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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a 9pm return flight from holiday?

63 replies

Brieandme · 27/04/2023 19:53

Sorry this is probably a stupid question, but please bear with me - I have only flown a handful of times!

Going on holiday, flights and accommodation will be booked separately. For the dates we want to go, the only reasonably priced option for a return flight is at 9.30 at night. The hotel check out is 11am, and we'll be approx an hour and a half from the airport. There isn't tonnes to do near the hotel, it's not a resort as such but it's mainly tourist accommodation.
No kids with us.

Is this a reasonable plan or will this be a PITA? What do people tend to do if there's a big gap between hotel check out and return flights? I'm not sure if this is a usual part of travelling or if I'm just really bad at planning! The flights there we've got a few options, but the more convenient returns are literally double the price. Our return date is limited by what annual leave we've got (have to fit in with other people's booked holiday) so isn't easy to change.

OP posts:
HungryandIknowit · 27/04/2023 19:55

Leave your luggage at the hotel, go out for the day, pick it up and go to the airport. Simple!

YouveGotToGrooveIt · 27/04/2023 19:56

As above pp says, check with the hotel they have a luggage store (they very often do) and use that once you've checked out.

Then pick up your luggage at the end of the day to fly home.

whathaveyoudonelately · 27/04/2023 19:56

Most hotels let you hang out there, use the pool etc. then have a shower and head off to the airport.

Dontbelieveaword · 27/04/2023 19:57

Yeah, I've definitely done worse flights than that. Hotel will always provide you with luggage storage and hopefully a place you can get showered and changed later if you want. Grab an extra few hours round the pool, have a nice lunch , go buy some souvenirs. Not ideal, but definitely doable

Sunshineclouds11 · 27/04/2023 19:57

Some hotels have a room allocated for departures so you can freshen up before you head off to the airport.

MyLifeIsFullOfLemons · 27/04/2023 19:57

I wouldn’t like to do this.
I couldn’t spend all that time sunbathing as I’d be hot, covered in lotion & possibly sweaty & wouldn’t want to get on a flight like that. I also would find it exhausting if I was sitting just waiting for hours to go to the airport.
People do do it though. Some hotels let you pay to store your luggage & if there are poolside showers/changing rooms it gives you extra time by the pool I suppose.

chickywoo · 27/04/2023 19:58

It’s fine, I must admit I’ve never thought about flight times just go for the best price 😂 but most places will let you keep your bags etc somewhere, you’ll probs be leaving for the airport 5/6 ish so won’t be too long.
alternatively you can just pay for an extra night then you’ll have your room until you leave, or some places let you extend check out or have another room for a small fee.

youwouldthink · 27/04/2023 19:59

Don't forget you have 90 mins to airport and also 2 hour check in so really only at hotel till 6pm.
You could request late check out and if not hotels would normally hold luggage for you

Plump82 · 27/04/2023 19:59

We booked an extra night at the hotel which means we have it all day and can have a full last day at the beach, have dinner and then leave for the airport later.

Saffronn · 27/04/2023 19:59

Totally fine! Most hotels will let you hang around and shower as PPs say.

if not, working backwards you’ll probably have to leave by 6 ish. So, a stroll, a long lunch, another stroll and then reading a book over a lengthy coffee will fill your day very nicely.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 27/04/2023 20:00

If it's a package holiday and youve got a transfer to the airport, they will pick you up stupidly early, so for a 9pm flight they'll want you at the airport around six, so your pick up will be 4:30pm ish

So yeah, hang out by the pool, go for a walk, leave your luggage at the hotel.

Personally I absolutely hate late flights, they're often delayed because they're at the back end of possibly other delays so you get home about 5am and you feel like shit. Hope it's better for you! Grin

SoupedUpSue · 27/04/2023 20:00

You can also ask the hotel for late check out. Sometimes you have to pay a bit but can have the room until 3pm

Bluebells1970 · 27/04/2023 20:00

We did this last time and said never again. It was far too long a day, and we felt grubby after a day out but had nowhere to wash/change before the flight.

I'd pay the money for a better flight time personally.

