I am organizing flights for a winter away, returning to Canada late March from Florence airport. For my needs, looks like a 6:20 a.m departure with a transfer in Frankfurt. It looks to be a Lufthansa/Air Canada code share.
It has been decades since I transferred in Europe, so I cannot recall how long before the flight (when connecting in Schengen) I need to be at the airport. Are they treated like domestic or international flights? FYI, it will be just around Easter, either Wed 27 or Thurs 28
How difficult to get to the Florence airport in the wee hours of the morning, or do I just plan to get an adjacent hotel?
Thanks.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7233 posts
The airport opens at 4 am but the check in desk probably doesn’t open til closer to 5
Check with the airlines
2 hours preflight is probably more than enough-it’s like a domestic flight
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5496 posts
As Christine said, this would be treated like a domestic flight. Have your hotel call a taxi. Traffic won't be an issue that early. In Frankfurt you'll have to go through Passport Control and likely change gate areas, so I'd want at least 1 1/2 hours between flights. It's not unusual for Florence flights to be delayed leaving. We took that Lufthansa/AC flight one year and were over 30 min. late taking off due to high winds. Had to run to make our connecting flight.
Posted by
OP
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
Thanks for the details ChristineH and CJean
I have over 2 hours before my connecting flight to Montreal.
I expect to be in Florence close to a week so would normally get an apartment rather than a hotel, but the taxi should be easy enough to figure out.
Thanks again
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
They'll open the check-in position(s) at about 4:30. Then about 1 hour prior to the flight (but not before 5 when their shift starts) more agents open their positions to get people through faster. Going through security, after a walk through the new shopping area, takes a short time. Try to be there in line at the check in by 5am. Check in agents are not employees of the airlines but employees of the"Toscana Aeroporti S.p.A." company, the concession company contracted by the government to manage the Florence and Pisa airport operations.