Arriving at airport at midnight for a 6am flight

[HettyMeg]

Getting a 2 hour taxi to airport at 10pm so arriving at around midnight. For a flight at 6am.

Friends are doing this instead of booking a hotel and I think they're crazy. Just get a hotel!

Did it once, never again. Was miserable.

Up to them really, I’d want to be at the airport 3hrs before, so arriving 3am, up at 2am, I can see why it hardly seems worth getting a hotel, they can sleep in the taxi.

Madness

My DD was going to do this - not in UK and they discovered the airport shut so would actually have to sit outside! Hotel was booked.

Seems a waste of a hotel to me, I’d just leave home about 1.30am

Why are they arriving 6 hours before the flight? Set off at 1am, arrive at 3. Get a couple of hours sleep at home and nap in the taxi. I wouldn’t waste money on a hotel.

Their call, but it’s a poor way to start a holiday; it’d take me a week to recover!

Why not just leave at 2 and get there at 4? Nobody needs to be at an airport for six hours.

I get 6am flights a few times a year and it wouldn't cross my mind to be at the airport at midnight nor waste money on a hotel!

Should have been clearer - I'd rather either get hotel or get taxi for later.

Ugh. I can’t think of anything worse. They should get a hotel room the night before, have a leisurely dinner, go to bed early and then be fresh for the stupid o’clock flight.

I might as well do this as I never manage to sleep with an an early departure, too paranoid I miss the alarm!

I know a work colleague who decided yo have a meal at airport at 8pm and then would stay there for 6am flight!
They didn't plan on everything closing so ended up leaving. Madness......

I would do airport hotel hands down

Same here,I’m too old to miss a night’s sleep!

This would be one of my fears!

I'd absolutely be doing this. Start the holiday early.

Ugh I hate the sound of this... everyone clearing off to their rooms / flights while everything goes quiet and you're sat realising this is you for the next 8 hours. Horrid

No need to arrive 6 hours early for a flight. Some airports won’t even be open.

The mistake is thing there is a good way to do a 6am flight.
Frankly all options are pretty terrible. Sleep deprivation and stress are the reality rather than cheery early bird vibes.

Once you though departures, you are a prisoner. Bad enough walking intermittently between overpriced outlets of no interest.

8 hours of a soulless shut up terminal is beyond hideous though.

Driving first thing at least means one person has the responsibility but at least has something to do. Everyone else can nod off. Still have 2 hours hanging round.

I've done it when I was young and skint in my 20s. At Rome airport, the security staff walked around trying to wake everyone up. There were hardly any people around and the seats all had armrests so you couldn't lie across them. Some airports won't let you sleep over though - JFK wouldn't.

I agree OP, it’s crazy.

I’d be booking an airport hotel. Having dinner, maybe room service. Going to bed early and then heading into the airport for 4am to check in.

I can’t sleep in taxis/on flights etc and without sleep, I cannot function at all.

I’d rather not go on holiday than do what your friends are doing!

There is a website called 'sleeping in airports' which gives the lowdown on each airports overnight comfort and facilities.

Am I missing something? Why can’t they get the taxi at 1am, to be there for 3am?

Your friends might not be aware, depending on the airport, (STN and LGW) Departures are actually closed overnight…
There is nowhere decent, with seating to wait.

I don’t understand. Why are they arriving six hours before departure?