school trip for 13 year olds which involves setting off at 2am?

[Mintyy]

My child is going on a 3 day school trip to a European country.

Today I find out that the timing of the outward bound flight means that we have to get her to school for boarding the coach by 2.15am.

Aibu to think this is nuts?

Sounds like they are trying to avoid an extra overnight stay.

Yabu.

It isn't nuts.

It is bat shit crazy.

All the Alton towers trips from school round here leave about that time and return about midnight the next night.

Dd1 is off on one next week.

Sounds about right, school can't control the time of the flights. And it was probably cheaper than day flights. DSD went on a school trip to France when she was 13 and had to be at school for 3.30am in order to make the flight.

Yes - to adults it's nuts. To a coach full of 13 years olds it's the best thing ever

My DC always had to be at school at that sort of time for school trips abroad, as did I many moons ago. It's so they can catch early ferries/planes and make the most of the time they have. The kids don't seem to mind ime.

We always set off in holiday at 2am to avoid traffic delays

I guess you don't live near an airport then? Your choice really.

Your kid will love it, just make sure they have a very early night!

MFL teacher here in the north of England. This is pretty standard, it's a full days journey to get to Calais alone and we always have to leave between midnight and five in order to arrive early evening in Northern France. It lowers the cost significantly too.

I think I would have liked advance warning. There's every chance I wouldn't have signed up for it had I know the finer details re flight times. Return flight gets back at midnight, home by about 2am (again) I guess.

Very very common. My dd's school fucked up their trips so some kids went on one trip that arrived back at midnight & had to be back at school 2 hours later for a day trip to France & Belgium. Mental.

Is it to Paris perchance ??

It's a glorified booze cruise btw, our coach limped home from the weight of all the grog.

Both my DC have done stupid o'clock departures on foreign school trips. They loved it. Some kids even boarded the coach in PJs, armed with pillows and blankets, although I doubt there was much sleeping actually done.

2.30 am for a day trip to the Battlefields for my 13 year old next week. It's all just a big adventure for them. When I was 14, we did a 24 hour trip by train and boat to Germany with nowhere to sleep but the seat you were allocated. We did have three weeks to get over it though before the return journey.

I live in London, TickleMePurple. Silly me for making that choice 29 years ago. I really should have thought "oh, now wait, what if a future child of mine wants to go on a very early morning flight for a school trip in 2014. Better make sure I live close to the relevant London airport".

Mine did this at a similar age

Very exciting for the kids

A killer for the parents who had to go to work at 6am the next day...

It's a one-off though. Just go with it.

Send DH to do the drop off and stay in bed I did!

Midnight is ok Derek. You just don't go to bed. What is dd supposed to do sleepwise bearing in mind it is a school day on the day before she goes? What am I supposed to do bearing in mind I will work my usual 8 hours the day before and the day after she goes?

Just. suck. it. up. I guess.

threecheeses errrr, not for most schools in my experience - somewhat unprofessional...

You are making massive assumptions about the presence of a dh there FairyCaravan. I also have a younger child. So does he have to get dragged out of bed at 1.30am to drive his older sister to school? None of you would advocate leaving him home alone in the small hours.

DD goes to bed at 8 and gets up at 1:30 am. She sleeps on the plane and coach if she is tired.

You go to bed at 8, 9 or 10, get up at 1:30 and go back to bed when you get back.

What about the teachers? They will have had a normal working day before, they can't just sleep on the plane and bus because they will be responsible for 30 or 40 kids.

The travel companies often deal with the flight times or ferry times based on cost. The exact details won't be known at the time the trip is advertised to parents. Do you actually think teachers enjoy these early starts and deliberately put them in? If it avoids an extra night awayor an extra day of cover required which will increase costs its the best option.

There's every chance I wouldn't have signed up for it had I know the finer details re flight times

really? why? it's only two late nights, you'll be back in bed by 3am.

cant believe someone would make the decision not to send their child on a school trip based on it meaning a couple of late nights.

all my school trips set off during the night. we loved it.

What about the teachers?