We are ending a RS tour in Lucca and want to find the best/easiest return flight home. Seems that the only two options with sufficient layover times are flying out of Pisa airport-LHR-CLT with a 2 hour 40 min layover in LHR or taking the train to Rome, spending the night, and leaving next day with a direct flight to the US.
Anyone have experience with the Pisa flight-good or bad? I have not flown through LHR in many years and not sure how much of a hassle it would be? Thanks so much for any advice!
Posted by
Boston
1777 posts
Easy, Pisa.
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2627 posts
I would take the train to Rome option, because I would worry about the layover at LHR. Yes it's probably enough time, but missing the flight back to the US wouldn't be good.
Your comfort level may differ.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17244 posts
I would choose the direct flight as well. The 2h40 minute layover at Heathrow is probably fine, but a direct flight is always easier and less stressful.
It is an easy trip by train from Lucca to Rome Termini, 3.5 tp 4 hours with a single change in Florence. If your flight departs noon or later you could enjoy a night in the city and travel to the airport by taxi or train the next morning. For morning flight you could spend the night in a small hotel in the beachside town of Fiumicino, just 5-10 minutes from the FCO terminals.
We were going to stay in this nice little boutique hotel on a recent trip, but we had to cancel. I would choose it again if we go to Rome.
Posted by
133 posts
If it is all booked on one ticket, I would definitely go for the Pisa option, rather than have a 3-4 hr train ride and 2 days to get home. If there is some delay and you miss the LHR connection, they will still get you home. Really just comes down to your travel style.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17244 posts
I just see this as an opportunity to spend another day and night in Italy! ;>)
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15874 posts
The Pisa (PSA) airport is the closest to Lucca, however to CLT you have one option and one option only. That would be with British Airways to London Heathrow (LHR) departing PSA at Noon at arriving at LHR at 13:20, then connecting with the BA/AA code share flight (operated by American Airlines) departing LHR at 15:15 London time and arriving at CLT at 19:05 Eastern time. So you have less than 2 hours to make the connection in London, which is not long, but doable.
All other options would require you to sleep at another airport (either Rome or also Florence, which is closer, to Lucca, but which doesn’t have a non stop to CLT, therefore would require a layover somewhere else in Europe).