How do you handle super early flights?

[JadeVS72]

I stupidly booked a 5am flight at our local (45 min drive) airport so it will be a 2am wake up call. How do people get through such days? It's only to Greece so 4.5 hours economy. I guess we can snooze a bit on the plane but worried we will be exhausted for days 😬
Flight's on Saturday and I am dreading it!

noise cancelling headphones and eye mask to sleep on the flight.

We’ve got a 6.15am flight this year.

We live just over an hour from the airport but I’d rather have that extra hour in bed so we’ve booked an airport hotel. I shall have a shower and be in bed by 8.30pm at the latest, be up at 3.30am. Sleep on the plane. Probably have a nap in the afternoon, because early morning flights do play havoc with me and I usually end up with a migraine but it was all we could get this year. We might have a slightly early night the first night, but we’ll be fine the next day.

We are 40 mins from Gatwick and Heathrow at that time of the morning, so quite often have to leave at 3 or 4 to get an early flight. I wouldn't sleep well in an airport hotel either, so I try and get to bed earlyish (glass of wine to help me sleep) then just power through the next day and don't fight the need to nap on the flight.

Early-ish night that night (which helps with first night of sleeping in a strange room) then I'm absolutely fine for the rest of the holiday.

DH did once book the first Eurotunnel and we had to leave at the same time, then do a 10+ hour drive the other side. That was brutal and I'd never do that again.

Same here.
Love an early flight.
My flight this weekend is late afternoon so i'm floating round the house killing time until we can leave, not a fan!

We like early flights, this year our holiday flight is 6 am this how we do it,

we will probably have a nap in the afternoon have a late dinner and pack in the evening then we are getting dropped off by a friend airport is 50 minutes away so we will just hang around the airport till the flight,
we are only going to Spain so not far we will be in there by lunchtime we will get something to eat have a short "siesta." Then mooch around till dinner and probably be in bed by 10, I don't really get over tired.

Thanks all 🥰
I just don't think I have done this since I was a child and yes the main issue is travelling with kids. I thought it would be fine but a couple of people including DH made out like it was a big deal and a friend said they would never book a flight at that time!
Unfortunately there isn't a hotel near enough the airport to make it worth the extra ~30 mins that would give us (if there was one in the terminal that would make things easier- and has made me consider a different airport next time)
Luckily we have a private transfer included so hopefully that will be nicer than a coach too.
Will try to get excited about relaxing on the beach instead 😀
Thanks for the tips I have skim read but will go back and make notes ❤️

We went poland we had flight from London we live bham coach 3.5 hours delayed 2 hours traffic I slept who time at airport flight was at 8am on.way home.flight was 7am was asleep before take.off hubby had to put belt on lol I can practically sleep anywhere at the coach station airport chairs I even fell asleep for a.12pm flight lol

The kids will be excited and I don't think it will be any worse than say a 10 am flight you will be fine.

You won’t be tired for days from one evening less sleep. Bed at 8-9pm, wake at 2pm. That’s a decent enough nap. You will be at destination by lunchtime and can just have a relaxing afternoon, early to bed again if everyone tired.

@NeedthatFridayfeeling Yep, early every time. I can be tired somewhere warm with an icy cold drink 😍🍹
Hope you’re off somewhere nice!

Early flights are the best. Everything ready the night before. Breakfast at the airport. Doze on the plane and the transfer. In the pool by lunchtime.

Have a great holiday

Get up really early the day before and everyone gets to bed by 7pm?

Generally though it's not like you'll be doing anything taxing at the other end? If the kids are small they'll sleep on the plane.

I quite like early flights. Knowing you are getting up, to actually go somewhere, makes it ok.

I stay up the night before and sleep on the plane. Its fine

There's no need to be tired for days, you'll probably be tired on the first day admittedly but we always find the excitement and newness keeps us pushing through - we then have an earlier than usual dinner and an earlier night. It seems to be a family tradition that our youngest falls asleep at the dinner table on the first night!

Try and go to bed as early as possible the night before as even if you can get 3-4 hours sleep, it's better than nothing. I always say I will sleep on the plane but I never can if it's an early morning flight. We have a 5.30 flight next week and we are planning on getting to airport hotel and going to bed before 9pm as we have to be up again at 3. We'll zip straight to security (hand luggage only) and get coffee/ breakfast after that. We'll be at destination in time to enjoy most of a full day. I much prefer that than arriving at bedtime, in the dark and all discombobulated.

Kids will be fine.

I always stay awake and have a nice midnight bath and enjoy the silence ( if DH isn’t snoring).

I can’t sleep on a plane when there are people around me so I don’t get any sleep until bedtime. Added bonus to staying awake for all that time is that I sleep well on the first night.

Early flights are not my preferred choice but better than a late night flight coming home. Waiting around all day and night with a packed suitcase and nowhere to go is worse in my book.

We always choose the early flight. I just try to get a couple hours sleep on the plane and an early night on the first day!

We’ve always done early flights to Europe since the kids were little, hate having to wait around at home all day when you could be spending that day in the resort. Just plan to have a chill afternoon when you get there, early ish night and you’ll be fine by the next day.

But a 10 am flight means getting up and out at a normal time rather than getting up in the middle of the night. You arrive at the airport at 8 am not 3 am. Plus you are much more likely to be able to get straight into your accommodation. Of course it’s different.

We stay in the hotel right insides the airport, and make sure we can drop our bags the night before. Its still an early start, but you’re not closing down the house in the middle of the night, and you have no worries about being caught in traffic

Yes this is true but I think flying with children is challenging so 6 or 10 they are going to be hyper

Put DC to bed in something they can wear on to the plane in the morning, then you dont have to bother getting them dressed. Then in the morning get you up ready, packed and everything in the car before you wake the dc. Have some car snacks on hand in case they decide its breakfast time right away, otherwise have breakfast once you are through security. Dont try and do it without a stroller if you have a under 5.

I purposely book early morning flights to get an extra full day in holiday. Just do something really relaxing when you get there, you'll be fine the next day.

We travel with our 3 year old 3-4 times a year since he was born and always pick the early flights. I’ll admit it is a bit of a slog making sure you’ve got everything ready the night before so you can just wake up and go but it’s worth it.
If it’s really early he travels in pjs with shorts in the hand luggage for arrival. Generally the excitement of it all keeps him going for the whole day but the beauty of leaving early means you arrive in the afternoon (or late morning depending on destination) and have loads of day left so the kids can work out all their excitement and we just chill out in our room for the dayr by the pool/ beach then have an early night, fresh for the next day.

Airport hotel for any flight where I have to be at the airport before 10am.