Early morning flight, stay up all night or try sleep?

[Belindabelle]

Going on holiday soon. 6.30 flight and need to leave for the airport by 2am.

Should I just stay up the night before or go to bed around 8pm and try to sleep for a few hours. It’s only a 3 hour flight so doubt I will sleep on the plane.

Doesn’t seem much point in staying in airport hotel the night before as need to be there by 4am anyway.

My sleep is rubbish at the moment (menopause). I am getting too old for this shit. Wish I could afford a private jet to fly at a civilized time!

We always stay at the airport. Having done it the stay up all night at home wah or try to go to bed early at home way the hotel is by far the most comfortable of options. Jet2 do twilight check ins so we drop luggage for 8pm and then go to the hotel and in bed for 9. Maybe a get a few hours sleep in.

I loathe driving to the airport at 2 in the morning so this is how we always do it now. Our flights always seem to be early.

For an early morning flight, we now stay in a cheap airport hotel. It means we don't have to worry about road closures en route, or missing the alarm. We also have a meal go to bed early, and get up at 4 for a 6:30 flight.

I usually try to go to bed around 10pm and get a few hours. If you don’t manage to sleep the rest with eyes closed is beneficial especially if driving

How are you getting to the airport? We are about 1hr from our airport. We get a few hrs sleep, up, strong coffee then drive. If you aren't driving, you could try pushing through, but I'd personally get a few hours rest.

What time do you normally go to sleep? I go to sleep at 10pm so I would go to sleep. If you are normally going to sleep at midnight I wouldn't bother

I'd have to stay at an airport hotel if I lived that far away! I get up out of my own bed at 4am for a 6:30 flight!

DH will drive to the airport. He is great at sleeping and having naps. He will be asleep before take off and wake up when we land.

I would still book a hotel as our airport is 2 hours drive away and get there early, drop off cases if possible, have a meal, bottle of wine, shower, 'cuddles' assuming child free, watch a film and have some snacks and really get my holiday started in a relaxed way.

Even if I don't sleep, I'll be super chilled walking into the airport.

We have a 6 am flight , and had planned to leave at 1-30 am and drive ( DHs choice , as he’s driving )
Luckily, he’s changed his mind and we’re staying at an airport hotel
We will still have to get up early , but it’s a 10 minute drive not 2 hours

I'd definitely try (but probably fail) to get some sleep

We stay at a budget hotel at the airport and do twilight bag drop the night before (easyJet and Jet2 definitely do this, not sure if others do). So bags are all sorted and all you need to do in the morning is go straight to security. If we had a 6:30 flight I’d get up at 4:30, get washed and dressed, then security and gate via Pret to pick up some breakfast. If you go to bed early it’s not a bad night’s sleep.

If you book hotel and parking it’s often as cheap as parking

We just did a 6.30 am flight. We got a hotel at the airport the night before. We were in bed for 8.30pm, got up at 3.45am and were at check in at 4.15am. I I did sleep on the plane too.

We’ve got an 11am flight next year which I’m much happier about tbh.

I've just had a 6.05 flight last week. We did go to bed at 8pm the day before. Sleep by around 9pm. Get up at 2.30. Airport by 4.05. Arrived at 10am local time ( one hour ahead). We had a nap between 3-4pm then went to bed normal time. Worked really well.

I'd go to bed about 7/8 ish and set alarm for about 1am .. but I'm very good at dropping off early. Helps that it's dark at 7 now as well.

Do we have the same husband? 🤣

i would try and get a couple of hours sleep if possible if i was you.

I would sleep

I would have everything ready, then try to sleep from 10pm until about 1.15 / 1.30

But, as others have said, it is going to depend how good you are at napping or sleeping outside your normal bed time if you are usually a late to bed person.

I’ve done similar flight times i
always try and have a few hours sleep, go to bed about 9pm , 5 hrs sleep better than none for me.

If I went to bed at 8pm I’d fall asleep, so would do that and get up early.
I’m worse in an airport hotel. Too hot.

ia he also great at staying up and staying awake while driving?

i remember having to keep my own father awake on an airport drive at that sort of time after he hadn't slept. it was quite scary.

Go to bed a bit earlier than that i would aim for around 5 pm set 2 alarms for midnight get up get ready and go. 8pm is too late by the time you got gto sleep you would hardly get one cycle in before having to wake- which is too little and you will feel more exhausted than if you didn't sleep.

Airport hotel, a couple of drinks and bed. Some things are definitely worth spending money on when travelling.

The thoughts of an early morning flight fills me with dread. I won't do it anymore unless there is no alternative. I can't go to sleep early, and hate getting up at stupid o'clock after a rough night tossing and turning. I'd be the same in an airport hotel TBH. But I'm only twenty minutes from the airport anyway.

I wouldn’t bother staying at the airport as you say, getting up at 4 rather than 2 doesn’t seem worth it. I would go to bed at 9 and hopefully get a few hours sleep.