Airport traditions

[thestevied]

Just wondered what any of you do when you get to the airport to make the wait a little less painful.

Any traditions you always do?

We always have breakfast after checking in but that's about it.

 

[darthtatty]

For each trip we've varied-we travel from Manchester Airport, we eat on route to break up the journey and buy KK's too.
we usually stay at the Crowne Plaza but tried Radisson blu for our Australia trip and booked it for next August.
The first time at the airport we ate at the restaurant before security-it was expensive and not very good.
On other trips we've had BK breakfast, eaten KK's in our hotel room and tried the V room. we usually go to Boots to buy some snacks for the plane
Next time we're going to try Frankie @ Benny's, hopefully that will be our tradition.

 

[wilma-bride]

We always stay at the airport the night before, at the Hilton, so we have breakfast in the morning before heading over to the terminal.

Then, once through security, we always buy a magazine each, a packet of crisps for me (because I don't eat the plane food) and some jelly sweets for DH and the kids. I honestly don't know why we wait till we get to the airport to buy this stuff since it is always twice the price

 

[Tink78]

We are staying at Premier Inn at Gatwick, but plan to take snacks for the boys, and then have breakie at Frankie & Benny's.
Then we'll have a mooch about the shops, get some (more) snacks for the plane and let the boys have a run about before being confined to the aircraft for 9 hours!!

 

[Elise79]

Gatwick - we stay at the Hilton the night before and do Twlight check in.
We eat breakfast in the hotel in the morning and then take the car to the valet parking.
Once through security Quick stop in duty free and then we use the No1 lounge.

Manchester - stay nearby over night, bag drop of the morning then through security and breakfast in Frankie & Bennies followed by duty free shopping then wait near the gate.

 

[wideeyes]

We live 4 miles from Manchester airport so stay at home as late as possible. We usually only buy a coffee at the airport.

 

[ninamouse]

We are staying at Gatwick the night before we fly.

We are then getting an airport lounge to start our holiday to WDW off in style!

 

[queendisney]

we always treat ourselves to the Hilton Gatwick as to us this is the proper start of our holiday. Last year we treated ourselves to the King Suite as it was my big birthday!! This year we have a executive room so we have access to the lounge with free drinks and food and the next day we have a nice big buffet breakfast in the hotel (also included in the executive room price).

We saunter over to the terminal after breakfast as we'd have checked in the night before, and basically just have enough time to go into duty free and then pick up a few snacks for the plane (food a bit to iffy at times onboard) and some water..and hope the plane is on time!

 

[MrRomance]

Just wondered what any of you do when you get to the airport to make the wait a little less painful.

Any traditions you always do?

We always have breakfast after checking in but that's about it.

Our holiday starts the night before, we stay at the airport hotel. If we fly Virgin we do twilight check in so that in the morning we can breeze straight through to duty free and the gate, and enjoy a relaxing breakfast at the hotel. If we're not flying Virgin, we usually head over to the airport, grab breakfast (usually Frankie & Benny's), get through security, head to WH Smith for a book and a drink, duty free (although now we've quit smoking, we may skip that step!) and head to the gate. 3 hours seems like a long time, but we've always found there isn't much time at the airport!

 

[thestevied]

So what are the perks of doing an airport lounge? Is it worth the cost? I'm
Flying virgin so is the virgin lounge the only one I can use?

 

[wilma-bride]

So what are the perks of doing an airport lounge? Is it worth the cost? I'm
Flying virgin so is the virgin lounge the only one I can use?

Have you booked with Virgin Holidays? If so, I would phone and see if you can book the V-Room - definitely worth the money There are other options but, to me, the V-Room is as good (if not better) than any others at Gatwick.

 

[Laszkowicz]

Virgin threw in our v room when we got down to proper bartering and it was part if the clincher for me I must admit.

Owt for nowt as we say in yorkshire lol

 

[Elise79]

So what are the perks of doing an airport lounge? Is it worth the cost? I'm
Flying virgin so is the virgin lounge the only one I can use?

We only use the lounge as we get access with our bank account. I don't I would pay but at Gatwick it's nice to get away from the departure lounge

 

[queendisney]

So what are the perks of doing an airport lounge? Is it worth the cost? I'm
Flying virgin so is the virgin lounge the only one I can use?

If you have booked VH's then as pp said, def worth the money for the VRoom, with its breakfasts and drinks and adult only area. They came round with free bottles of water for the flight last time as well.
Other then that there are a couple of other lounges and The ONE lounge seems to get a good write up.

 

[Sam1]

We've booked the v room at Gatwick. I don't know how much use it'll be because we plan to do the twilight check in the day before.

 

[scoobydooby]

We take the day off work before the flight and drive the short 30 miles to Manchester airport after doing on line check in at home. Always stay at the Radisson. I have some sort of beauty treatment (or 2 or 3.....)! We all use the pool and the sauna. Dinner at the Runway brasserie and bar. Watch the planes from the room. Wake up excited, early if we are on the first flight later if on the afternoon flight. Do bag drop as soon as possible. Either eat the buffet breakfast at the hotel or something airside for lunch for later flight. Kids have a turn in the massage chairs airside. Duty free shopping. Sandwiches and crisps and salad from Boots for me and DD so we can ignore the in flight yucky food. Then it's time to go!!!!!

I work 60 hour weeks and find it hard to unwind from work so this ritual helps me get into holiday mode

 

[queendisney]

We've booked the v room at Gatwick. I don't know how much use it'll be because we plan to do the twilight check in the day before.

Well even if you just pop in for breakfast it will be worth it. It's so much more relaxing in there as well and great to watch the planes landing and taking off.

 

[68earlybay]

Virgin threw in our v room when we got down to proper bartering and it was part if the clincher for me I must admit.

Owt for nowt as we say in yorkshire lol

Same here , got it thrown in too looking forward to it

 

[Sam1]

Well even if you just pop in for breakfast it will be worth it. It's so much more relaxing in there as well and great to watch the planes landing and taking off.

That's what I'm hoping. I didn't fancy hanging around an airport with a two year old if the plane was delayed, so I thought being in there would be better for her.

 

[Laurafoster]

We always head to Gatwick the night before our flight. We do Twilight check in and head over to our over night hotel.

We usually sit and have a nice dinner either in the airport or at the hotel. We have kids so its usually back to the room, early night for them a nice bath with a glass of vino for me.

In the morning we normally go to an airport lounge, we go to the No.1 lounge as we book DIY. To us it is well worth it! DD is happy as there's free wifi for the iPad, colouring etc. I can enjoy something to eat and a cheeky pre flight glass of wine