Quick train question - Naple to Sorrento

I just posted in another thread :)

Circumvesuvianoa tix can't be purchased in advance online- just purchase at the station or when leaving Sorrento you could purchase any day you are there and near the station
Be sure to validate your tickets before boarding

https://www.positano.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule?timetable_route=sorrento_napoli
Read all the FAQs at bottom of page

Read my last post here for more info- you might just take the bus from airport to Sorrento- much easier.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/italy-itinerary-aec44ca1-da42-4418-a888-871575be9e11

Thanks, Christine. We thought about the bus but decided the train might be more fun/memorable.

Lol well it will be memorable!

Really it’s fine but from airport it does require the extra step to get to the station and that taxi ride will also be memorable.

Rick doesn't speak highly of the Circumvesuviana in his book, and seems to prefer the Campania Express. Has anyone had any experience with that or recommend one over the other?

https://www.positano.com/en/campania-express-train-schedule

If the Campania Express schedule works for you take that
It is nicer, has AC, reserved seats, tourists mostly use

With only four departures a day, the Campania Express can be difficult to use. It would definitely be more comfortable than the Circumvesuviana (which I used several times recently), but the lack of air conditioning on the latter may not be an issue in April.

The Circumvesuviana is always late. Not a little late but 30-60 minutes late. When we experienced it last week, all the locals told us their stories about how late it always is. If you have a flight, take the bus.

Thanks, Bets. Good to know.

Voting with some of the others: take the Curreri bus! It'll be easier and much more comfortable that transferring to Napoli to catch the Circumvesuviana commuter train. That thing is cheap and serviceable for certain journeys, such as to Pompeii to Sorrento and back, and for folks on a tight budget coming into Centrale en route to Pompeii or Sorrento but it has virtually no creature comforts and, well, from the airport, the Curreri coach bus is a better option. :O)

You aren't missing anything by taking that airport bus--only saving time.

SO if we do decide to take the bus, do we really need to leave Sorrento at least 5 hours before our flight departs?

We leave out. at 9:15 am and the bus doesn't run that early so we'd need to do private transfer.

For a 9:15 flight out of Naples I’d stay in Naples night before

Too risky, stuff happens

Is it direct to US? I’m guessing no- so getting to airport by 7:15 should be fine
If to US - be there by 6:15

Naples to Heathrow, then to the US

Going to the UK is the same, passport processing wise/(Schenegen exit), as going to the US, so 2 hrs is probably scary tight on time.

Two hours too tight, 5 hours too much?

You need to be at airport 3 hours before your flight
Since your flight is going to UK- you are exiting Schengen in Naples

Stay in Naples
Take a taxi in the am, airport is close to center