AIBU to pick the early flight?

[4fingerKitKat]

I’m lying awake flip-flopping over this so I’m going to hand it over to the mumsnet AIBU jury.

Summer holiday with DC 8 and 10, not naturally early risers. 2.5 hour flight to a nice beach resort where we are staying 2 nights before moving on. Easyjet from Luton airport.

I have choice of 2 flights: 6:30am or 1:30pm. No difference in price.

6:30am cons:
-extra £150 for airport hotel.
-early start, esp for DC who are difficult to rouse early and unlikely to sleep

6:30am pros
-No stress about travel to airport as will be in walking distance
-flight less likely to be delayed
-arrive at lunchtime so get whole afternoon and evening to enjoy pool etc and relax

1:30pm cons
-risk of train issues etc = stress on the day
-will only arrive mid evening
-delays more likely and would cut into very limited evening time in resort

1:30pm pros
-can leave home after breakfast about 9am
-full night sleep for everyone
-if flight is on time and picking up bags, hire car etc is smooth we should get a bit of time to use pool etc before bed.

I think I am erring towards the early flight but I can’t believe I would choose a flight that involves being up about 3:30am when there’s an option to fly at a civilised time.

YANBU - take the early flight!
YABU - lunchtime flight!

Yes with young children I would take the afternoon flight, much easier.

I love an early flight, I never sleep the night before so just as easy to leave early. In fact we booked the 5.55am departure to Krakow for September. Lo and behold it’s been changed to the 3pm departure by Easyjet just this week. We now get there in the evening losing the whole first day and our return also changed meaning we’ll have the whole issue of checking out at noon with our flight getting back to Gatwick at midnight (instead of leaving at 1pm and arriving at 4pm).

I’m always a morning flight person. We’re going away soon with my 5 year old DSS and have a 7am flight. Yes it means leaving the house at like 3am but worth it when we get there and still have most of a day. Plus he slept on the way to the airport and on the plane last time so was quite energetic when we landed!

We took an early flight with DC when they were 8 and 11. We stayed in an airport hotel but they were so excited that they were awake at 2am (even earlier than they needed to be) and didn't sleep at all on the journey. This meant one DC was crying and asleep on me by 9pm so we didn't have a proper first night (hadn't even finished eating our meal). I definitely wouldn't choose to fly that early again!

save the cost of the airport hotel and take the afternoon flight, but give yourselves plenty of time to travel

We did the same and went for the 6:30am flight with an overnight stay. We fly in August and know we'll be tired but we'll be on holiday and excited so will put up with being tired for the day to get there early and have an extra day. Have young children which will be difficult too but the excitement of the airport should make up for it it's their first time flying

Early vote for me!

As a child, I was always uber excited about driving down to Devon for our summer holiday and getting up in the middle of the night to leave at silly-o'clock (no motorways, no Exeter by-pass, etc) so I think if it's presented as exciting (imagine being allowed up at that time!) then it's a no brainer. Encourage them to doze on the plane/by the pool and enjoy a bit of extra holiday time.

Go for the afternoon flight, get early ish transport so you're not stressing and pay for lounge access with the hotel money.

Early, every time. Otherwise it's a waste of a day's holiday. Excitement will get you through the morning, you can snooze by the pool if you want to, and just go to hed earlier than usual.

Option 3. Book a niceish airport hotel. Have a relaxing morning getting a nice breakfast etc. Check flight status before going to airport. Stroll over and get onto plane. All stress free. I'd do this.

Option 4. If you can do early bag drop night before (many airlines do this now). Drop bags night before. Stay in airport hotel. Pack up a breakfast lunchbox and hot foot it over to airport for 90 mins before flight maybe less if you're feeling risky. So for a 6.30am flight you could get away with a 4.30am get up. Not great. But marginally impeoved on yours.

Afternoon flight for us. I hate the stress of early flights and the airport is always so busy.

If you wanted to de-stress it further simply stay at a decent airport hotel the night before and start your holiday then. 1.30 flight = 11ish at the airport = leisurely breakfast and walk over. All very relaxed.

You don't say how long it takes to get to the airport but unless it's on your doorstep, getting there by 4.30 am would be a non starter for me. You don't want to spend your time at the resort getting over the loss of pretty much a nigh't sleep.

I'd do hotel plus later flight. The whole thing can be a leisurely experience then.

Half the fun of going on holiday is getting up in the middle of the night! We’ve pretty much always done the 6:30/7am flight. When the kids were younger they’d nap in the car on the way to the airport (we didn’t do airport hotel). You can have a lie down by the pool and enjoy the holiday when you arrive at lunchtime!

Just done the 6 am flight to Greece, had to get up at 2am but we were on the beach by 2pm knackered but okay after an hour or two of dozing on the sunbeds.

I would go early morning flight. The clincher is you are only spending two nights in the resort, so it's good to maximise your time there, plus if there is genuine concerns about train connections on the day, I'd be wanting to leave pretty early even for a 1.30pm flight- i don't think we have been told how long the trip to airport will take ?

Early flight all the way - I found my child was more tired/cranky after arriving at destination for 6pm after a lunchtime flight than they have been previously on the 6am flight.

If it was between early and late afternoon I'd chose early but 1.30 is a good time. 11am is the golden time for me.

We have always done early flights, but they are usually 7/8am so a bit later then yours. We stay in the airport hotel and use the twilight check in (jet2 and tui do this for morning flights, I don't know about easyJet) so that saves us time in the morning. The cost of the hotel for us is partly offset by the fact we can use the train to get to the airport whereas if we left the house early morning we couldn't and would have to get a taxi. Saves us about £55. We have done the early flights since dd was a baby and she's always been fine, even now she's older and loves a lie in, she's always excited to get up knowing we are going on holiday that day. Sleeps on the plane sometimes too. If look into twilight check in with easyJet to see if they offer it as it will make your morning easier. Plus airport security fast track!

My family have always booked the earliest flights based on getting more of a day in places however I've always felt a bit like it's a false economy because you get there fucking knackered, and often before you can actually check into the holiday accommodation, so you're just hanging around

However you are only there for 2 days so that does change things somewhat. You could always stay in the hotel over night anyway to reduce the stress of the lunch time flight.

I don't think either options are wrong. You know your children and if the pros of pulling them out of bed are worth it for more of a day.

Also in some ways it's very easy (and I say this as someone with kids who are not early risers) because you can faff about getting stuff ready before you leave then just pop their clothes on them which in some ways is easier than having them milling about getting in the way.

Pm flight, so much less stress

I hate arriving somewhere and not being able to check-in, especially if it's a beach place, so I would go for the afternoon flight any day. I would also hate getting two grumpy kids up in the middle of the night to go and queue at a crowded airport with other moody people. It's such a bad start to the holiday for me.

I would never want to lose a whole day. We are flying at 6am with a toddler doing airport hotel night before. By 11am we will be on the beach. If we’re tired then we can have an afternoon nap

Hotels never a problem to use facilities before room is ready either if it’s a place with restaurants and rooms etc.
We often drive somewhere and arrive around 1pm (3pm official check in). If it’s a big place. Either we can check in early if room available or they just let you leave luggage in car or a luggage left room at hotel, and you can start using hotel. Just go and have lunch ( we don’t go all inclusive so you pay for lunch like normal restaurant), and can go for swim, walk around, etc.

certain places you can call or email and just pay for early check in also. It’s often only about €25 to have room done by 12 ( they just prioritise your room).

Afternoon every time