Original poster
Brieandme · 27/04/2023 20:02

Ah that makes sense about a luggage store, thank you! I don't know whether we can still use the facilities after check out (hoping we can) but if not there's at least places nearby for lunch and the option of some clifftop/beach walks.

I'd prefer to have a 'base' but I really can't justify an extra £200 each + just to save a couple of hours (there are no morning flights, just some earlier evening)

OP posts:
60smusic · 27/04/2023 20:02

What we do is find out what the latest check out time is and how much they charge per hour after, then I compare it to booking the room for an extra night, but still checking out that evening, it usually ( for us) works out cheaper to book the room for an extra night and it means you can come and go as you please with access to the shower a sleep etc of course all hotels are different and have different tariffs.

iluvsummer · 27/04/2023 20:03

We usually get an early flight out and a late night back but I book the room for the extra night so we can just leave when it’s time to go to the airport. It means we can make the most of the last day, the kids can have a nap and we can shower before we leave without any rushing. It’s often not much more than booking a late check out.

Original poster
Brieandme · 27/04/2023 20:04

@LadyOfTheCanyon it isn't a package, which is why I'm a bit clueless about having to make decisions. The hotel will arrange a shuttle for us but I think we can negotiate times on that.

Fortunately it's not a long flight and we're not far from the airport at the other end.

OP posts:
babyrol · 27/04/2023 20:05

I'm going away in July and our flight home is at 11:30pm with checkout being at 11!! Not ideal but like you, no other suitable flights.

A lot of hotels offer a late checkout so that you can keep your room for longer (that's what we're going to do) and if not they all will have designated rooms where you can leave luggage anyway.

In my experience all of the hotels I've stayed at allow you to use the facilities on occasions like this. Enjoy OP 😊

Polis · 27/04/2023 20:07

We deliberately book late departure so that we get a full day at the end of a holiday. We either arrange a late checkout or load up our stuff into the car and go out for the day.

Probably not everybody’s cup of tea but we have a solar shower so getting clean before going to the airport isn’t a problem.

TheSnowyOwl · 27/04/2023 20:07

MyLifeIsFullOfLemons · 27/04/2023 19:57

I wouldn’t like to do this.
I couldn’t spend all that time sunbathing as I’d be hot, covered in lotion & possibly sweaty & wouldn’t want to get on a flight like that. I also would find it exhausting if I was sitting just waiting for hours to go to the airport.
People do do it though. Some hotels let you pay to store your luggage & if there are poolside showers/changing rooms it gives you extra time by the pool I suppose.

How do you know it’s hot or that the OP plans to sunbathe?

Doversole7 · 27/04/2023 20:07

Without kids it should be ok. I wouldn’t do it with kids though.

StillWantingADog · 27/04/2023 20:09

Yeah I’d do it I have dealt with midnigtish departures before.

it’ll be fine but personally I’d probably plan a “day out” of sorts cos I couldn’t be dealing with suncream and wet hair on the flight home. But have seen plenty of people on flights home looking like they literally just got off the beach.

drpet49 · 27/04/2023 20:10

MyLifeIsFullOfLemons · 27/04/2023 19:57

I wouldn’t like to do this.
I couldn’t spend all that time sunbathing as I’d be hot, covered in lotion & possibly sweaty & wouldn’t want to get on a flight like that. I also would find it exhausting if I was sitting just waiting for hours to go to the airport.
People do do it though. Some hotels let you pay to store your luggage & if there are poolside showers/changing rooms it gives you extra time by the pool I suppose.

This

purplecorkheart · 27/04/2023 20:11

Maybe contact the hotel now and enquire about a late check out. If not I would pack the night before. Go to the pool or have a lie in. Leave bags in luggage room. Grab a coffee and pastry. Then wander round and sit on the seafront watching the world go by. Then go for a very leisurely lunch in a nice restaurant. Go back to hotel, have a coffee in lobby. Get taxi to airport. Check in/go through security and try and find either a quiet spot and set up base, read a book or somewhere to watch people coming and going, take turns to look around the shops etc.

amylou8 · 27/04/2023 20:12

If the hotel it's at capacity they'll often let you book a late checkout for a few extra ££.