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Original poster

To arrive at the airport at 5am for a 6:20am flight?

221 replies

CroccyWoccy · 12/04/2024 20:39

Trying to figure out logistics for an early morning flight. Can’t get to the airport before 5am without staying the night before. Flight is 6:20am. Only flying with hand luggage, will have checked in online.

Is this doable or do I need to stump up for a hotel?

OP posts:
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stuckdownahole · 12/04/2024 21:04

As others have said, 5.30am is basically peak time at Stansted and security will be slow. Pay for the fast track and you should be OK.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 12/04/2024 21:04

DS got through JFK in 40 minutes last week. I'd say it's loads of time. Definitely done similar at Heathrow terminal 5 ( first tube out so around 5)

Mintearo7 · 12/04/2024 21:02

Agree to stay over. Unless you can afford a taxi - again a risk but not as risky as the train. It will be busy as all the low cost airlines go at silly o’clock from Stanstead.

saraclara · 12/04/2024 21:00

I've not done early at Stansted, but when I had a 6am flight from Luton, I was astonished to find the place manically busy. I'd naively thought it would be a quiet time!

So no, I wouldn't risk it, especially when talking public transport.

gindreams · 12/04/2024 20:58

Even getting off the train platform took ages at Stansted

Footinturf · 12/04/2024 20:57

I forgot to say we got the Stansted express and there was a big queue when we got off the train for ticket inspections.

Pinkl · 12/04/2024 20:57

i also think the national express coach might be a better option! I took an early morning - 6.50am - flight a few weeks ago from Stansted and security was pretty busy.

dizzydizzydizzy · 12/04/2024 20:57

Stay in a hotel. Trains get cancelled and delayed. There is no room for any error in your plan.

BlackSwan80 · 12/04/2024 20:57

You should pay for Fast track security at Stansted, that will really speed up getting through. With hand luggage only you should be fine catching your flight.

2chocolateoranges · 12/04/2024 20:56

I wouldn’t chance it, for a 6.20am flight , I’d be at the airport for 4am but I’m a stickler for being early. Airports stress me so the least amount of stress I can have the better.

Panicmode1 · 12/04/2024 20:56

I went to Warsaw via Stansted 3 weeks ago on a Thursday morning - 6.20 flight having only hand luggage and checked in online. It took 10 mins to get through security..if it was the school holidays or a weekend, maybe a different story, but it was all fine.

Foofedifiknow · 12/04/2024 20:56

Paying extra for the speedy security essential but yes prob ok

CJ0374 · 12/04/2024 20:54

Could you take national express bus in the early hours instead of the train and arrive earlier?

Inertia · 12/04/2024 20:54

No. Get a hotel.

SmallFY · 12/04/2024 20:54

Get a taxi or a nearby hotel.

For years it's been minimum 2 or 3 hours depending where you're flying to. (Unless you have fastrack/lounge etc in which case you can shave some time off.)

The last couple of years though I've had longer waits than ever in the past.

Medschoolmum · 12/04/2024 20:53

I think it's fine if you're happy to miss the flight.

I wouldn't risk it personally if you actually need to get on the plane. Your journey to the airport could be delayed for so many reasons.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 12/04/2024 20:53

Stanstead security takes aaaaaages I wouldn't risk it I'd rather stay over the night before

Topseyt123 · 12/04/2024 20:52

I wouldn't risk it.

We went through Stansted this morning at 5am and whilst not totally rammed it was still pretty busy, as it often is at that time. It took nearly an hour to get our bags dropped off (hold baggage) and get through security.

Georgethecat1 · 12/04/2024 20:51

What time is boarding? Assuming this might be 5.50am would give you 50min to get through all the checks etc. probably tighter than I would like but I like to be early as my anxiety isn’t great this stuff 😂

phoenixbiscuits · 12/04/2024 20:51

Why not get the last train the night before, and weigh up how crap that would be vs. getting there with so little time to spare?

Mumaway · 12/04/2024 20:50

If it were anywhere but Stansted you might be ok. Stansted we stayed the night before, went 3 hours before, but it took so long to drop our bags and get through security we missed out flight. Disaster.

Noodledoodledoo · 12/04/2024 20:50

Stansted is manically busy at that time of day so I would say it could be very tight, even with fast track as I have heard lots of reports of fast track not being quick as everyone opts for it.

I am last minute annie but even that is cutting it a bit too close for me.

shiningstar2 · 12/04/2024 20:49

Your plan doesn't allow any leeway for things being even slightly wrong. A traffic jam. Big queues at airport. For me it would be too stressful. Might go well ...might not. What would you be losing if it doesn't go well? Cost of flights? A holiday? A business meeting? Too risky for me, but some might be ok with it. One of those things where if things go well you congratulate yourself on saving the cost of a hotel ...but if there are even slight disruptions to your plan you are tense, anxious and potentially losing far more than the price of the hotel room.

Greyat · 12/04/2024 20:48

I wouldn't do it with a combination of minimal time at the airport and no allowance for train delays.

CaputDraconis · 12/04/2024 20:47

CroccyWoccy · 12/04/2024 20:42

It’s Stansted and yes I’d be relying on getting the first Stansted Express train of the day.

Sorry to say you don't have a chance.

The security is notoriously slow at Stansted

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