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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hope my children won’t be toooo tired after a midnight flight?

195 replies

Carla6 · 18/04/2023 09:50

Hi, we’re flying back from Greece right at the end of the summer holidays and I hoped my children would sleep on the plane back so booked it for the night before they start back at school as that was much cheaper. Now I’m wondering if I’ve messed up as it’s a midnight flight landing at 2am! Then a 2 drive home once we get luggage…I didn’t think this through properly when booking. Has anyone had a journey back like this and how were their children the next day and following day, tiredness wise?! I mean I can’t actually move the flights now but I’m just wondering how much of a mistake I’ve made! Any tips for comfy sleeping on the plane?! Thanks!

OP posts:
Kitcaterpillar · 18/04/2023 11:14

brooksidebackside · 18/04/2023 10:59

What about you though? Would you manage with staying awake all night and not getting to bed until the children were in school?

Show quote history

Yes?

Has noone on this website ever done anything vaguely chaotic?!

myheartmyhead · 18/04/2023 11:14

Hollyhead · 18/04/2023 09:55

They’ll be fine in school being tired for one day! Some of you are such wimps!

This!

Angebot · 18/04/2023 11:16

Carla6 · 18/04/2023 09:50

Hi, we’re flying back from Greece right at the end of the summer holidays and I hoped my children would sleep on the plane back so booked it for the night before they start back at school as that was much cheaper. Now I’m wondering if I’ve messed up as it’s a midnight flight landing at 2am! Then a 2 drive home once we get luggage…I didn’t think this through properly when booking. Has anyone had a journey back like this and how were their children the next day and following day, tiredness wise?! I mean I can’t actually move the flights now but I’m just wondering how much of a mistake I’ve made! Any tips for comfy sleeping on the plane?! Thanks!

I've always had to keep my Kids off that extra day
Sleeping on a plane can never make up for a good night sleep in a bed

brooksidebackside · 18/04/2023 11:16

@Kitcaterpillar

Just to clarify, I have done many chaotic things and pulled many alnighters. I was looking it from my ability now though, which is a definite no. That doesn't mean I have never done things.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 18/04/2023 11:17

If it wasn't the first day of a new school year I'd say most children could probably power through.

But even assuming everything runs on time, will you really have all their uniforms sorted? Will they need to go to breakfast and/or after school club? If you're back at work, what will you do if your flight is delayed or you get stuck on your way home from the airport?

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/04/2023 11:20

Not ideal with it being the first day back. My dd would probably have coped but she’s a sturdy thing most of the time. I wouldn’t do it though as she has a medical condition, which could be triggered. What ages are the children? The first day back for dd was a big thing a primary.

cornflakesandtea · 18/04/2023 11:23

We've done it. We were delayed by hours and ended up the last flight out of the airport. We found some benches and got the kids to nap there. Got home at a ridiculous hour and sent them to school that day. They were fine. A little tired but they went to bed early that evening and woke up the next day as normal.
Enjoy your holiday.

Bluegrass · 18/04/2023 11:24

I think I’d play it by ear and see how much they sleep during the journey.

As for me, I’ve gone without sleep all night and then gone into work, it’s certainly doable as a one off. Having said that, when I was booking flights for Greece this summer I saw all those good deals for return flights that left ridiculously late…but sucked up the additional cost to come back at a much more civilised hour. I might be able to do it, but only if I have to!

BitOutOfPractice · 18/04/2023 11:24

brooksidebackside · 18/04/2023 10:56

They land at 2 am and have a 2 hour drive, add an hour to navigate plane to car. Then get in and sorted and it's almost 6am.

There is no way I could do it.

Show quote history

Not about you and what you could do though is it @brooksidebackside ? I could and have done exactly this.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 18/04/2023 11:25

Crunchymum · 18/04/2023 10:39

it’s a midnight flight landing at 2am! Then a 2 drive home once we get luggage

That's if everything runs on time.

I think you need to consider changing your flights.

That's the main issue I think.

Flights rarely, if ever, run to schedule - especially short haul ones, so you're likely to be a lot later getting home than you think.

There's no way I'd arrange to go to work the day after arriving home from a holiday at 4am, especially not if I'd had to sit on a noisy plane and then drive two hours back home as well.

toomuchlaundry · 18/04/2023 11:25

Most people who do all nighters survive on caffeine!

brooksidebackside · 18/04/2023 11:29

@BitOutOfPractice

Not about you and what you could do though is it @brooksidebackside ? I could and have done exactly this.

Which is why I posed the question 'what about you' Confused

Ugzbugz · 18/04/2023 11:34

We got in at 5am once and my son who was about 6 still got up an hour or so later. Always been an early riser. He didn't have school but qas nonstop all day so would have been fine. He did sleep on the plane and again in the taxi.

Abouttimemum · 18/04/2023 11:35

Hang on are they literally going to be at school at 9am after just getting home at 5am ish? Not a chance!

toomuchlaundry · 18/04/2023 11:43

How old are they?

BellePeppa · 18/04/2023 11:54

This happened to us once, we arrived home late and kids had to go to school the next day, very tired. My son will still bring it up occasionally and it was ten years ago!

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 18/04/2023 11:54

Abouttimemum · 18/04/2023 11:35

Hang on are they literally going to be at school at 9am after just getting home at 5am ish? Not a chance!

Yeah they'll be up nearly as soon as they've got into bed! They may sleep on the plane, but the harder part is going to be the pissing about between plane and drive home. Disembarking, passport control, luggage.

If you really want them in the next day I'd see if there are any priority services you can pay for at the airport. I think some offer accelerated passport control don't they?

Nap1983 · 18/04/2023 12:00

I’d just keep them off for a day. No big deal, it’s one day. They do next to nothing on The first day back anyway and chances are they moved into their new classes prior to holidays. It is very unreasonable to expect them to go to school on no sleep. They’d learn nothing that tired anyway

lovemelongtime · 18/04/2023 12:03

First day of school they do fk all. Just keep them off, in the whole lifetime of schooling it won't kill them

LemonPledge555 · 18/04/2023 12:12

I thought we were cutting it fine coming back from Disney in Paris 2 days before school startEd 😂

oops!

you’ll not do it again OP.

Is there any chance you can pay to change the flight to a more reasonable one?

FrenchandSaunders · 18/04/2023 12:21

Not the end of the world is it. They'll have had 6 weeks off school chilling, inc a holiday abroad. Early night the next night.

Mummymn · 18/04/2023 12:24

You've also not considered delays. We had huge delays last year and got home hours and hours later than expected. My kids were fine the next say but didn't have school!

RhiWrites · 18/04/2023 12:30

Flights from Greece are often delayed. I think you will find your kids are completely unfit for school the next day. The last time I did a flight like this I didn’t get back until 5am and was too wrecked for work.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/04/2023 12:30

Why are some posters acting like the first day of the school year is so precious? If secondary then yeah maybe but Primary? Nope!

RideACockHorseToSunburyCross · 18/04/2023 12:31

"I have a 5yr old and a 2yr old"

Which is why you don't understand the "frothing". You've got no idea.

There's no way I'd do this to my kids. The first day of a new school year is a big one. They should be having an early night and getting up ready to see their friends, new teachers, fresh uniform, new classrooms, pegs, books, routines.

It's fucking cruel to send them in after 2 hours sleep or make them miss the first day just because you wanted to save a few quid on the flight. Selfish parents but then you see it all the time.