Venice: Venizia Unica pass plus Alilaguna airport transfer (one way) question

First of all, the use of the term Venezia Unica Pass is a little confusing, as for most people it refers to an ID card that you buy with a photo attached, and then can get pay-as-you-go vaporetto tickets for 1.50 EUR per ride. That is generally not worth the money, time and effort to purchase for people visiting for a short time. I don't think that is what you are referring to, just the regular "Time Limited" vaporetto passes good for 1,2,3, and 7 days.

Second, this pass is not valid on the Alilaguna Boats.

So I suggest you buy a 72 hour vaporetto pass and use the one-way airport bus adder for another 6 EUR, so that is 46 EUR per adult. For the teenagers who will get the Rolling Venice 72 hour cards, they can also add the one-way bus adder for 6 EUR, so they will pay 6 EUR for the card plus 22 EUR for the 3-day vaporetto pass plus 6 EUR for the airport bus, 34 EUR total.

When you get these, take the No 5 bus from the airport door to Piazzale Roma, validating the passes as you board the bus. Then at Piazzale Roma, board the boat to Rialto, either the No 1 or No 2 (express at times). Remember to validate your passes every time you board a vaporetto.

Thank you for your response, Sam. Here is more info that might change your answers. We are only going to be in Venice for two full days, with a partial day on either side of those days. On the Venezia Unica website it says the "time limited" 2 day/48 hr pass is 30Euros per adult, what is that called? Yes I do not need an ID card that you describe. Why do you suggest buying the 3 day/72 hour "time limited" pass instead of the 2 day? I am trying to save money since we won't need the vaporetto the day we get there, just the Alilaguna from the airport. On our departure day we want to take the vaporetto to the train station early in the morning, so if we start the clock on the vaporetto pass in the afternoon on our first full day that would be covered in the 48 hour time period.
I want to take the Alilaguna from the airport all the way to the Rialto stop, without having to take a bus to Piazzale Roma, that is something we can do right? It seems like it would be easier than loading onto a bus, then unloading, and loading onto the boat.

Since the Alilaguna is a different company (?) than the vaporetto, the clock on the vaporetto pass would not start until we validate it before our first vaporetto trip, correct? Thanks for taking a look at this for me.

OK, here is my analysis. If you buy 48 hour passes it will cost you adults 30 EUR, then you buy an advance Alilaguna ticket for 14 EUR, so you have spent 44 EUR per adult. You also have to buy Alilaguna tickets for the teenagers at 14 EUR a pop, plus there Rolling Venice cards for 28 EUR (6 for the card and 22 for the pass). So your total outlay is 44 X 2 plus 42 X 2 = 172 EUR. My way is 46 X 2 plus 34 X 2 = 160. You did say you were trying to save money did you not?

Now the Alilaguna requires you to make your way from the airport to the airport dock, which is almost 1/2 mile from the airport. Good news is that there is a moving walkway most of the way. The boats go every 30 minutes and it takes 54 minutes to get to Rialto with several stops along the way. The bus is at the airport front door and goes every 15 minutes and takes 24 minutes to get to Piazzale Roma, then about 100 feet to transfer to the vaporetto. The No 2 vaporetto goes every 12 minutes and takes 12 minutes to get to Rialto with only one stop at the train station. Now I calculate travel time in the worst case scenario. Seems like the timing is always you just miss the boat and have to wait for the next one. That means with the Alilaguna, it could take 1 hour and 24 minutes to get to Rialto. With the bus+vaporetto, worst case is 1 hour and 3 minutes

Now lets talk about the quality of the ride. As you mentioned, you have to get on the bus with your luggage. But the bus is right at the exit door of the airport, and it is a low floor bus and open in the middle, so plenty of room for luggage. At Piazzale Roma, it is about 100 feet to the dock and board the vaporetto for a lovely ride down the Grand Canal to Rialto.
With the Alilaguna, even with the moving walkway it is 10 minutes to get to the dock. The boats ride low in the water with dirty windows that you cannot see out of. You ride packed together with all the other passengers with a pile of luggage in the middle. Don't take my word, read reviews.

Thank you Sam for the detailed comparison of taking Alilaguna from the airport vs the bus etc. That has definitely changed my mind on the transportation from the airport.
So the next question is, does it matter if I buy transportation tickets now, or should I just wait until we land, is there any benefit to buying now or later.

Sam, I can't find the 6Euro bus ride on the Venezia Unica website. I swear I saw it yesterday. The only thing I can find now is an 8Euro ride It says:
ACTV - Transfer Marco Polo Airport (one way ticket 75')AEROBUS Marco Polo Airport - Venice € 8,00
One-way bus ticket for travel from or to Venice Marco Polo Airport by land :
- AEROBUS line 5 from/to Venice Piazzale Roma
- BUS line 15 from/to Mestre Train Station
- BUS line 45 from/to Favaro Veneto

Is this the same thing and the price went up overnight or am I just not seeing it? Thanks!

I don't know of any benefit. If you buy ACTV Tickets on-line, you still have to retrieve them from a ticket machine at the airport by inputting the code they email you. Not much more difficult than just putting your credit card in the machine. You can also stop at the ACTV desk at the airport and buy them. That may be best fo getting the Rolling Venice cards.

Thank you Sam!