millridger

We will be returning a rental car to Malpensa very early in the morning to make a 6:20 am flight. Is the rental return lot for the major companies close to the terminal to allow for walking or is it customarily reached by a shuttle? If the latter , I doubt the rental office will be open nor would there be a shuttle running and I'd have to accomplish the return the evening before and use early morning hotel shuttle service. Anyone familiar with these logistics. Thanks.

jmunn

curious if you could share your experience you described above. we are doing the same with very early flight.
Thanks

ekscrunchy

The return lot is just outside the terminal; there is a short covered walkway leading to the lower level of the terminal; you have to go upstairs for the departure gates. It is only a 2-minute walk from the parking lot to the inside of the terminal.

When returning a car, look for signs saying "car hire" as you approach the terminal from the highway.

jmunn

Thanks for the detail. It sounds like the signage doesn't say "Rental Car Return". ha!
Since early morning departure Sunday 7am, how much time would you recommend we give ourselves to check-in for international flight (thru Paris)? From all my research, it appears MXP would be slightly larger in comparison to a "regional" airport in the U.S.?
Thanks for your reply

ekscrunchy

Since you are headed for Paris, you only need to check in an hour before departure. Having said that, I would plan to check in 90 minutes before departure. That terminal is large but it is well laid out and not confusing.

Because it says "car hire," and not "rental car return," we missed the turnoff last year! But this spring, we noticed that a map of the airport and the car return lots was available at the Europcar office which is on the ground floor of the terminal. If you do not see this, ask for it.

If you are renting your car there, take car with your bags while you are completing the paperwork.

jmunn

Again, thanks for the helpful advice. We are renting our car there at MXP, but I'm unsure of what your last sentence is recommending? Oh yeah, just curious, are most of the folks you ran into there and the surrounding area multi-lingual? Maybe able to speak English? Thanks again.

ekscrunchy

The last comment was made because I had read about a couple of tourists having their luggage stolen from the Europcar office at Malpensa. I am sure this is something that could happen anywhere, but since the office is right near the airport train station, there can be lots of people wandering by, so just make sure to be mindful of your luggage during the process of completing the rental paperwork. Do not make too much of this--I am just passing on something I read recently...who knows if it is even true!

As far as English speakers, what area are you referring to? Where exactly are you headed with the car?

drbb

Did this just a couple of weeks ago and as ekscrunchy states all the lots are together in one area close to Terminal 1. There is an elevator to go upstairs to the check-ins. When you drive into the airport area you may see signs in Italian that say "autonoleggio."

Big tip - in Term 1 there is no such thing as Delta check-in or Alitalia check-in desks etc. They are all used by all airlines. So when you get in check the big board for your flight and it will tell you what desk you need to go to for check-in.

I agree - keep your luggage with you - the auto rental area can be a zoo and it would be easy for someone to take it.

ekscrunchy

DRBB: Welcome back. I would love to hear about your trip!! Especially the food part, and the stay at La Favorita.

drbb

Will start posting a trip report soon. In one word: FABULOUS!

jmunn

Wonderful information - thank you for caring to post. We have a very short trip this weekend - we're bungee jumping in Switzerland Verzasca Dam, and then driving to Stresa/Lake Maggiore for Saturday night before flight out early morning Sunday. Any info you can pass along about Stresa would be helpful. Thanks again!