Early flight or later start?

[Hillsaremyhappyplace]

I always used to go for the earlier flight, to maximise my holiday time! However, I end up exhausted for the first two days of the holiday!

Anyway, we’re planning a week away later in the year to Greece. The choices are a 5:15am flight, getting in at 11 am. We live about 30 minutes from the airport. This is a direct flight.

The other option is a 10:30 am flight, getting in at 6:30 pm. It’s via Heathrow, only 1.5 hours at Heathrow though. So not too bad.

The indirect flight is actually cheaper, it’s on BA and the direct flight is easyJet.

What are peoples’ thoughts? If it was a 7 am flight I would do that but 5 am is brutal, I’m quite a late bird and I can see myself getting no sleep the night before!

Early flight and afternoon nap after a swim in a lovely hotel bed!

I'd go for the 11am. Recently had a similar choice flying to another destination and decided it wasn't worth getting up several hours earlier than we usually would. That said, you might want to check on the reliability of the flights at different times. The later in the day you fly shorthaul, the more chance there is for any delays to have a knock-on effect. I would imagine the 11am flight has flown to the UK from somewhere else earlier the same day.

Many years ago we had a 5.30am flight from Gatwick and were setting off from south London. On the basis we needed to set off at around 3am we decided to stay up all night instead of getting a few hours sleep. Worst idea ever. Don't do that if you book the early flight.

Transfer times at Heathrow are 75-90 minutes depending on terminal(s) so consider that. Are you taking cabin luggage only? I’d hate the thought of trying to reclaim and reload baggage when there was only 90 mins between flights. Doesn’t sound doable!

I hate arriving late. If your flight is delayed you will arrive late.

I'm with the nap option because once you are there, you are there. You just plan for it.

Morning flight.
I would rather just go to bed early evening before flight. 8.30-2.30am gives a decent 6hrs so you will be a bit tired maybe but not knackered.
Means your at destination by lunchtime. Can have extra afternoon there to relax and eat.

Arriving at 6.30pm means by the time your our airport , and at destination it’s a rushed dinner and bed

Early and nap. Especially since you live close to the airport

I would probably adapt my holiday to go somewhere with a decently timed direct flight.

I don't mind setting off at 5am, so that's an 8am flight earliest.

Early and direct all the way. I always try to avoid indirect flights if possible!

There's a big difference between 11am and 6.30pm...id go for the earlier flight and nap on a sun lounger that afternoon!

I would pick direct over changing flights. I think the exhaustion of the longwinded journey will counteract the early start.

It’s a straight through connecting BA flight. No need to collect luggage or check back in

We’re in a villa so will need to get food. We won’t be able to get in until 3pm I think. It’s an hour from the airport and we’ll need to collect a car hire.

We’d need to get up at 2am. I am rubbish at going to bed early!

This is a tricky one - DS is awful either way early flights so always pick later direct ones.

but indirect flight taking all that time up and the stress of missing the connection due to delays and having to move between them

that said early arrival at a villa can also be stressful!

I'd do the later flight. A flight at 10.30 means being at the airport at 8.30. What time will you need to leave home to be at the check-in desk for that time? Probably pretty early and if you're a night owl, that will be early enough. The first day of the holiday is always a write off anyway, but 6.30pm in Greece is only 4.30pm in the UK so you'll still be feeling pretty fresh at that time and you'll have time to get to your accommodation, check in, freshen up and head out for dinner. Perfect!

Given it’s a self catering villa are you going to become able to get any shopping if you land at 6.30pm? I think that would make the decision for me.

The first day of the holiday is always a write off anyway.

Only if you let it. I'd pick the early flight, sleep on the plane, ask the hotel to store my luggage have a nice lunch and spend the afternoon on the beach. Relaxed dinner or drinks and snacks on the terrace and a fairly early night.

Arriving at 6.30 pm is a waste of a day for me. Is it really cheaper when the extra travel is factored in?

I don’t do early flights - as you can’t check in - not so bad with a hotel as leave luggage- but a total pain in a villa or apartments- I would go for the later flight myself given you are having a villa

EasyJet should let you drop the hold bags off the night before for such an early flight, which makes things loads easier in the morning. It’s called Twilight drop off.

I should also add it’s just me and DH, no kids to think about.

And I can’t sleep on planes. Urghhh annoying choice this. First world problem of course 🤪

Not if a villa.
you Land at 6.30pm, out by say 7.30pm. Have to collect hire car which can be quick, or can take an hr. 8pm earliest leaving airport. Hr drive. It’s 9pm before at villa at earliest. I don’t imagine the supermarkets will be open at that time?
So you will have to eat out that night and breakfast next morning before shops

I suppose we could drop our bags the night before, or be hand luggage only. Then get extra leg room seats on the flight…afternoon nap. Yes maybe the direct early one is better

Id get the later flight. I recently got a 4am flight and it took me all week to recover!

I'd eat something hot at Heathrow if I could, and take sandwiches or something to eat in the evening so I didn't need to worry about finding food on the first day.

I’d always go direct. Too stressful if you get delayed etc.

But I hate early morning flights with a vengeance so I wouldn’t have chosen this destination ( no help now I know). Flight times are the first thing we check out before we book. I’m too tired to enjoy the ‘extra first day’ and usually early in means early out, so you lose the chilled last day.

Have a great time anyway. It’ll all be worth it.