Bag a bargain and beat the stress of flying at night with these top tips
All Credits: PA
Crazy o’clock flights are unsociable, exhausting and can make the start of a holiday incredibly hard work, but sometimes there’s no other option.
Sometimes, the only flight you’re able to get on is at 4.15am, or sometimes it’s a total bargain and feels like it’s worth it at the time of booking.
Here are our top tips for easing the pain of late-night flights…
1. Check into an airport hotel
Extend the holiday and avoid a 3am alarm by checking into an airport hotel.
Motorway delays on the way to the airport are a traveller’s nightmare, especially when flying early in the morning or during peak periods. If you want to avoid unexpected traffic or adverse winter weather – and enjoy a few extra hours of sleep – booking an overnight stay at an airport hotel allows you to arrive at the check-in desks on time and worry-free.
2. Take advantage of ‘twilight drop-off’
If you’re staying in an airport hotel the night before your flight, some airlines let you do a ‘twilight drop-off’ and drop your baggage the night before.
Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic are two flight companies that offer this service for their early-morning flights. Twilight drop-off times vary for each airline, for example, TUI Airways allows passengers to drop-off their baggage from 12pm up until 10pm the day before if they are flying from Gatwick, Manchester or Birmingham.
5. Let someone else park your car
Scouring around in the dark for an empty parking space at the airport before an early-morning flight is an easy way to dampen the holiday mood. Consider pre-booking Meet & Greet airport parking, which is a drive-up and drop-off service – simply drive to the airport, drop your car with the awaiting valet and then head to the check-in desks while your car is safely driven to a nearby security-equipped car park. For more info, visit APH.com or call 01342 859 515.