To arrive at the airport at 5am for a 6:20am flight?

[CroccyWoccy]

Trying to figure out logistics for an early morning flight. Can’t get to the airport before 5am without staying the night before. Flight is 6:20am. Only flying with hand luggage, will have checked in online.

Is this doable or do I need to stump up for a hotel?

That's often the worst time for security queues at Stansted, I would pay for fast track of they still do it, even then it is a bit tight!

Stansted Express is usually bang on time (in my experience anyway).

Security at the airport can take forever though, that's the main issue here.

Like OP I also had an early flight but rather than take the first train from Liverpool st (departs at 4:30am I think) I took the last train (11:25pm) and stayed in the airport overnight...really should have got a hotel room though which I'd advise OP to do.

I absolutely wouldn't risk this with Stansted. Firstly, the Stansted express has lots of delays, but mainly because any time I've been there at early hours in the morning, the queue at security has always been long. Ryanair has loads of flights departing between 6-8 in the morning so the airport is always packed and it can take quite some time to get through security. Add that to the fact that some gates are quite a trek from the main departures area and even can include having to take a train, and I think it's way too risky to chance it. To be honest, I'd be more inclined to risk it at a bigger, but more efficient, airport such as Heathrow.

I would, and have done recently at a very similar sized airport. I have never had long queues at security trying to leave the UK at any of the London airports. Checking in bags can be an issue, but if you just have hand luggage it super quick. You can always ask to queue jump a bit if needed 🤷‍♀️

I have however never been to Stansted at 5 am.

We arrived at airport for an early morning flight 2 hours before schedule and she was on her walkie talkie thing because she didn't think we'd make it through security... I was mad cause we booked the hotel joined on to the airport so we'd make the flight and she almost refused to let us through

@CroccyWoccy don’t rely on that first train to Stansted. If one gets stuck in the tunnel everything grinds to a halt. Also, as security can be busy for the early flights, consider security Fast track at £7 each. Or look for a bargain local hotel (premier inn or holiday inn can be cheap if booked well ahead and offer a courtesy bus at £3 per person). If you drive then holiday extras does a parking discount and the green shortstay is good.

Conformance at Stanstead (latest you can scan a ticket at security) is 40 minutes. If you aren't in security by 5.50am you will be rejected.
Gates close 25 mins before departure.
You can buy fast track security tickets for £8
Which would seem worth it.

I'm a frequent flyer and I reckon I would probably give it a go. You've got 40/50 minutes to get from train to security scan.

Having said that for holidays I don't fuck around and getting up that early sounds horrendous. I'd much prefer to spend £120 on a hotel and be less anxious.

Sorry. You'd need to be scanned in at security by 5.40 latest

I’m the wrong person to ask because I’m twitching just thinking about rocking up for a flight 1hr 30 before departure.

I’d get a hotel, not sleep properly because I’m worried about missing my flight and be at the airport checking in by 0415 (or earlier), ‘just in case’. Then I’d be content just to lurk by the gate for hours, calmed by the knowledge that I am ‘on time’.

DH is worse than I am. We’re an absolute delight to travel with 😂.

I would stump up for a hotel or book a taxi for earlier. I like to relieve myself from potential stressful situations though. Your timescale would make me anxious.

How much is a pre-booked cab compared to a hotel op?

It took me 45 minutes to get through security at Stansted at 4am a couple of weeks ago. Got to the airport at about 3 for a 6am flight.. ended up briefly stopping for breakfast brute the gate was called.

Seems fine to me. I regularly get to the airport by 6.00am for a 7.20 flight

Checking in baggage at that time at Stansted is horrendous. With just hand baggage you'll be ok.

No

Public transport and a short arrival is a no from me

Could you get a taxi?

I did that at Glasgow airport two weeks ago. I stayed at the airport hotel because Glasgow is a two hours drive through the Highlands for me. I was checked in, only hand luggage. Flight was at 6.10 am, I left hotel at 5 am, went through security (which was a lot busier than I expected it to be that early) and still had to wait 20 min before my gate was announced. Without having to check in luggage there's no need to be there two hours early.

I wouldn't leave it that fine but that's me! Is there anyone that could give you a lift? I certainly wouldn't rely on public transport.

I usually aim to be arriving in the airport itself with 2 hours to go. That's ample time but can make early morning flights difficult.

Our last early morning flight we arrived at mid stay with 2 hours to go. Took about 20 mins to get to the airport by the time we'd faffed round getting bags out etc, 25 mins through security, just enough time to nip to the loo and buy a sandwich then our gate was called.

25 mins through security is pretty much the worst I've had but none of us got pulled aside except for a brief shoe scan - it would have been very tense if anyone had been.

I actually found the test for the new scanners slower than security normally is.

If that is your plan, then you are planning on missing your flight

When I was in my youth my friends and i almost missed our early morning flights at Stansted. We arrived early, checked in as normal but then took hours getting through security.

By the time we cleared security our names were being called on the tannoy had to leg it through the entire length of the terminal.

The air stewards told us off for being late. None of us could argue back about the shit logistics because no one could catch their breath til after take off.

The door was slammed shut behind us and already had start to taxi before we could get seated.

So in short, I'm not sure I would cut things so fine.

I have in the past got the very last train of the day to the airport, and just found a seat. It doesn't seem worth getting the hotel for about 4 hours

Buy fast track security. I'd do it with that. There is a separate entrance off to the right of the main security lanes.

I had this dilemma last year when travelling from Stansted, and ended up staying in a hotel. Glad I paid the extra in the end for an overnight stay as we were a 3 min walk from the terminal and the security queues were long. I naively thought the airport would be quiet and it was heaving. We bought a coffee once through departures and struggled to find a place to sit.

I wouldn’t risk it, some friends (and a lot of others) missed their flight at Stansted just last week due to slow security.

I wouldn’t rely on the Stansted Express with no leeway.

I think if you are flying domestic with hand luggage only, then with fast track it would be okay.

If international, no. The shuttle train to the international departures terminals are slow and not frequent. That’s how I missed a flight at stansted…