Our group of 6 adults is planning to travel from Venice to Naples by air. Has anyone done this and what was your experience? MEridiana allows one small carry on weighing no more than 17 pounds. We heard horror stories about high baggage fees. The flight costs about $71 per person and to check a bag costs about $74. We have one carry on each (standard US size) and a backpack.
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
663 posts
If you are worried about all that, take the train. No luggage fees, go directly from city center to city center, you don't have to show up more than a few minutes in advance, you won't be squished in like a sardine, no surly airline employees to deal with, and the journey overall is only slightly longer thanks to trains that speed along at 300 miles an hour.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23666 posts
The first question is why air? The train would be faster and cheaper. Remember the discount airlines makes most of their money from additional fees so it is in their best financial interests to be very strict with additional fees for check baggage, check-in, etc.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Train travel time is under 5.5 hours and there a couple of direct departures, without connection, for instance departing Venezia S Lucia at 10:25 and arriving Napoli Centrale at 15:35. Check prices at www.trenitalia.com to see if they have advance-discounts available for your travel date, usually on sale starting 3 months ahead. If you choose the flight, then you know the baggage fees; all should be stated before you purchase.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks,
It's a toss up between paying $66 and a 5.5 hour train ride or $71 and an 1.25 hr direct flight.
We'll be taking trains earlier in the trip so won't miss the train ride. Both tickets are non-refundable.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
It's a toss up between paying $66 and a 5.5 hour train ride or $71 and an 1.25 hr direct flight.
FALSE
Your flight is not just $71 and it's not just 1.25 hr long.
To the flight cost, you must add the cost of travel from Venice to the airport. That is 15 euro per person with Alilaguna (€90 for 6, or $130), or a little more with a water taxi. The aerobus from Piazzale Roma is also €10 per person (€60, or $95, for six people). Also once in Naples you will need two taxis or the shuttle bus. Either way you are looking at another €40 ($55. So the cost of the flight is over $600 for 6 people, assuming no luggage fees from Meridiana.
The train is just $66x6=$396, city center to city center. So the train is cheaper.
Your flight also takes longer than 1.25 hours. To the 1.25 hr of the flight you must add the following:
1. Travel to VCE airport = 1 hour
2. Check in and security=1.5 hours
3. Deplaning, collecting baggage and taxi from NAP to city center= 1 hr and up depending on crazy Naples traffic.
So your travel time city center to city center by air totals almost 5 hours vs 5.5 with the train. Very comparable, with the difference that 5.5 on the train are much more pleasant than dealing with air travel sitting in cramped seats like sardines, dealing with airport security checks and also changing modes of transport with all the transfers from/to airports.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23666 posts
Roberto beat me to it, which is why I asked, Why air??? You have compare to one whole peach to another. Not just the peach seed of one to a whole peach. Where would you rather spend your time - hanging out in an airport, security lines, and tight airline seat or just relaxing on a train? I know my choice.