Travel From Boston to Venice

British Airways will be the preferred airline making a connection at London Heathrow into Boston Logan Airport.

Amsterdam would be our choice. In the event of a snag, at least you'll be on that side of the pond and it'll be easier to adjust your transportation plans if necessary.

This spring we flew Boston to Venice on Lufthansa, with a stop in Frankfurt. Flew home from Rome on SwissAir, via Zurich. Both Frankfurt and Zurich are large airports, so if you opt for that, be prepared to walk. Our last few trips to Europe have been on Lufthansa with no problems. And to our surprise, on the flight back, the plane was only half full.

My choice is always to connect through a European airport, whichever it is. If you connect through JFK or ATL, besides the extra time since you are back tracking, when you return home those will be your first port of entry in the US, and that means that you have clear customs at that first port of entry, including retrieving your luggage and check them again for the last leg to Boston. As a result you will need at least 2.5 to 3 hours of layover at JFK or ATL on the way back, prolonging your arrival at home. If you instead connect in Europe, you first port of entry in the US will be Boston, therefore you will clear customs and then drive home.

thank you. I have found a flight from Boston to Amsterdam then to Venice that may work. I will be returning from Athens so am pretty sure I can go non-top to Boston fortunately. Am looking to fly Delta.

I have flown from Boston to Venice three times over the past several years with Aer Lingus with a layover in Dublin. The advantage of Dublin is you go through US immigration/passport control in Dublin on the way back. So when you land in Boston, you are home, no lines, no formalities. Just pick up your luggage and walk out the door.

You can also look at connecting through Rome on ITA Airways - non-stop Boston to Rome, then connect to ITA flight to Venice, or they also sell connecting Trenitalia ticket direct from FCO.

“The advantage of Dublin is you go through US immigration/passport control in Dublin on the way back. So when you land in Boston, you are home, no lines, no formalities.”

Sorry, but I don't understand how that works. Can someone explain how that's possible? I must be missing something. Thanks.

@ Sempre Italia 🇮🇹 we were just in Ireland last month. We flew out of Dublin. Dublin has the USA customs and Immigration at their airport. After you go through Irish security you then will go through US security then US customs. When you arrive in the states you have no customs to go through. It's like you are arriving from a domestic flight. There is also a pre clearance customs in Aruba as well. Same thing.

Joyce,
Thanks. Good to know for future reference.

@Sempre Italia Similar deal in some European countries. For example, when one flies in or out of Zurich with a connecting flight to/from the European Union, you clear EU passport control in Zurich.

Mike,
Having traveled several times to Europe, I was aware of the EU connections and passport control. It was the US pre-clearance of which I was not aware. But it never hurts to be reminded. Thanks for your reply.