Many of the most convenient flights from Milan leave early in the morning. The first departures from Malpensa to European cities and to long-haul hubs leave around six or seven, and for travellers it means one thing: a very early start. The question we are asked most often is what time the car should arrive. The answer depends on where you are, the type of flight and how you like to travel. This guide explains how to work it out.
How long the drive takes at that hour
Malpensa is about 50 km north-west of central Milan. In normal daytime traffic the drive from the centre takes about fifty minutes. Before dawn, with empty roads, it is often a little faster, around forty to forty-five minutes from the centre. From Milano Centrale the drive is a similar distance. From Linate, on the other side of the city, it is about 66 km and takes around fifty-five minutes in normal traffic, less early in the morning.
From Lake Como the drive is about fifty minutes from the town of Como, and around an hour and a half from Bellagio. From Lake Maggiore, Stresa is about an hour from Malpensa. These are the drives where an early start matters most, because the alternatives at that hour are limited.
How early to be at the airport
Airlines set their own recommendations, and you should always check yours. As a general guide, many travellers aim to arrive about two hours before a flight within Europe and about three hours before a long-haul flight, especially if they have bags to check in or need to complete passport control. If you are travelling in business class, have priority security or no checked luggage, you may choose a shorter margin. Families with children usually prefer a longer one.
Working out the pick-up time
The calculation is simple: take the departure time, subtract the time you want to be at the airport before the flight, then subtract the drive time and a small safety margin. For example, for a seven o'clock flight within Europe from central Milan, aiming to arrive two hours early, you would want to be at Malpensa at five, and leave the centre at about four or a little after. For a long-haul flight at the same time, you would leave around three.
When you book, tell us the flight time, the terminal if you know it and how early you want to be at the airport. We suggest the pick-up time and confirm it in writing. If you prefer, we simply propose a time based on the flight, and you can adjust it.
Which terminal
Malpensa has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles most full-service airlines and long-haul flights; Terminal 2 is used mainly by easyJet. They are about 5 km apart, around eight minutes by car. Check your ticket or the airline's website for the terminal, and tell us. If you are not sure, the driver checks on the way.
What changes at that hour
Early in the morning there are fewer options for getting to Malpensa. The airport train does not run through the night, and the first departures may not leave early enough for the earliest flights. Taxis may need to be booked in advance. A pre-booked car with a fixed time removes the uncertainty: the driver arrives at the agreed time, waits outside your hotel or home and loads the luggage while you finish getting ready.
The night before
A few small things make the morning easier. Pack the night before and keep travel documents in one place. Check in online if your airline allows it. Leave your luggage near the door. If you are staying at a hotel, ask reception to prepare your bill the evening before, so checkout takes a minute. Tell us if you would like a bottle of water in the car.
Staying near the airport
Some travellers prefer to stay near Malpensa the night before a very early flight. That is a reasonable choice, but compare it with an early transfer: for many people, a night in their Milan hotel and a car at four in the morning is more comfortable than an extra check-in and checkout the evening before.
Choosing the vehicle
For one or two people with standard luggage, the Mercedes E-Class or S-Class. For families and groups, the Mercedes V-Class seats up to seven with luggage, and the Sprinter Luxury VIP carries up to eight. Fixed prices for Malpensa transfers are on our Malpensa page.
How to book
Send us the pick-up address, the flight number and time, the number of passengers and suitcases. We confirm the pick-up time and the fixed price in writing, usually within 30 minutes.