thanks for the great feedback, all valid points:
- if they get comfortable going to florence metropole, i have already confirmed to get the early check-in. florence metropole is just like 5kms from the airport, so its not long taxi ride for them
- if they decide to wait, then its going to be at the max 2/3 hours, which i know in inconvenient but dont want to force them to do anything for which they are not comfortable
- i am going to research on airport transfers.

but thanks for confirming that there is only 1 baggage collection area and as FlyingHoustonian FlyingHoustonian there is a bar, so that might be a option to wait.