Air Travel in Venice

Air Travel

Carriers

When flying internationally, you must usually choose between a domestic carrier, the national flag carrier of the country you are visiting, and a foreign carrier from a third country. You may, for example, choose to fly Alitalia to Italy. National flag carriers have the greatest number of nonstops. Domestic carriers may have better connections to your home town and serve a greater number of gateway cities. Third-party carriers may have a price advantage.

Alitalia -- in addition to other major European airlines and smaller, privately run companies such as Meridiana and Air One -- has an extensive network of flights within Italy. Travel agents at home or in Italy can help find discounts for domestic trips, which may include a 50% family reduction and up to 30% off certain night flights.

There are fewer direct flights to Venice than to the more central travel hubs of Rome and Milan. Delta Airlines and Alitalia have direct flights to Venice from the United States. Direct service from Heathrow to Venice is provided daily by Alitalia and British Airways. One option is to fly into Milan and then go by train to Venice; the trip itself takes three hours, but getting from the airport to the station and catching your train can take an additional two or three hours.

To & From Italy

Air Canada (888/247-2262 in U.S.; 0870/524-7226 in U.K.; 800/919091 in Italy. www.aircanada.com). Air New Zealand (800/262-1234 in U.S.; 800/663-5494 in Canada; 0800/028 4149 in U.K.; 13-24-76 in Australia; 0800/737 000 in New Zealand. www.airnz.com). Alitalia (800/223-5730 in U.S.; 0870/544 in U.K.; 61/292-44-2222 in Australia; 06/65641 in Rome; 848/865641 elsewhere in Italy. www.alitalia.it). American Airlines (800/433-7300 in U.S.; 02/69682464 in Milan. www.aa.com). British Airways (800/403-0882 in U.S. and Canada; 0870/850-9850 in U.K.; 1300/767-177 in Australia; 0800/274-847 in New Zealand; 06/52492800 in Italy. www.britishairways.com). Continental Airlines (800/231-0856 in U.S.; 02/69633256 in Milan; 800/296230 elsewhere in Italy. www.flycontinental.com). Delta Air Lines (800/241-4141 in U.S.; 06/65954406 in Italy. www.deltaairlines.com). Lufthansa (800/399-5838 in U.S.; 800/563-5954 in Canada; 0870/8377 747 in U.K.; 1300-655-727 in Australia; 0800 945 220 in New Zealand. www.lufthansa.com). Qantas (800/227-4500 in U.S.; 06/52482725 in Rome. www.qantas.com). Thai Airlines (800/426-5204 in U.S.; 61-1300-651-960 in Australia; 64-9-377-3886 in New Zealand. www.thaiair.com). United Airlines (800/241-6522 in U.S.; 02/69633707 in Milan. www.ual.com). US Airways (800/428-4322 in U.S.; 848/813177 in Italy. www.usairways.com).

Within Italy

Air One (06/488800 in Rome; 848/848880 elsewhere in Italy. www.air-one.it). Alitalia (800/223-5730 in U.S.; 020/7602-7111 in U.K.; 06/65641 in Rome; 848/865641 elsewhere in Italy. www.alitalia.it). Alpieagles (041/599777. www.alpieagles.com). Meridiana (020/7839-2222 in U.K.; 06/478041 in Italy. www.meridiana.it).

Flying Times

The majority of flights available to Venice will be routed through another European hub, meaning your travel time can vary significantly. Direct flights from New York to Venice take about 9 hours, and to Milan 8 1/2 hours. Flying time to Milan is 10-11 hours from Chicago, and 11 1/2 hours from Los Angeles. It's 2 1/2 hours to fly from London to Venice. It takes travelers from Sydney about 24 hours to reach Rome, and another hour from Rome to Venice.