Early departure from Florence to Fiumicino Airport: Plane or Train?

Safest option is to travel to Rome the night before

If all goes well with your plan you should be fine with check in etc but personally i would not risk it
(nor would I risk a flight from FLR to FCO)

Are you willing to possibly have to purchase 2 new one way tickets home probably for the next day?

we arrive in Rome Termini at 0749 and take the first Express train leaves Termini at 0805 for the 30 minute commute to the airport, arriving at 0837. My question is this: Will we have enough time (2.5 hours) to check our luggage at Terminal 3 (our flight departs from T3) and go through security and passport control?

IF Everything works like the proverbial Swiss watch

As for flying, (based on these assumptions: (1) it would be a separate ticket and (2) you have checked bags) , I don't see as really better or worse.

As for the extra hour of sleep, I cannot image I would get any sleep the night before if I were trying to do what you propose.

Being in Rome the night before is the best ( most responsible) advice.

If you are peace with the prospect of having to buy another ticket to get home, if you get to Rome late, then take the train.

Personally I would not do it since I am not willing to assume the risk. If something happens to the flight or even the train you really have no options if something goes wrong. BUT if you do, stick with the train as it provides multi options where the airline is only one. I am not sure you can make it the 8.05 train. The last time we used the Leonard Express it left from track 25 or 26 which is in the far corner of Termini. A bit of a hike from the Florence train track arrival.

I would come to Rome the previous afternoon, evening, staying in the Termini area, so that it would be easy to be at the airport around 8.30 till 9am. There are too many variables that you cannot control.

Bailng on a possibly non refundable lodging nite in Florence and adding a hotel nite in Rome will be thousands less than new airline tickets

Another option if flight is changeable is to check for flights from FLR or Pisa to Montreal-will have a layover somewhere in Europe

I also prefer to be closer to the airport the night before a flight. Trains usually arrive on time (70 arrive within 10 minutes from the scheduled arrival time), but what if yours is part of the 30% that doesn't?

I dont mean to pile on. But I'm going to pile on. The risk of missing your flight home is not huge, but it's still greater than I would be comfortable with. If it was me, I'd find a hotel in Rome near Termini for the night before.

Thanks everyone! Great insight that I am considering. No more piles on please lol!!!

Ya, but it would be interesting to know what you plan to do. I am guessing you still favor the run from Florence. So lets us know how it goes? Over the years we did a number of tight runs or two ticket flights. We were successful except for one time. But thought we had covered ourselves with insurance but didn't completely read the fine print. Good lucik ---

We decided to change the train departure for the night before our international departure and booked a room near Fiumicino. I had fully refundable flight tickets for Florence to Rome which have now been cancelled. We’ll arrive late at the hotel and still have a full day in Florence. Thanks all!

Very good decision!
Enjoy!