LIN
- To city center
- Milan · ~7.1 km
- Time to city
- ATM Metro M4 (Linate Aeroporto) · ~12 min to San Babila (ATM)
All airportsCredit: Saggittarius A 
Credit: Pierre André
Airport compare
LIN vs MXP
On the ground
MXP
- To city center
- Milan · ~40 km
- Time to city
- Malpensa Express · 50 min
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
LIN8.6+1.1
MXP7.5
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
LIN7.6+0.8
MXP6.8
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
LIN7.2+0.3
MXP6.9
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
LIN9.2+1.1
MXP8.1
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
LIN6.4
MXP7.0+0.6
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
LIN7.4+0.5
MXP6.9
Best for
LIN
ITA Airways and easyJet passengers bound for central Milan without the Malpensa trekPriority Pass holders using Leonardo airside (Gates 17–18) or landside Piranesi before securityTravellers who want ATM M4 (€2.20) instead of a metered taxi into San Babila / DuomoDomestic and EU/UK short-haul flyers who value a compact single-terminal city airport
MXP
Direct rail to MilanStar Alliance long-haulFast Track security
Watch out for
LIN
Not Malpensa — no long-haul hub product; cross-town connections need M4 + rail/coach bufferClassic 100 ml liquids rules (SEA still publishes standard LAG guidance)Single primary runway 17/35 plus capped slots — fog and storms can slide the whole bankPiranesi Lounge closes 18:00; late banks need Leonardo or ITA Runway (status), not landside PP
MXP
T1 non-Schengen crowdsLimited airside dining lateShuttle dependency for T2
Amenities and tips
LIN
Metro M4 Linate AeroportoLeonardo Exclusive Lounge (PP)Piranesi Classic Lounge (PP, landside)Autogrill Motta / Alemagna / Saporè / TemakinhoITA Airways Runway LoungeBoarding-area water dispensers
Classic 100 ml security — Linate is fast, not magic
Standard liquids rules; compact terminal still queues on weekday morning banks.
One renovated city terminal — gates are short, not scattered
Single terminal; SEA airside lounge by Gates 17–18, landside Piranesi before security.
Autogrill Motta / Alemagna / Saporè — city-airport café scale
Autogrill Motta / Alemagna / Saporè / Temakinho cover most banks; lounges for calm.
MXP
Fast TrackMalpensa ExpressVIP LoungesDuty-freeFree WiFiFamily rooms
2.5 hours for extra-Schengen
Extra-Schengen ~2.5–3 h; Fast Track helps check-in more than the filter.
T1 long-haul / T2 easyJet only
T2 = easyJet; T1 = everyone else. Free shuttle — no airside walk.
T1: Montale / Gae Aulenti — T2: Alda Merini only
T1 PP = Montale / Monteverdi / Pergolesi; Gae Aulenti is paid Club SEA; T2 = Alda Merini only.
Lounges
Leonardo Exclusive Lounge
Main terminal (airside, Gates 17–18)
- Priority Pass (digital cards accepted per PP listing); maximum 2-hour stay; children under 2 free; separate smoking area noted on PP
- Day pass: Paid entry via the official Milan Airports Shop VIP Lounge product — boarding pass required; shop marketing describes unlimited stay for purchased tickets
- Business class ticket: Selected airline Business Class / elite pathways as published by SEA and your carrier — verify with the operating airline before you travel
ITA Airways Runway Lounge
Main terminal (airside Schengen, near Gates A17–A21)
- Lufthansa: ITA Airways Business Class on flights operated by ITA (and published Lufthansa Group partner rules as listed on ita-airways.com lounge access pages)
- Star Alliance Gold: Volare Premium / Executive and Miles & More Senator / HON Circle / Frequent Traveller pathways as published for Runway Linate — verify the current ITA access matrix
- ITA co-branded American Express: Selected co-branded ITA American Express cards as listed on the ITA lounge access page — not US Amex Platinum lounge access
Piranesi Classic Lounge
Main terminal (landside, Departures Area AB / check-in floor)
- Priority Pass / LoungeKey-style programmes (digital cards accepted per PP listing); PP conditions: maximum 2-hour stay; children under 2 free; no smoking including vaping; no dress code
- Day pass: Paid entry via the official Milan Airports Shop VIP Lounge product — boarding pass required; marketed as the pre-security Classic lounge
- Priority Pass: Pre-booking available on Priority Pass listing when the partner enables it
Montale Exclusive Lounge
Terminal 1 · airside, non-Schengen North Satellite
- Priority Pass: Maximum two-hour stay; children under 2 enter free; access can be restricted when busy.
- Admirals Club members or eligible primary Citi / AAdvantage Executive cardholders need a same-day American-operated-flight boarding pass.
Lufthansa Lounge
Terminal 1
- Lufthansa: Access depends on ticket class or frequent-flyer status; Lufthansa also says eligible economy passengers may buy access, subject to availability.
- Business class ticket
- Star Alliance Gold
- Amex Platinum: Listed in the American Express Lounge Finder for eligible US Platinum Card members.
Monteverdi Classic Lounge
Terminal 1 · airside, South Satellite Schengen departure area
- Priority Pass: Maximum two-hour stay; children under 2 enter free; access can be restricted when busy.
Score summaries
LIN · Milan’s close-in city airport: 11.08M SEA passengers in 2025, M4 metro to San Babila in ~12 minutes, ITA + easyJet short-haul grids, and Leonardo/Piranesi Priority Pass lounges — offset by classic 100 ml security and a single main runway that still bows to Po Valley fog.
MXP · Solid mid-tier European airport with efficient rail links but dated facilities and occasional peak congestion.