Flight to Cornwall - night before or morning of wedding?

[AperolSpitz]

Three DCs under 7, best friend getting married in December.

Interested in views on whether we fly to Cornwall the night before the wedding (8pm) or the morning of the wedding. Driving not an option and we've never flown with the DCs before (eldest has but he doesn't remember).

Travelling from the airport means we'll only have about half an hour to get ready before festivities (although actual ceremony is later) if we fly on the day whereas I'm worried if we go the night before the kids will be exhausted and ratty for the party the day/evening after as they might not get to sleep until midnight.

We'll fly back early evening the next day.

Where are you traveling from ? I wonder if it might be simpler to do the longer train journey as you could leave earlier, book seats and then just settle in with a picnic. You won't know the day before that the flight is cancelled due to fog ( unless some really long term freak fog hits). We discovered when we were checking in.
Since you don't have to do check in etc it might not even take much longer (unless of course you are coming from Edinburgh !)

NB You need passports for internal UK flights now

Usually it is only adults who need photo ID.

Thanks Aftershock there is a train we might just get after school (coming from London) but the arrival time isn't that much better (five hours on the train ...) although cheaper obv.

Do we need passports for kids too? Yikes.

I didn't need a passport for DS when we flew down. Dh and I needed photo ID and i think we took ds's birth certificate.

The train line is a tricky one down there. We got stranded at Bodmin Parkway one Christmas because the train couldn't do the hill in the icey conditions.

Nope you shouldn't need passports for the kids but double check with the airline - flybe don't need passports for accompanied kids and this was tried and tested when dh and ds went to scotland the other day. Parents need photo ID-
Driving licence usually ok

Fab thanks both.

How far away from Newquay is the wedding and how are you getting there?

Umbongo about an hour drive - we'll cab it most probably unless another guest can drive us (lovely bride has offered to pick us up but have turned her down!!).

Given you are only coming from London I really think I would train it. Go to Bodmin Parkway rather than Newquay ( since you say it's an hour from Newquay it will be not much further from there). That makes the journey only 4 hours ish. Book seats, no hassle with getting to airport (& parking) checking in luggage etc and then discovering you can't land in Newquay. Take a picnic tea, even upgrade to 1st and hope the little ones snooze for some of it. Flying seems a brilliant idea and as if it will save you hours, but somehow it never seems to work out like that to Newquay airport.

How early would you be landing? Cornwall is an absolute nightmare if you hit work traffic.

I've booked the flights.

I didn't read Aftershock's useful point about Bodmin Parkway but ... as kids were already excited about prospect of first flight we'll go for it. And have booked for night before thanks to overwhelming support and thoughts here.

Train can be the back up!

I'd prebook a taxi from Newquay - it's a tiny airport and you don't want to get there and realise there's not a cab the right size for you.

My advice is don't plan to fly into Newquay airport in December not if you have to be at something by a particular time. have a look at how often flights in December are cancelled. this is something you cannot afford to be a day or two days late for so take the train. whereabouts is the wedding in relation to Newquay airport?

Definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, the day before!

Is it terribly old fashioned to think one should at least read the op's posts and the last few posts on a thread? And where a thread is less than 50 posts one ought to at least fucking skim it?

Tut.

I will report back when the cost of a trip to my best friend's wedding has hit four figures thanks to a cancelled flight!

MovingOn - yeah, x-post - caused by combination of nursing sick child and cat walking on keyboard...

Oh well, at least I didn't suggest OP cancelled the cheque

I hope it doesn't come to that! I'm sure it's more likely to work than not - people who have had bad experiences post. I bet there are many more who it has worked perfectly for, who just have no interest in commenting. I'm glad you dc are excited by the flight. Enjoy the wedding.

i dont just post when I have negative experiences OP. I post when I have experience. I hope the plane works out for you and that you have a lovely time at the wedding.

I did ask how near the venue was to the airport as well because I was going to make some helpful suggestions about transport to it.

Thanks mummymeister - it's about an hour's drive away, there may be some other guests on the flight so we're hoping for a minibus hire. Any other top tips gratefully received.

May be worth hiring a car from Newquay airport. An hour taxi journey will cost an absolute fortune. Recently a friend was quoted £45 for a 20 minute journey in Cornwall, they don't do reasonable taxi prices down here!!

OP if I've read this correctly, you'll now be away for two nights in, presumably, paid for accommodation. If you are, that is coverable by travel insurance (including annual policies) so get yourself some insurance.
I'm relieved you've gone down the night before.
When we used to fly down with the DC about that age, we'd get to the airport about 5.30 to ensure plenty of time for check in, security & a meal and then get the DC into PJs, give them some milk and try & get them to sleep on the plane (we took their bedtime cuddly toys). It had mixed results but they usually slept for at least part of it... DC2 once slept for the whole flight (no turbulence!), as we got off the plane (very kind passengers helped with DC1 & luggage) and into my parents' waiting car!

Ooh Boa, PJs and cuddly toys are a great idea, thank you - these simple things do make a difference.

And good point re insurance - I always avoid it but would be really worthwhile now.