Say the flight is at 6am, that means you need to be in the airport for 4am. Which for most people means leaving the house at 3am or before. There's no public transport at that time so taxi is your only option is you don't drive.
Do you try and sleep until 2am? Do you just get to the airport the evening before and wait, do you get a hotel nearby?
If the departure is at 6am, then you need to be at the airport by about 5am at the latest if you have a boarding pass and don't need a bag drop (depends on the airport, and how familiar you are with it).
As for how to get there: if it's near I have sometimes just walked (2-3 miles), but that can also be because there is no transport or, if it's abroad, I have no idea how it works and can't risk it at that time.
Other times, I get to the airport the night before, and sleep there, on chairs or on the floor (check the airport will be open; I think some small ones close at night).
I generally drive to the airport now, but have also used National Express (which often run at night), or a train if it's practical.
But I also try and avoid flights that early (I usually go to bed at 2am; getting up at 4am is not fun. Once I just turned over and went back to sleep; I couldn't be bothered!)
Staying at a nearby hotel, perhaps on-airport, is also a possibility, but I've never tried that (I like to do things on the cheap and it sounds expensive; and you still need to be up, in my case, after only occupying the bed for a 2-3 hours; so not good value!).
I generally drive to the airport now, but have also used National Express (which often run at night), or a train if it's practical.
But I also try and avoid flights that early (I usually go to bed at 2am; getting up at 4am is not fun. Once I just turned over and went back to sleep; I couldn't be bothered!)
Staying at a nearby hotel, perhaps on-airport, is also a possibility, but I've never tried that (I like to do things on the cheap and it sounds expensive; and you still need to be up, in my case, after only occupying the bed for a 2-3 hours; so not good value!).
If you usually drive to the airport then you will often find that a parking + hotel package is often no more than the cost of just the hotel or parking. There are loads of small hotels around Gatwick which will do B&B + 1 week parking with a free transfer for £50. If there are two of you then that's a pretty good deal
Regarding the early morning drinks, I think a lot of the issue is just social conditioning for some. There's no logical reason why it's ok to drink at 6pm and not 6am.
Regarding the early morning drinks, I think a lot of the issue is just social conditioning for some. There's no logical reason why it's ok to drink at 6pm and not 6am.
Because your body doesn't need it at a time of day when you'd normally be asleep?
For example, in everyday life, I have breakfast around 11am. So if I'm at an airport for a 6am short-haul flight, I won't really need anything to eat or drink before departure.
I suppose if you're in the habit of getting up in the middle of the night to drink alcholol (or eat a full breakfast), then you might want to do so at some ungodly hour at an airport too. But I'd guess most people don't.
Why though? Do you drink that early at home normally? If so you might have a drink problem? I have never seen the point of drinking lots alcohol before a flight as it will dehydrate you and make you feel crap. Not saying you are but it always seems to be chav types drinking too much at the airport and being loud and rude!
No i don't drink at that time at home, I do have to go to work after all. I find flying stressful and I like a drink, perfect combination.
Because your body doesn't need it at a time of day when you'd normally be asleep?
For example, in everyday life, I have breakfast around 11am. So if I'm at an airport for a 6am short-haul flight, I won't really need anything to eat or drink before departure.
I suppose if you're in the habit of getting up in the middle of the night to drink alcholol (or eat a full breakfast), then you might want to do so at some ungodly hour at an airport too. But I'd guess most people don't.
You don't 'need' a beer at any time of day, it's just become the norm to drink at night and not during the day. In reality it shouldn't be any more normal to drink at any time.
You don't 'need' a beer at any time of day, it's just become the norm to drink at night and not during the day. In reality it shouldn't be any more normal to drink at any time.
Exactly. I find that I do 90% of my drinking at a time when I really should be in bed ;-)
I don't want to derail this thread to much though. Each to their own.
Actually I have a morning flight at the end of the month but it's not too early so i'm driving up and parking in one of the 'business' car parks. They're promising to get me to the terminal 15 mins from dropping off the key so that's reasonable. Less than £40 for the weekend, which works out significantly cheaper than the round taxi trip and even less than 2 of us getting a railair bus.
You don't 'need' a beer at any time of day, it's just become the norm to drink at night and not during the day. In reality it shouldn't be any more normal to drink at any time.
No, the norm is *not* to drink when you're asleep! The body is conditioned to not needing food or drink until waking up the next day.
So at an airport at when is effectively still the middle of the night, the only recommendation might be a strong espresso, and that's if you're the pilot! Everyone else can snooze on the flight.
No, the norm is *not* to drink when you're asleep! The body is conditioned to not needing food or drink until waking up the next day.
So at an airport at when is effectively still the middle of the night, the only recommendation might be a strong espresso, and that's if you're the pilot! Everyone else can snooze on the flight.
That seems a bit of a flimsy argument.
