Milan Malpensa-confusing for departure?

Given your prior postings, I am not sure where you are getting all of your information that seems to be so contrary to most of our experiences. You do sound like you need a lot of hand holding so will give it a try. I don't think Malpensa is any more confusing than another other airport either in the US or Europe. All the signs will be in English. And all of the checkin personal will speak English.
Once you are dropped off walk inside and look for the correct checkin counter. Sometimes there will be a board that shows the checkin counters being used by your airline and the counters will be numbered. It has been couple of years so don't remember if that system is used at Malpense. If not, then just find your airline counter - It will be in English.
The checkin counter will give you a boarding pass and direct you to the gate and security clearance area. Follow the directions. The lines can be long but the security process is not much different than the US. Just follow the flow. Once through security go to your gate and wait. It doesn't get more complicated than that.

The only confusion I had at Milan Malpensa when I flew out of there a few weeks ago was the airline's check-in counter had not opened yet. The airline I flew (SAS) did not open their check in counter until 2 hours prior to the flight time. However, I saw plenty of Alitallia counters, so it is unlikely you will encounter this problem. I had no issues with language barriers at the airport. All signs were in Italian and English and everyone was very helpful.

9 am is a bit of overkill, maybe 10 am if you want to be ultra safe. You'll have time for a few last espressos to get good and wired for the flight home.

Thank you all. The articles I read were posted on other sites that I did not bookmark but they were travel blog or review type sites. The one that concerned me was written by a frequent business traveler who flew Alitalia and said the lines were horrendous (and he was there 2 hours before his flight) and that he thought the airport was difficult for people who do not speak or read Italian.

I am a very seasoned traveler myself but because this is the first time I am taking a flight from an airport outside the USA on a non-USA carrier without someone accompanying me is why I am just trying to do some homework. The maps on the airport site seem very easy to understand.

About the checking in for your particular flight thing...it seems like most of the time when I traveled in the past, there was just one line and several attendants for anyone who wanted to check in for any flight. You waited and then when an attendant was available you went to them much like tellers at a bank. Then, you went to your gate with the boarding pass. So...at this airport are their different lines for each flight that do not open up until about 2 hours prior? Not one big Alitalia desk with several attendants?

You can have a 360 degree walk around the airport and see how easy it is.

The guy who you are quoting with 2 hours before departure was pressing his luck if it was an international flight - 3 hours is best - ; if he was on a domestic flight 2 hours is expected.

Have a look at
http://www.milanomalpensa-airport.com/en/shopping-food/virtual-tour?floorLabel=T1

You will see plenty of signs in English.

Just go!!! You will be fine. You are over thinking, planning (???) everything. The checkin works the same way there as here. If it is a small airline that doesn't have a big presents at the airport with only a couple of flights, then they will not man the desk until just before the flight. I have encountered that situation at US airports. I don't think your seasoned traveler was that seasoned. You need to focus on the positive aspects of your reading and not the negative. Most travelers get through Malpense with min problems.

lisa,

Many large airports can be a bit confusing if one has never been there before, but I've never found MXP any more difficult to navigate than other airports in Europe. For example, on a previous arrival at FRA several years ago, I couldn't locate the Air Canada desks anywhere. I asked at the "official" Information desk, but they were useless. An airport police officer finally provided the information I was looking for and once I knew which desk numbers to use, everything fell into place.

There will be signs in English (IATA rules), and I suspect the signs for Alitalia will be more prominent than others, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding them. One trend I've noticed over the last few years is that many airports are beginning to use automated Kiosks for check-in and even for checking baggage. That was the case when I departed from CDG last year, but I don't know if they're using those at MXP yet. If they're using Kiosks for check-in, you'll usually have to enter your name and flight confirmation no. or perhaps Passport no. and the machine will print a boarding pass. If they also have an automated baggage check, the machine will print a luggage tag with bar codes, which you'll attach to your checked luggage and then drop it on a conveyor. BE SURE to take old luggage tags off or your bags might end up in Timbuktu!!! There's usually at least one attendant to help passengers that are having trouble with the system.

I have to agree with a previous reply that arriving at 09:00 is probably too early, even for an international flight. Arriving at the airport by 10:00 would probably be fine.

MXP is a busy airport so there certainly could be queues, especially going through security. It will likely be a bit chaotic, but that's typical of all airports to some extent these days. I usually check and double check my gate numbers, etc. When you arrive at your departure gate, there will probably be a monitor above the desk with "Alitalia Flight XX", the departure destination and time listed on it. That will be confirmation that you're at the correct gate.

Is there any "homework" or prep I can do after I arrive from that train and before I call the hotel for the shuttle to bring me to the hotel?

Not that I can think of. You'll be taking one shuttle from the Malpensa Express to your hotel, and another shuttle the following morning to MXP, so that's fairly easy. After you're checked-in at the hotel, have a glass of wine in the bar and reminisce about the wonderful holiday that you've just had.

Buon Viaggio!

I have just flown out of Malpensa twice in the past month or so, both times for JFK. I do not find Malpensa difficult at all. You get off the Malpensa express, follow the crowds, eventually encounter some signs which, depending on what airline you are flying on, tell you where to go to check in. Once you get to that area, like any airport, you stand in line. I was there early once and the line was short, and late another time and the line was long. Security is a breeze.

The real issue is flying into JFK, pure lunacy that airport is and we should be ashamed of the inefficiency.

JKC, I would not agree with your more. Unfortunately JFK is not an easy airport to avoid.

Thanks everyone!

I found Malpensa to be an excellent airport in every way EXCEPT the line situation for check ins. They need more ropes. The Alitalia was confusing because they had "baggage drop off" line and "economy check in" line. The "baggage drop off" is for those who already checked in and have boarding passes printed. Those people like me, who had no access to a printer or did not want to use a Kiosk because we were not sure we could, stand in "economy check in."

Previous posts are correct about them not wanting to check you in TOO early. But guess what? I have a healing foot injury and I am not standing in line a second time if I get there early. If I get there 4 hours ahead of time, I WILL check in. And...guess what? I did :-).

Security at Malpensa was very well organized. I thought it was way less strict than what we are used to in the USA. Overall, I liked Malpensa very much and it was easy to navigate (except for check in).