How early to get to Venice airport?

We left the Venice Marco Polo Airport last week on British Airways flying into London Gatwick.

Although it's not a very large airport, we found the airlines somewhat disorganized and the whole airport experience a little hectic.
I'd say be there 2 hrs. before the flight.

It's small and pretty chaotic-we were there to catch the van to Ljubljana. It was really a mess in front of DL when we arrived and was still a mess when we left, probably a period of an hour plus. I would give myself 2 hours inside the airport and an hour to 45 minutes taking the vaporati (?) from the city to be safe.

Agree with 2 hours in the airport. Our experience was also hectic with poor communication. Standing in line waiting to check, time running out, people are starting to question where the airline staff was. They never announced a change in check in area and we all had to scramble to find it.

Side note -- if you have an early-morning flight, 2 hours ahead may get you there before the airport opens!

http://www.veniceairport.it/en/flights/todays-flights/all-departures.html
First flight of the day departs at 4:55. Then there are a cluster of flights departing between 6:30 and 7:20.

I had a 7 am flight, got there a couple of hours ahead and encountered a big crowd trying to use the passport reader check in terminal. Fortunately for me the crowd was small when I got to the machine and getting bigger by the minute. But with the 2 hour lead, I had plenty of time to check bags, clear security and eat the bagged breakfast the hotel was kind enough to provide for us early check out guest.

My flight out of Venice is to Paris, which I understand is considered domestic because of the Schengen zone. Is 2 hours necessary for that or just international flights? I will fly on Air France at 12:45.

Better early then too late is my motto. I rather hang out at the airport, have a coffee and read then stress about traffic, check in and customs.

Looks like your AF 12:45 flight departs with 8 or 10 flights in the hour or so before and 8 or 10 in the hour after. VCE is a pretty small airport. That seems like a peak congestion two hour period. Expect a busy terminal. That said, mostly short hoppers. Only three TransAtlantic flights in that period. No Airbus 380s.

So my main concern should be how many people check in and go through security at the same time, correct?

If I have time to spare it will be spent eating at a table instead of the gate.

Arrive at the airport two hours before your flight. Check in may be slow, security is much easier than your TSA.

I had asked the original question and was considering a Easy Jet flight leaving Venice to Paris at 2pm or 3pm. Would this also be a hectic time? Is this considered domestic? Do you think it would be best to arrange my itinerary to fly out of Florence or Bologna instead? I really don't want to be real stressed trying to figure things out.

We flew Air France from Venice to Paris (12:50pm departure) in April. We arrived 2 1/2 hrs early but were not allowed to check our luggage before 2 hours so don't get there too early or you'll be waiting behind security. We were flying on a Weds so it was not too crowded and security went pretty fast, maybe 15 mins at the most. We were in a newer part. - it was very nice, lots of places to eat, shop and sit.