getting your miles redeposited and have to buy a 'walk up' ticket to fly the next day, if space is available.

Andrew, I flew United. I checked in online but because I was checking a bag, I had to stand in line and also check in at the counter. A quick baggage check system would have saved me almost 1/2 an hour. Finding the US airlines’ counters wasn’t easy, poor signing; they are down stairs.
I flew out on a Wednesday, the same as you are planning. If cruise ships stay with their schedules, that appears to be the flight home day. I took the Alilaguna from S. Zaccaria, allowed myself 4 1/2 hours to get to the airport, check luggage, security and immigration. Security only had one line open, so it took almost an hour (or it felt like it). The line snaked 1/2 way through the 1st floor. I made it to the gate 10 minutes before boarding started.
Hope this helps with your time management.
Kathy

The one-way flight from VCE back to the US that may have cost you as few as 30,000 or so miles originally could very well cost twice as many miles, or more, if mileage seats are even available for the next day.

joe32f:

Well, MAYBE.
Is your airline still showing seats available to purchase with miles the day after your scheduled flight? If not, you could be just getting your miles redeposited and have to buy a 'walk up' ticket to fly the next day, if space is available.

It's Monday morning here, and I see if I still wanted to fly out TODAY, I could do it for the same miles as my original ticket. Granted, it's too late to get home same day - I would fly through LHR and spend the night then get home tomorrow. So it would cost me about $100 for a hotel at Heathrow.

I could fly out any day this week including my original date for the same miles. In fact, tomorrow has opened up - wasn't open until now (I have checked the last few days.).

There are no guarantees, of course - things could change and the flights could suddenly book up this week, but I doubt it.

Thanks, Kathy!

Wow, it took forEVER to get to my gate! The shuttle dropped me off at 9:50. By 10:05 (having already stopped at the restroom), I was past security and at the entrance to passport control, where I paused to consider what expensive food to eat before moving on to my gate. By 10:23 I was at my gate.

Now I have an hour to kill before boarding.

It helped that I had no bags to check and that I had checked in online in their app. I did have trouble scanning my passport in the app. The first time I gave up and manually entered my passport info...and was told I had to check in at the airport. I tried scanning it again and after about ten minutes of trial and error finally got it to scan...and this time I was able to check-in online and get my boarding pass on my phone. So I was able to skip the check-in line.

No cruises departing today. Two ended (Ravenna) on Sunday and one on Monday but none yesterday or today. I'm sure that helped avoid crowds today.

We flew venice to JFK on Oct 5, delta air. The delta counter is downstairs hidden way at the end. Had to ask someone where it was. The agent wanted to see our passports AND driver's license, which I thought very odd. We had already checked in online but had to drop luggage. Not sure what they would have done if we didn't have licenses but I cant imagine it would be a big deal. The terminal was in general humid and warm but at the delta gate nice and cool.

Advice, take water taxi to airport to end you unique trip....

Bill, I flew today and didn't actually visit Venice - I was visiting Slovenia and flew home out of Marco Polo airport. It was a 2.5 hour shuttle ride to the airport from Ljubljana.