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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU: flight departure arrangements

70 replies

TiverMeShimbers · 15/06/2016 14:53

More of a WWYD.

Flight leaves at 06:00 on Monday morning.

You have to leave your home before 20:00 on Sunday night (can leave earlier)

Airport is 4 hours from your home.

You have arranged meet & greet airport car parking at the airport drop off zone.

Would you:

a) Leave home at 17:00. Drive to airport hotel. Go to sleep at 21:00 Leave at 03:20 to take car to meet & greet airport car parking at 03:30. (Cost = £85)

b) Leave home at 17:00. Drive to friend's house 1 hr from airport. Go to sleep at 21:00. Leave at 02:30 to take car to meet & greet airport car parking at 03:30.

c) Leave home at 20:00. Go straight to meet & greet airport car parking at 00:00. Stay up in airport all night until your flight leaves.

Opinions welcome about what would be the least hideous option.

thank you!

OP posts:
Ikeatears · 15/06/2016 14:55

If you can afford it, the first option

MrEBear · 15/06/2016 14:57

A or C,

mouldycheesefan · 15/06/2016 14:57

Option 1.
Airport premier inns are very cheap.
Or some hotels have free parking while you are away e,g holiday inn, and you wouldn't need the meet and greet.

Original poster
TiverMeShimbers · 15/06/2016 14:58

More info: Meet & greet parking is already paid for.

OP posts:
TheFullMinty · 15/06/2016 14:58

Sleep as early as possible at home leave home at midnight and sort the car at 4 giving you two hours before your flight?

Original poster
TiverMeShimbers · 15/06/2016 14:59

As said in the OP - you have to leave before 20:00 (for reasons that would out me).

OP posts:
AppleMagic · 15/06/2016 14:59

I would cancel meet and greet. Park car myself earlier on Sunday evening then go to hotel and try to maximise sleep. If that's possible.

Whatever happens don't do (c), either (a) or (b).

Mistigri · 15/06/2016 15:00

Are you checking luggage? Which airport?

I would do (a) and push back the car park meeting time by at least 30 mins, you don't need to be at the airport at 3.30 for a 6am flight. Depending on the airport, I'd probably get there at 4-4.30am.

Original poster
TiverMeShimbers · 15/06/2016 15:11

Yes checking luggage.

Don't want to say which airport, but not a London one.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 15/06/2016 15:12

a), and depending on airport and luggage leave it till later (you can amend the drop off)

Queenbean · 15/06/2016 15:13

Option B for me. Or A if you can afford it.

OBVIOUSLY you need to give us a little hint of why you have to leave home before 8pm....

mininionsteve · 15/06/2016 15:17

Could you drop the car off the night before then get a taxi to the airport hotel and sleep. Getting a little longer in bed as you don't have to worry about the car in the early morning then get a taxi or shuttle bus back to terminal?

Lovewineandchocs · 15/06/2016 15:17

Can you do c) but get a shuttle or something to the hotel then get a few hours sleep. Or do as AppleMagic suggests.

Lovewineandchocs · 15/06/2016 15:18

X post Smile

Scarydinosaurs · 15/06/2016 15:19

Option a

Cabrinha · 15/06/2016 15:20

I take early flights a lot.
Used to get up early for them. The older I get, the more I want to get close to airport night before and maximise morning sleep. But that's personal.

One thing to watch: don't bank on falling asleep at 21:00 - just because you're up early doesn't mean you're tired the night before! I find it best not to lie in bed fretting about being awake - just have a nice evening with friend and a normal bedtime. Catch up the sleep on plane, or early night on arrival.

icanteven · 15/06/2016 15:22

Do you have children with you? I would do A but get rid of car before checking into hotel. You may also be able to check luggage night before too.

I just booked our airport hotel (Bloc at Gatwick - brand new, looks fab) for the night before our 8am departure, but no car shenanigans.

Oysterbabe · 15/06/2016 15:22

Definitely A.

catbally · 15/06/2016 15:29

Be a bit wary of meet and greet. A lot of insurance companies don't cover you once you hand over your keys. If the car is damaged and the meet and greet people dispute it then you may not be insured with your own insurance.

Heratnumber7 · 15/06/2016 15:32

I would ask friend who lives an hour away to give me a lift and leave the car at their house. I have nice friends. Grin

blueskyinmarch · 15/06/2016 15:32

A if you can afford it, B if not.

Definitely not C. That sounds hideous.

lalalalyra · 15/06/2016 15:33

Is the airport hotel a short walk away or do they have a shuttle?

If so I'd do A, but tweak it. Leave when you need to leave. Rearrange meet & greet for earlier. Go to hotel, sleep as early as possible then go to the airport for around 4ish.

londonrach · 15/06/2016 15:34

A!

TattyCat · 15/06/2016 15:36

I'd leave home around 2pm, get to the hotel, have a nice relaxing bath and read for a bit then early night and up in time for meet & greet. I can't relax after a long journey so need a few hours to get tired.

I wouldn't go for B or C options. If with a friend, I'd be up chatting until late!

MrEBear · 15/06/2016 15:38

I actually think B is quite rude, you'd basically arrive at a friends house go to bed then leave in the middle of the night.