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Malpensa Express advance ticket purchase

Posted by (Spokane) on

Hi,

Our plane will be arriving at the Milan Airport (from US) at 8:40am. We have a 12:10pm train to catch for CT from Milano Centrale. I am trying to do whatever I can to speed the process of getting from Malpensa to Milano Centrale.
I intend to catch the Malpensa Express. I see that it departs every 00:13 & 00:43 of the hour.

To save time I am looking to buy the tickets online. The following is what the Malpensa website says about single ticket purchases:

"Available from ticket offices and automatic ticket machines (valid within 3 hours from the validation); or online and APP Trenord (valid within 3 hours of the time of the selected train);"

For APP Trenord:
"A printout of the order is valid as a ticket (it does not need to be stamped), to be presented to ticket inspectors on the train together with an ID document, on request;"

Based on this, I gather that:

  1. I could purchase tickets online from Trenord website for the 9:43am Malpensa Express, and it would be valid up to 12:43 (12:15pm at least).

  2. I assume that what is mentioned for APP Trenord is true for Online purchase as well since they are essentially the same things, that is, I don't need the printed tickets validated? In any case, just to be sure, is it possible to insert the printed tickets into the validator? Here's the link to Online/APP purchase instructions:
    http://www.malpensaexpress.it/en/malpensa-express/tickets/where-to-buy-tickets.aspx

Any insights will be greatly appreciated!

Posted by
21377 posts

If you get the on-line ticket, as stated, it can be used in a 3 hour window, then it becomes invalid. So it is, in effect, pre-validated. Normal tickets bought out of a machine, or at the window, are good for several months until validated. They are on a card stock that is like the old IBM punch cards and fit into the validating machines. Since they can have a long "shelf" life, they must be validated before boarding. This is prevent people from buying one ticket and using it multiple times. If that ticket is not validated, then it is not really a ticket and the user will be fined for riding without a valid ticket.
So you will not need to validate on-line tickets since it would not be possible to use them more than once.

Posted by
32405 posts

Vishal,

  1. Yes, I believe that's correct. The ticket can be used up to 3 hours past the listed departure time.
  2. No, online tickets don't have to be validated as they're considered "pre-validated". Online tickets are normally printed on 8.5 x 11" (A4) paper so are too large to fit the validating machines. I suppose you could fold the paper several times to make it fit the machine, but there's no point in doing that.
Posted by
1054 posts

If they allow you to purchase that ticket in advance go for it. Try and purchase it and see if it lets you. You're covered for 3 hours so even if you get delayed an hour in customs or geting off the plane your ticket is still good.

Personally I usually just use the kiosk when I land at MXP.

Posted by
75 posts

Thanks everyone for your prompt help. Very helpful. I have another clarification, but that merits a new thread I think...

Posted by
15798 posts

When I was there last year, the trains weren't following the online schedule. I landed around 10.15 a.m. on a weekday, just missed a train and had to wait about an hour for the next one.

Be sure to get the train to Centrale

Posted by
75 posts

"When I was there last year, the trains weren't following the online schedule. I landed around 10.15 a.m. on a weekday, just missed a train and had to wait about an hour for the next one."

Wow, that would be unsettling. I would like to think that is a rarity.

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