Hello all,
Could anyone share with me what to expect when entering Venice in terms of customs/immigrations. We are flying from Nashville on British Air through Heathrow and then into Venice Marco Polo in mid-September. The flight is scheduled to arrive at 4:05 pm, and i would hope to make it to our hotel before their reception closes at 8pm. Once we clear customs, it looks like maybe another hour and a half for the bus and then vaporetto to our hotel stop. Also, can anyone comment on British Air as far as typically being on time or not? Thanks everyone.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6638 posts
I flew this route several years ago. Immigration and customs were very quick (though it was late at night, last flight of the day). Your experience will depend on how many non-Schengen flights are landing around the same time -- you might get an idea by checking the airport website for current flight info on the same day of the week as your scheduled arrival.
I also doubt if the bus ride will take 90 minutes, even with waiting. It will be rush hour though. Overall, I'd think four hours would be ample time from landing to check-in. The biggest variable might be how far from the vaporetto your hotel is -- how long a walk and how hard or easy to navigate.
Posted by
NorthCarolina
971 posts
Are you staying IN Venice? We never take a bus from the airport - we just take one of the boats from the airport to the hotel. If you want to splurge, you can hire a private boat taxi to meet you at the dock and take you straight to the hotel. That's what we usually do - esp after such a long flight.
Posted by
OP
23 posts
Thanks for the responses; Dick, the hotel is only a 5 min walk from vap stop Sant Angelo, so the biggest unknowns are if the flight is on time, or any delays at customs.
To China Lake - yes, staying in Venice for a few days...the choice for a Bus and Vaporetto comes from advice i have read from numerous comments on this RS site. Thanks for your comments.
Posted by
California
146 posts
My experience was coming from JFK and back in 2016, but we were scheduled to arrive at 11:30am and we had booked a tour at 5pm which gave us a good cushion for delays. My notes show our flight was delayed 1-2 hours departing JFK but I did not keep notes on what time we did arrive in Venice. We arrived to a packed airport with other arrivals so it took a long time to get through but we took a shuttle from the airport to P. Roma and from there walked to our hotel just past the train station with plenty of time to spare and get to our tour.
If you are delayed at the airport and cutting it close, would you be able to contact the hotel or contact them in advance to plan for the what if we are delayed?
Posted by
OP
23 posts
Thanks Crystal. I did message the hotel with that question, but as yet havent heard back. I'll try again!
Posted by
Portland, OR
1101 posts
I’ve flown the BA route from PDX to VCE on British Air twice since the pandemic. I would be more concerned with connection time in Heathrow than immigration in Venice. You will want 2 hours or more. In Venice it’s all automated. You scan your passport, have your picture taken, pass through the gate and then an agent stamps your passport. Both times it took no more than 15 minutes. I agree with others- get a taxi for €120 and relax for the 25 minute ride to your hotel.
As far as BA being on time, I always check https://flightaware.com/