7:30am flight - no need for a hotel room

[Manyindigowings]

Would need to leave for the airport at 4:30 to check in 5:30 for a European flight.,

Flying from Gatwick. I could get a train that arrives at Gatwick at 3:30am.

AIBU thar arriving at this time is a false economy?

*leave the hotel at 4:30 for a 5:30 check in

Yes. Id far rather get to airport hotel early, have dinner and early night and know I'm there. Rather than hopping up and down in the dark on an empty train station platform wondering where the hell my train is.

Just you and maybe other adults or young children too?

I have done it that way previously and I’ll be honest. It kind of ruined the start of the holiday. But any flight at that time of the morning would now ruin my holiday I just wouldn’t entertain it. With or without a hotel room.

Just me. I think I would be referred to safe guarding putting children through that experience in the spirit of a holiday 🫤

Well I wouldn't stay in a hotel if it would still take an hour to get to the airport. But for a flight that early at Gatwick I'd stay at one of the on site hotels. Lots of airlines do twilight check in/bag drop the night before, so you could then leave the hotel 530ish and go straight to security. Much better than getting a train that arrives at 330!

We're flying from Gatwick in March, our flight leaves at 1pm and I'm making my partner stay at a hotel near the airport the night before so at least we're in the vicinity!

I would not trust Southern on a weekend to actually run all their trains. Even after checking there are no engineering works.

Arriving at 3.30 for a 7.30 flight is madness. It won’t take an hour to get from the hotel to the airport either. Are you checking luggage?

You can get up at 5am at the hotel and have plenty of time for a 7.30 flight with checked luggage. Get up even later if you aren’t checking luggage.

Alternatively if you’re willing to spend money on a hotel, get a cab instead. You can get up a lot later than the train.

edited to say I’m assuming it’s an airport hotel.

I would always stay overnight for that early a flight rather than risk a train delay and for getting a few extra hours sleep, no brainer for me

Don’t rely on a train would be my advice

Yes, this. My flight this weekend was 6.30am. I booked an airport hotel. No stress about late or cancelled trains.

Is there not an airport hotel?

You’ll be exhausted on your holiday and probably feel ill from lack of sleep. I would have done it in my early 20s, but now I would be miserable. I vote hotel room and make it part of the holiday. Nice meal and a drink the night before, early night, breakfast in departures, arrive feeling rested and ready to enjoy yourself.

Why not stay in the (I think) Hilton which you can walk to the terminal?
We go regularly on at 5.50am flight and we stay overnight at a hotel near the terminal. If they let you leave the car there it is often cheaper than regular airport parking.

I've flown from Gatwick around 6 plenty of times and never bothered with a hotel but I was always driving. Done it with small children too despite the claims that's a terrible experience for them. Is driving an option? Train in the middle of the night getting colder would make it far less appealing.

I can’t figure out what time your actual flight is.

I fly every 4-6 weeks getting an 0700 flight within Europe. I leave the house at 0500 to get there for 0600 for a 0700 flight.

I’ve not missed one yet, and no way would I consider wasting a night at an airport hotel. It probably feels a bit different if it’s for a holiday though.

If you can leave your house at 4.30 why are you talking about a train that arrives at 3.30

Arriving just 1 hour before an international flight is cutting it fine imo. You clearly do this regularly so know the score with your particular airline and schedule, but the usual advice is to arrive at least 2h in advance.

No of course my dad got us to sleep on the airport floor or wake up at 4am.

Anyway I think you'll be tired but fine either way.

Hotel.
Getting the train at that sounds miserable and stressful.

I really wouldn’t want to rely on a train in the middle of the night tbh. Not unless if it does don’t turn up I could get a cab in time, and if I could get a cab, I’d do that anyway rather than rely on the train.

Thanks for the guidance.

Sorry to clarify. 07:30 flight. Travel agent advised check in at 5:30. To be on safe side, if booked into a hotel at the airport, plan to leave hotel for the airport at 4:30.

Sounds like: stay in a hotel. Check bags in the night before. So can go straight to security, so extra time to sleep anyway. Arrive at destination stress free and well rested.

Travelling overnight equals disastrous start to holiday.

I would just get a cab. I have got up at that time often for flights. I am always so excited by travel, even for business, that I don’t mind the very early start.

How long would a taxi take to the airport? Just thinking if it’s really that more expensive than hotel and train. I wouldn’t bother arriving 2 hours in advance of a European flight at such an unsocial hour, but appreciate this would make some people nervous