6am flight putting me off going on holiday -aibu?

[getionnn]

Pretty much that.
I'm going to Gran Canaria for a week in 7 weeks time and I should be excited as it was a valentines present from OH
But he's booked a 6am flight
We are staying at an airport hotel the night before which is literally 2 mins walk to terminal (and small airport ) but I'm dreading it.
I hate being tired and will need to be up at 2.30am really.
We are going to Rhodes in September and it's a lovely 3pm flight.
I'm just filled with dread and worrying about being tired the whole day.
Aibu to feel this way ?

You don’t need to get to the airport more than 2 hours early. I would set the alarm for 3.30 to get there by 4am.

Have to admit I would never book a flight that early though, had a few about 8.40am and that’s my minimum

I hate flying at that time too and we always have those flights so I do it at least twice a year. You just have to get on with it though. I try to sleep on the plane and my husband is used to me being grumpy in the airport

I'd always go for an early flight if it's a sun holiday. Otherwise you spend your first day just waiting around to go. Take a nice hotel bath and go to bed early.

Honestly, get up and hour later. Breakfast at the airport, nap on the plane. Enjoy the rest of the day in Rhodes.

You absolutely do not need to be at a small airport three hours in advance or wear make up for a flight!

Up 3.45am. Shower. At airport for 4.15am

Is this your first flight abroad? You really do not need to be there 3 hours before.
You check in online in advance, and then you just need to do bag drop and airport security.
Bag drop for Ryanair can be a long queue, but security - most airports you can buy priority for about £5-£10.

For a 6am flight, I’d be getting there no early than 4am.

What’s this nonsense about putting on make up at 02:30 though? 😳
I mean, you do you. But if you HAVE to put it on that is contributing to you not changing a flight time to accommodate it… then it’s too much, and I think it’s an issue you would do well to work through.

For short haul Ryan air flights with bags to check in we arrive 90 mins before ( 60 mins if no other flights at that time with no bags) The most I would leave if anxious is 2 hours.
I’d set my alarm at 3:30 in your situation ( honestly if me probably 4am ) . Breakfast at the gate.

I meant skip breakfast before the flight, because OP mentioned it.
I agree with you, all one really needs to do before flight when staying at the airport hotel is get dressed, brush one’s teeth and head to the check-in desk. Breakfast can also be obtained after security check.

Check in the night before
Check bags in the night before
Buy a fast pass to get through security
Get up at 4 and walk straight through - be in the lounge by 430/5 loads of time

No it's not my first time abroad we go abroad twice a year but I always have the fear of missing my flight.
We are flying from Newcastle and staying in the doubletree opposite
Last year tho our flight home was at 4.30 and we didn't get picked up by TUI till 2pm for a 30 min transfer and still made it but it was rush rush rush
I like to look around duty free then go to boots for a meal deal on the plane etc

YABU

Have you never stayed up late? Had a disrupted night? You’ll survive being tired if this really pushes you over the edge. You’re in the really fortunate position of having two holidays in the next few months and, to be honest, you sound a bit of a spoilt brat complaining about an early flight.

I agree, have you ever been out late or had to stay up?

I definitely wouldn't go abroad on a surprise holiday if there was the slightest chance I couldn't browse duty free and buy a boots meal deal on the way out. Your husband is so thoughtless.

Out of interest how old are you? I only ask because I’m early 60s and would never book a flight that early but a couple of decades ago I would have

Totally this.

Goodness - the thought of not having time to get a boots meal deal is making you not want to go on holiday. You really are a pampered princess. If I were your OH I’d take someone else on a surprise holiday as you’re really ungrateful

All this 'just nap on the plane' advice as if everyone can sleep anywhere.

Having said that, it's not the end of the world when you have a whole week there. You can just go to bed earlier the first day and take it easy for the first few days.

I agree though it would take me no more than 1 night of good sleep on holiday to get me back to fighting fit

The boots meal deal made me laugh. How long does that even take? Plus do you need a lunch deal on a 6am flight? Grab a crossaint and coffee from Pret 😂
Oh I forgot you wanted to have a 3am breakfast in the Hotel 😂

Ive already posted above that you only need to leave 2 hours (we always have done for our local airport) and always manage to get breakfast at the airport and still be waiting around. You will be through check in so quick at that time, you will have time to pick up a meal deal or buy breakfast/have a coffee etc. You can’t relate it to your bad transfer experience abroad as you are already there at the airport.

Nap on the plane. And you have the whole day of a holiday. I much prefer that. Siestas are all part of a Spanish holiday anyway

Last time I had a 6.30 flight I just didn't go to bed at all - had to travel an hour and a half to the airport early morning and it took me the whole next day to recover.
OP is in the lucky situation of staying at the airport so it's much easier obviously.

Posts like this make me wonder how people cope with life! It's one early morning. Some people get up at this time to exercise before work. Some people wake at this time as they struggle to sleep. People get woken 3/4/5 times a night with kids. It's one early start to go on an exciting, relaxing holiday!

I would hate that too, but I think a PP has the solution. Don’t go to bed - you won’t sleep well and you will get a few hours and then feel awful. Have a 30 min nap, then enjoy a film or something and then get ready and head to the airport. Apparently about 4 hours sleep makes you feel absolutely rotten. You’re better with less.

Most on mumsnet seem happy with early starts which is fine, but if you don’t like it next time make sure you have a say in the booking! I now only travel on flights after midday if I have any choice.

Ryanair’s own website says check-in will not be open before 4am.