Flight leaving at 3-4am: Do you book a hotel?

[Mattg]

I dislike redeye flights as much as the next person, and I especially hate flights that leave during the middle of the night. But recently I've had to book a few flights with departure times between 3am and 4am.

With a departure time like 3am, do you bother to check into a hotel the night before? In my view the benefit is borderline - perhaps you can get a couple of hours' sleep before heading to the airport, but you'd still have to check out shortly after midnight.

The last time I had to fly at 3.55am, I just went to the airport after dinner and waited in the lounge. Is this what others would do?

 

[dajop]

Depends on cost, distance and airport! Once in Bangkok, I had a 01:30 flight, and my meetings that day finished at 4pm. I booked a cheap hotel nearby ($40), and checked out at 11pm. It was way better than hanging around in the lounge for 8 hours, and probably cheaper than hanging around the hotel bar for that long

 

[GSP]

Hit it hard, get to the airport just in time (without pushing it too much), get on the bird and crash.

 

[kermatu]

I would book a hotel if I could sleep beforehand. But no matter the flight time I find it impossible to sleep in the arvo or evening before a late departure. So my answer is no.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'd book a basic hotel. I probably wouldn't sleep but a base from time of check in would be worthwhile for me.

 

[eddie 73]

God awful time. Far too late. Far too early. I would find a more humane alternative.

 

[Mattg]

God awful time. Far too late. Far too early. I would find a more humane alternative.

I agree with you on that, but sometimes it's the only option.

 

[serfty]

It depends on what you were doing before and plan on doing after.

Lounge access can vary things too.

Earlier this month I had a 2am flight HKG-BKK on HX. I had arrived from NYC the day before at 6am.

My VA WP gave me lounge access so I wemts airside after 6pm and used the lounge's sleep room for a couple of hours.

 

[Himeno]

Depends on the airport, when I got there (connection or stop over), where I'm staying if a stop over, costs, travel times, etc.

My last 3am flight was KA out of PVG. I had a almost 3 day "transit" stop over. Had a hotel booked for the night and checked out around 10pm for the taxi to the airport.

Other times I've slept at the airport.

 

[kermatu]

Other times I've slept at the airport.

I've declined hotel accommodation and taxi vouchers when departures around midnight have been cancelled and I'm re-booked on a say 6am flight - I'll just stay in the airport. Wouldn't sleep or would be too worried about missing the flight.

 

[maccaisking]

I tossed this up a few months ago when I had to take a 6:30am flight from BOS - NYC to catch a 10am Emirates F flight home. I knew I wouldn’t reach the hotel until around 2am after a football game, but booked it as I could go there earlier in the day and drop luggage. When I woke up at 8:30am the next morning, missing my connecting flight and with no chance of making the flight home I vowed never to book a hotel again for under 8 hours scheduled sleep. It would be staying at the airport for me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My last 3am flight was KA out of PVG.

When was this? Or was it severely delayed due to weather the day before? Never seen a KA/CX scheduled to depart at that time.

Back on topic - for a 3am I'd be booking some sort of accommodation - perhaps budget depending on the city. Early sleep (5pm-9pm) then head out to airport. Otherwise you can get kicked out of the hotel anywhere from midday to 2pm - long time to hang around.

 

[jase05]

No for me.
That time of departure is ok for me as I’m not a great sleeper anyway so I’d stay up get to the lounge nice and early and have a snack and some drinks and then depending on how hungry I am I can decide if I go straight to sleep once boarded or stay up for meal service

 

[JohnK]

Depends on where I am cost of hotels. Thailand I usually book a $30-$40/night hotel cheapie. SIN/HKG I hang around airport.

 

[kermatu]

When I woke up at 8:30am the next morning, missing my connecting flight and with no chance of making the flight home I vowed never to book a hotel again for under 8 hours scheduled sleep. It would be staying at the airport for me.

Exactly my fear.

 

[LadyC]

I would fly an indirect and longer route just to make sure I didn't have to catch a 3/4am flight!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Nah, its all part and parcel of travelling! I remember as a very young child waiting at train platforms at time of morning, as we lived at an intermediate stop so they never started or stopped there, and certainly werentw a convenient time

 

[Pushka]

Nah, its all part and parcel of travelling! I remember as a very young child waiting at train platforms at time of morning, as we lived at an intermediate stop so they never started or stopped there, and certainly werentw a convenient time

I just don’t sleep at all well knowing I have to get up so early.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

As others have suggested, it all depends on the circumstances and which airport the departure is from in terms of surrounding hotels. I just booked the 6am EK ex SYD and for that I'm tossing up whether I stay at the airport the night before. For me, having a wakeup call scheduled and some backup alarms make me sleep a little easier.

 

[clifford]

My son and I are flying EK J from HKG to LCA with an 8 hour 40 min layover in DXB.

An STPC hotel plus transfer will be provided by EK, but I'm in two minds as to whether to bother with it or find somewhere cosy to rest in the Concourse C Emirates lounge.

I guess it will depend to some extent on whether the flight is on time or not.