How many of you travel to the airport on the day you fly.

[kazdav]

I am still umming and arring about whether to stay and do twilight check in. In the past we have always driven ourselves and done twilight check in and stayed in a hotel with parking.

This time hotel is booked but hubby meeting us out there and wants me to get a cab there and back. This is adding an extra £300 + to the bill and I have almost made my mind up that we will travel on the day BUT. I am still slightly concerned about travelling down on the day, what if the cab breaks down? Well we have a back up cab, yes but if we are an hour and a half into the journey a cab is never going to get through the rush hour traffic to get us to the airport in time. Talking M1 and M25 here.

We are travelling PE and our seats are booked but hoping to get slightly better ones on the day (or night before), could change my seats 24 hours before so will look at that option. I am so torn - please help me make my mind up once and for all.

 

[jtlover]

We always stay the night before because I then dont stress - what time is your flight?

 

[jtlover]

What about car hire and drop off at the airport? Then you can stay the night before - I am sure that is cheaper than £300!!!!!

 

[kazdav]

Flight is at 11.15.

Will have to look into car hire for journey down. The cab is £150 each way and if we do the whole cab and hotel its going to be in the region of £540 including meals.

Hotel £170, Eve Meal £50 - £60 (for 4) and cab approx £315 with parking on return flight.

 

[kazdav]

Just checked car rental one way and dropping at the airport is approx £150 with Avis. That's for a medium compact, will probably have 3 suitcases and large holdall

 

[2Tiggies]

I have to stay at a hotel the night before. I find it so much easier to walk out of a clean house the day before I fly and KNOW that I have taken my time to check that all the doors are locked, timers switched on, etc. If I leave the house on the way to the airport, I always second guess myself.

 

[jtlover]

Where do you live, if it was me and I wasnt driving I would go by train or bus.

We also dont eat a proper meal that night (too excited) we either get burger king or sandwiches or salads from M&S so dont spend so much at the airport.

 

[katiec]

I would ALWAYS take the night before option if an option IYSWIM!!

Takes away ALL the stress of will we/won't we make it on time - it only takes one little incident and the M23 could be blocked for enough time for you to miss you flight

Could u not take a train or National Express bus?

Katie

 

[willeve]

We don't stay over the night before our flight. My kids would not go to sleep, then I would get cross, then it would take the shine off Day 1! At home they go to bed without any fuss and at areasonable time. For me, just not worth it(we're in Birmingham, fly from Manchester, 1 and half/2 hours away)

 

[jen_uk]

We used to travel on the day and would get to the airport 4 hours before the flight so that if there was a problem on the way we would still have plenty of time. Now we usually do twilight check-in as its just easier.

 

[PrincessCharlie]

We travel on the day we fly, we just make sure we leave with plenty of time, (and when I say plenty of time mean six/seven hours at least). It does mean getting up way early but it's the only time I don't mind!

Last time we sat in traffic on the M25 and still had about three hours to spare at the airport... but I understand you might want to take the stress out of it completely.

If you do decide to travel on the day just make sure you give yourself a lot of time, there's always stuff to do at the airport while your wait.

 

[wayneg]

If flying from Manchester we go same day, about 1 hour drive away.
From a London Airport(2-3 hours) we used to go down same day until Oct 2006, that was a Virgin flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles, we gave ourselves plenty of time to get there, unfortunately there was bad weather, accidents and roadworks DW got to the check in desk with exactly 1 hour to takeoff but they would not let us check in as I was parking the car. No worries they just changed us to the next flight 3 hours later but ever since then if flying from London we go down the night before.

 

[Elise79]

We travel down the night before because it would make it a very long day as we would have to be up at 3am!

I would also be stressed about something happening on the way so wouldn't get a decent nights sleep before anyway.

Plus I like starting the holiday a day earlier

 

[Goofyish]

I like to go down the day before and stay over at the Gatwick Hilton.

I know from past experience that it doesn't take much to block the M25 so would never risk going down on the morning of the flight and missing it!
A previous trip we drove down on the Friday night before our Saturday flight. We went down the M40 and when we got to High Wycombe the traffic stopped - I never got our of 2nd gear all the way round the the Gatwick exit on the M25

 

[Dimplenose]

We travel on the morning of our flight. We only live 40 minutes away and would have to pay adult hotel prices for our kids.

BUT if I were in your situation I would definitely be planning an overnight stay at the airport.

My mum has occassionally travelled to Heathrow by private hire car from near Birmingham and has found it very easy. (Not sure of the cost as she was travelling with friends and sharing the bill.)

 

[silver apple]

I would love to stay the night before, but as we only live 15miles south of gatwick dh never let's me

If I were you I would definitely stay the night before...you can't put a price on peace of mind

 

[kazdav]

We are in Northamptonshire and departing from Gatwick. Previously we have always done twilight but this time meeting hubby out there and he does not want me to drive (it's the return journey he is concerned about) so that is what is adding an extra £315 + to the cost.

Not sure train is a good idea with three kids and luggage to tote.

Just need to decide whether to stump up the extra.

 

[suzybear6]

Since we live within a 30 minute drive to Gatwick we always travel on the day if flying from there, but if it's an airport further afield then we travel the day before and stay in a hotel if it's a morning flight. Wouldn't bother so much if it was an afternoon/evening flight, especially if it was somewhere not too far away like Heathrow.

Just go with what you feel comfortable with

Luv Suzy

 

[Ware Bears]

Just go with what you feel comfortable with

We like staying the night before - to us it's a nice start to the holiday. This summer we're staying over at Gatwick before an afternoon flight to Italy my friend thinks we're mad but it's what we like to do.

 

[daipp]

In life I am quite laid-back about most things apart from catching flights. Therefore, we stay in the Gatwick area for two nights before our departure. This year, the Ramada and Copthorne will be having the pleasure of our company.

David