1. By your logic no one should drinking after 11pm?
2. The natural sleep cycle is to wake up at dawn - so i'd assume it's ok to drink at 5am during the summer?
1. By your logic no one should drinking after 11pm?
2. The natural sleep cycle is to wake up at dawn - so i'd assume it's ok to drink at 5am during the summer?
No, I'm saying it's not natural to eat or drink while you're asleep. If you're up after 11pm, or regularly get up at dawn, then that's fine. But if you're up several hours earlier than normal, you will generally not really need any liquid or nourishment until your normal time.
Think about what the 'fast' in 'breakfast' means...
I live 15 minutes away from Heathrow which is my usual departure airport for early morning flights, there's a 24 hour bus so I don't need to worry about transport but at 3am it doesn't matter how I get there, I'm still going to be exhausted no matter what!
No, the norm is *not* to drink when you're asleep! The body is conditioned to not needing food or drink until waking up the next day.
So at an airport at when is effectively still the middle of the night, the only recommendation might be a strong espresso, and that's if you're the pilot! Everyone else can snooze on the flight.
I'm regularly up at 5am so does that mean it's ok to have a drink at 5am? Your logic is somewhat twisted.
How about on New Years Eve when I stay up all night? How different is it having a drink at 2 or 3am that night that at 2 or 3am at an airport.
A pint at an airport bar always tastes great. Probably to do with the fact that if I'm in one it usually means I'm off for a well earned break. And I don't care what time of the day/night it is!
As for getting to the airport, always the day before and always a nice hotel.
Comments
If the departure is at 6am, then you need to be at the airport by about 5am at the latest if you have a boarding pass and don't need a bag drop (depends on the airport, and how familiar you are with it).
As for how to get there: if it's near I have sometimes just walked (2-3 miles), but that can also be because there is no transport or, if it's abroad, I have no idea how it works and can't risk it at that time.
Other times, I get to the airport the night before, and sleep there, on chairs or on the floor (check the airport will be open; I think some small ones close at night).
I generally drive to the airport now, but have also used National Express (which often run at night), or a train if it's practical.
But I also try and avoid flights that early (I usually go to bed at 2am; getting up at 4am is not fun. Once I just turned over and went back to sleep; I couldn't be bothered!)
Staying at a nearby hotel, perhaps on-airport, is also a possibility, but I've never tried that (I like to do things on the cheap and it sounds expensive; and you still need to be up, in my case, after only occupying the bed for a 2-3 hours; so not good value!).
See I can have a fry up at 5am no bother, but stick a drink in front of me...
If you usually drive to the airport then you will often find that a parking + hotel package is often no more than the cost of just the hotel or parking. There are loads of small hotels around Gatwick which will do B&B + 1 week parking with a free transfer for £50. If there are two of you then that's a pretty good deal
That may become a rule of thumb if airlines start charging by excess body weight.
At Gatwick the Premier Inn is the most convenient choice as it's directly opposite the terminal. From bed to check-in in a few minutes.
Because your body doesn't need it at a time of day when you'd normally be asleep?
For example, in everyday life, I have breakfast around 11am. So if I'm at an airport for a 6am short-haul flight, I won't really need anything to eat or drink before departure.
I suppose if you're in the habit of getting up in the middle of the night to drink alcholol (or eat a full breakfast), then you might want to do so at some ungodly hour at an airport too. But I'd guess most people don't.
Having a beer is never about what your body "needs". It's about you want.
No i don't drink at that time at home, I do have to go to work after all. I find flying stressful and I like a drink, perfect combination.
You don't 'need' a beer at any time of day, it's just become the norm to drink at night and not during the day. In reality it shouldn't be any more normal to drink at any time.
Exactly. I find that I do 90% of my drinking at a time when I really should be in bed ;-)
I don't want to derail this thread to much though. Each to their own.
Actually I have a morning flight at the end of the month but it's not too early so i'm driving up and parking in one of the 'business' car parks. They're promising to get me to the terminal 15 mins from dropping off the key so that's reasonable. Less than £40 for the weekend, which works out significantly cheaper than the round taxi trip and even less than 2 of us getting a railair bus.
No, the norm is *not* to drink when you're asleep! The body is conditioned to not needing food or drink until waking up the next day.
So at an airport at when is effectively still the middle of the night, the only recommendation might be a strong espresso, and that's if you're the pilot! Everyone else can snooze on the flight.
That seems a bit of a flimsy argument.
1. By your logic no one should drinking after 11pm?
2. The natural sleep cycle is to wake up at dawn - so i'd assume it's ok to drink at 5am during the summer?
No, I'm saying it's not natural to eat or drink while you're asleep. If you're up after 11pm, or regularly get up at dawn, then that's fine. But if you're up several hours earlier than normal, you will generally not really need any liquid or nourishment until your normal time.
Think about what the 'fast' in 'breakfast' means...
I'm regularly up at 5am so does that mean it's ok to have a drink at 5am? Your logic is somewhat twisted.
How about on New Years Eve when I stay up all night? How different is it having a drink at 2 or 3am that night that at 2 or 3am at an airport.
As for getting to the airport, always the day before and always a nice hotel.