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?

We live about 45 minutes from Gatwick so would do the very early start. It is the best of 2 hours to get to Heathrow and staying the night is definitely the best option. It is really hard to settle down for only 4 or 5 hours sleep before the excitement of a holiday not to mention the frightfulness of braving a considerable stretch of the M25 at the crack of dawn. You can partially mitigate the cost of the hotel by offsetting the cost of parking.

I rather get up at silly hours to catch an early flight v catching an evening flight.

As with both, its a 3 hour flight, 1 hour ahead, 1 hour at the airport. 2 hour transfer.

So its getting to hotel mid afternoon v 2am.

My parents have a timeshare and past 10 years, flew from our nearest airport as flight is 6am. Now its changed to 4:30pm. The are now flying from an airport further away and flight is 7am.

Def don’t rely on train
premier inn, up at 5, leave 5.15, arrive 5.30

Wherever possible, pay more for a later flight.

In the op's circs, I'd stay at an airport hotel. Just hand luggage or checking in?

If I was taking public transport and had to be there at that time then yeah def get a hotel!
The only time we don't use hotel is when we driving and parking at the airport.

EasyJet at Gatwick allows you to drop bags between 8pm and 10pm for all flights leaving before 8am. A lot of the early morning North Terminal flights are operated by EasyJet so it reduces the 4/5am bag drop queues.

We stay in the airport hotel - one of the on-concourse ones. Sometimes we've even been able to checkin/drop off luggage the night before.

I way prefer it to early mornings, parking etc. much more civilised to roll up the evening before, have dinner, have a nice breakfast and stroll through security well rested.

Bloc hotel is actually in the security queue of departures. You literally step out of the lift and you're there in front small plastic bags and the signs to remove liquids!

I always use a car service now. I don't like airport hotels and can't sleep properly in them.

I can't think of anywhere in England more than 3 hours drive from LGW!

Um...

Another vote for the Premier Inn at Gatwick North. If you are flying during term time, you can get a decent rate if you book in advance.

I have stayed there many times. You really do come out of the hotel, cross the road and you are at the entrance to the terminal.

But be warned...book the Gatwick North Premier Inn. Other "Gatwick" Premier Inns are further away from the terminals and are a bit of a faff.

i think most of england is probaly more than 3 hours drive from LGW.

i think most of england is probaly more than 3 hours drive from LGW.

Even half of London is more than 3 hours from Gatwick a large proportion of the year 😂

Stayed at the Premier Inn at Gatwick when I had an 8am flight so not as early but just found the ability to get up, shower and roll into the terminal relaxing. When I was younger I’d have done the early get-up, now the cost of inconvenience offsets the monetary cost of a hotel.

We live in Cornwall and go to Gatwick for flights because other airports don't fly to our destination or they only fly once a week. Travel is now a bit of a nightmare, the choice is so much more limited

@alfhroa 😂😂😂

We just go where the cheapest flights are if it makes financial sense (ie if the flight is hundreds of pounds cheaper, or preferable due to timings etc) then it can make sense to travel to a further airport. Although I won't fly BA from Gatwick anymore, Gatwick is the one I tend to avoid more than most (in England).

We've had a couple of flights either departing or landing in the early hours and have opted to stay at Bloc Hotel at Gatwick Airport for both and it really made a difference in stress levels of trying to get through check in/security on time. I would highly recommend it. You can take your time the night before to get there and have an early night without worrying about trains, traffic and lugging your suitcase around in the dark

Adding to the chorus of people going - huh?
this is deliciously unhinged. I typed in the first place I thought of - Leeds. 4h48 to LGW. Tried another. Plymouth. 4h06. A third for good measure. Norwich. 3h15.

im not even from England! Please please come back and explain what you meant as it’s baffling me!

@titchy not far off to be fair, west coast Scotland 😂 we're travelling down a couple of days before and staying with my partner's aunt who stays just outside London but like the opposite side of London. Id rather stay in the hotel the night before than try to get across London in rush hour traffic for an international flight 🙈

Why labour the point again?
I think @titchy has already said that they meant if you were over 3 hours away there's probably a closer airport.
Clearly just not a well thought through comment THATS BEEN DONE TO DEATH.

You can download your boarding pass and check in online 24hrs before the flight

How can I possibly earn your forgiveness, Grand Judge of On High?

Also Premier Inn at Gatwick North terminal is right next to the short stay car parks and a couple of minutes walk from departures

Brilliant information here - Premier Inn, Bloc hotel, check in with EasyJet. I’m well prepared thanjs