What is your cut off for getting an airport hotel?

disgust you? why? whats it got to do with you?

Hilarious that you’d ’just get the next flight’. So you’re assuming that just like busses there’d be another flight with seats available that you could jump on? And what about the cost of a last minute flight? You’ve not really thought this through.

I never said I was proud. Im just saying how I feel about it - no judgement on anyone else who gets stressed. I said that. Why are you judging me because I dont??? Weird.

Having had to get money back from an airline for a flight before, I would always stick with what the airline says - if you don't, you'll get diddly squat.

But of course this depends on disposable income - for us a foreign holiday is strictly once a year, we can't afford just to buy another flight.

I have thought it through though. I hate airports, so I aim for 90 mins prior to flight. I fly all the time. Long haul too (to oz). Ive never missed a flight. Twice I have had run to the gate - once when 20, and once this year when 52. I didnt actually need too but it said the gate was closing (it wasnt) and we actually ended up sitting at the gate for another 40 mins!!

For those few minutes of running and panic we went into giggle mode but also we were both in a 'well the worse that can happen is we just get another flight'. It wouldnt be the worse thing in the world. It would suck - but it wouldn't be awful. Thats all I meant.

Anyway, my method just seems to be raising others blood pressure and making them lash out at me for some reason. If you aren't going on holiday with me why do you care?

BTW I wont go on hols with anyone but my DP anymore. Other peoples early antics just arent for me.

Do three hots before mostly because I’m anxious but also because I get lounge access. I prefer sitting there worrying about missing my flight.

This. A lovely relaxed start to the holiday instead of stress.

Sometimes for a short haul the desk won’t open until two hours beforehand.
Unless I lived on top of an airport I would always stay overnight.

I was thinking the same @joycomesinthemornings - why do people care how early someone else arrives for their flight.

FWIW I live an hour from Gatwick and have been known to stay at an airport hotel for an 11am flight to Europe - what a fool I am!

I'm probably more cautious than most as my DH used to drive a national express coach to and from Gatwick and Heathrow and, not infrequently has sat on the M23 or M25 for 2-4 hours. I'm not risking it and as you say, not everyone can afford the costs associated with a missed flight.

We're all different

If I'm flying anywhere I always see if the KLM route via Schiphol from Exeter will work before I look elsewhere.

I don't go to the US anymore but the flights via Dublin are useful.

why do people care how early someone else arrives for their flight.

Because if the thinking is "I absolutely must arrive 3 hours before" rather than "I'd like to arrive three hours before but can cope with less" it might feed into the question posed in the OP - the cut off for getting a hotel night before or not...

I wasn't judging you. I've done it myself plenty. I was just saying it wasn't a good idea for OP as she's clearly anxious. It is her asking for advice after all.

"Weird". Oh well I've been called worse. Better than paranoid I suppose 😂😂😂.

Exactly. The OP is basing her decision on a factor that isn't correct, ie you must be at the airport 3 hours in advance.

However given that she has a very long journey, there could be travel disruption such as bad weather and she can use the time gained from travelling the day before productively in this case travelling the day before could be the right choice in this case.

But it still doesn't mean that someone closer to the airport, on a tight budget, with a 10 am flight needs to pay for a hotel they can't afford to avoid a very early flight if they're under the illusion they need to be there by 7 am.

I'm sure they don't but fine, it's your time you're wasting as they say.

I can't find anything from Easyjet on this point but Bristol Airport says 'We recommend you arrive in the terminal at least two hours ahead of the scheduled time of departure'.

Note that's a recommendation, which isn't the same as a requirement and it says 2 hours, not 3.

Yep..the OP has a sensible plan, works for them, that's fine, no argument from me..but I do get slightly uncomfortable when recommendations get quoted/re- phrased as being rules.

I live 10 miles from my local airport and regularly stay the night before just because I can! It's like starting the holiday early as I relax earlier.

And the op has explained that she is following the airline advice. There’s no need to keep going on about it. And I disagree that they wouldn’t need an overnight hotel necessarily. All it takes is one bag accident or travel disruption. I absolutely would be staying the night before in op’s situation.

Jeez...there's no need for that.

I did say your plan worked for you, no argument from me....

I knew you would be in the south west!

Coaches are relatively reliable, more so than trains.

The other option, if you are flying from London, is the sleeper train.

I'm 45 minutes from the airport so usually only for an early flight. However, now Dakota is open at Manchester airport I'd only stay for an early afternoon flight - the hotel is gorgeous, the cocktails are lethal and the breakfast is great so I'd want my moneys worth 😀.

I’m hotel all the way when we have an early flight and we only live an hour from the airport and we drive!

I’m loving how dogged posters are being about the 2 hour/ 3 hour thing! Honestly in OP’s situation I would go with the hotel even if I was on the side of arriving 2 hours before.

Depends. For that time I would travel on the day but if I got a cheap hotel, I’d travel up the night before and extend the holiday. Premier Inn are usually reasonable. Nothing worse than being stuck in traffic or there’s an accident.

I’d definitely go the night before and stay in an airport hotel . You can’t depend on the transport arriving on time or there being no traffic delays, motorway closures etc . It would put you at ease , you can have a nice meal at the hotel and a good breakfast, lie in and a chill before flying .
when we’ve stayed in airport hotels you can usually drop your bags in the evening so all you need to do is go through security with your hand luggage .
Must admit we treat it as part of the holiday and really enjoy travelling the day before .