is 5 minutes enough time to transfer trains at milan centrale station?

I would not cut it that close. If you can't take an earlier train to Milano, consider spending the night there. What if your train from Como is one minute late?

The 6:36 train from Como is the earliest and arrives at 7:20. If we get to the airport at 8:46 (because we had to take the 7:55 express train rather than the 7:25) would that be a problem if our flight left at 9:45? Does anyone know how strict Vueling is about arrival at the airport?

According to Vueling's website, the check-in desk closes 40 minutes prior to departure, and you must be at the boarding gate 30 minutes prior to departure. Just depends on how risk-averse you are. Me, I'd spend the last night in Milan.

Como-Milano-MXP is a lot of road; as the bird flies, Como is closer to MXP than Milan. Check if you can use the shortest itinerary: Como nord lago (the small commuter station near the lake) - Saronno and board the MXP express in Saronno. Timetable at http://www.trenord.it/

The website won't let me choose serrano. As soon as I enter Como Nord Lago as departure site, it gives me only 2-3 choices for destination, none of them serrano. Any suggestions?

I just looked up Vueling reviews and it seems they are quite unreliable with delayed or cancelled flights. maybe a flight to Paris may not be the best idea. There are two train options-- one from Milan to Paris and one from Como to Paris, changing trains in Zurich. The flight would potentially get us into Paris much earlier (IF it is on time!) but the trains may be more reliable and easier to manage. Flight would get us into Orly airport at 11:40. Trains would be around 4:30 and 5:30 pm.

looks like if I choose Como Nord Borghi, it will let me choose Saronno as the destination. I'm not sure where Borghi is--the closest station to the hotel in Como is Como San Giovanni.

Brilliant! Saves time and money and adds flexibility. Since both the Malpensa Express trains originating at Cadorna and Centrale stop at Saronno, there are 4 trains per hour. Even If you miss the first connection at Saronno, there is another one 8 minutes later. And instead of costing 16.80 euro (4.80 plus 12) from Centrale, it now will cost 9.90 euro (2.90 plus 7). Think of the extra Espressos you can get with the savings.
Edit, What hotel are you staying? N Lago is the terminus at the lake. Borghi is the next station away from the lake.

I have a couple of horror stories with Vueling, but if that is the issue you can consider flying Easyjet from MXP. Even Air France should not be too expensive if you reserve well in time.

Como San Giovanni is on the international railway line from Milan to Switzerland. Como nord lago is the lakeside terminus of a commuter line from Milan on the former Ferrovie Nord network. If you want to leave from Como SG you have no other choice than go on the international line all the way to Milan and then backtrack on the commuter line. If you leave from Como nord lago you just have to change in Saronno, where the airport line branches off the commuter line. On the trenord website just write Malpensa Aeroporto as the final destination and it will find the connection.

Could you confirm if you're actually staying in the town of Como, or another town along the lake? It may save some time if you check-in and print your boarding pass online, but of course you'll still have to stop at the baggage drop.

The hotel is Plinius, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 33. It appears to be closest to the Giovanni station. I did figure out how to get train schedule using Como Nord Lago as departure and Seronno as arrival. Not sure how long it will take to get from the hotel to the Como Nord Lago station.

Your hotel is between San Giovanni station and Nord Lago station. About 1500 ft from San Giovanni and 2500 ft from Nord Lago.

Crissy, use the TreNord link for the whole schedule search, now, not Trenitalia. They are "independently operating" the majority of those departures. I get lots of morning schedule results from Como Nord Lago station, regardless of whether I enter Saronno or Malpensa as the destination. Watch spelling, as well.

crissy,

Be sure to note the correct spelling of Saronno when you buy your ticket.

The answer to your original question is: no, for the reasons given above.
Too much at stake. Murphy's law is even more applicable in Europe travel, than in the US during the course of your non-travel life.

Crissy,

I wouldn't recommend it... You may want to consider staying in Milan the night before your flight as others have suggested.

If you stay near the historic center & Cadorna train station, the 'Malpensa Express' train gets to Malpensa in 35 minutes.

The 'Malpensa Express' train leaves from track 1 or 2.

Check 'Malpensa Express' train schedules here:http://www.trenord.it/EN/

You will need to type:
From: MILANO N.CADORNA
To: MALPENSA AEROPORTO