Ridiculously early flight times

MobileSaver

Decided we needed a short break away and four days in the South of France sounded perfect. Looking to go in the first half of September and living in the sticks expected options would be limited but didn't expect them to be quite so limited...

The only flight to Nice from the local airport (Bristol) takes off at 7am! So that means getting to the airport by 5am which means even if you lived or stayed overnight right next to the airport you'd have be up at 4 in the morning! Is it just me or is that a ridiculously early flight time for starting a relaxing holiday?

Anyway was too early for me so going to book a Marseilles flight instead!

WestonDave

The way they keep the fares low is to work the aircraft hard - it will start early, do the Nice run then on to somewhere else and probably do 3 or 4 different return runs in a day. One of those runs will be the 7am one and it just happens to be the Nice one - another one will be the last permitted flight out of Bristol (due to hours restrictions) and land people in their destination at some ungodly hour. But if you want everything in 9-5 timeslots you'd be paying double for the tickets!

DomRavioli

That isn't too bad. The earliest from Manchester is 5:05am most days.

It isn't ridiculous; the weirder the flight time, usually, the cheaper the flight.

missbiggles1

MobileSaver wrote: »

Decided we needed a short break away and four days in the South of France sounded perfect. Looking to go in the first half of September and living in the sticks expected options would be limited but didn't expect them to be quite so limited...

The only flight to Nice from the local airport (Bristol) takes off at 7am! So that means getting to the airport by 5am which means even if you lived or stayed overnight right next to the airport you'd have be up at 4 in the morning! Is it just me or is that a ridiculously early flight time for starting a relaxing holiday?

Anyway was too early for me so going to book a Marseilles flight instead!

In addition to WD's correct explanation, many people going for a short break would be happy to arrive at 10:00 with the whole day ahead of them.

MobileSaver

WestonDave wrote: »

But if you want everything in 9-5 timeslots you'd be paying double for the tickets!

DomRavioli wrote: »

the weirder the flight time, usually, the cheaper the flight.

I guess that's part of the issue for me; I'd rather have the choice of paying more than being forced to get up at some ungodly hour.

balletshoes

missbiggles1 wrote: »

In addition to WD's correct explanation, many people going for a short break would be happy to arrive at 10:00 with the whole day ahead of them.

I'm one of those - especially for a short stay of 3 nights say, I want as early a flight as possible on arrival day, and a nice evening flight home .

sjw64

MobileSaver wrote: »

I guess that's part of the issue for me; I'd rather have the choice of paying more than being forced to get up at some ungodly hour.

Here's me thinking this was a money saving forum as opposed to a sleep saving forum. Jump in a taxi to Heathrow plenty of flights later that day.

arthurdick

ditto above..(balletshoes)
have always booked a flight for between 5a.m. - 8a.m... full day in holiday resort for the first day, full day last day soaking up the sun...and maybe a few cold beers, ocean dip or pool swim..

used to getting up early anyway, mostly before 5a.m.. all year round.

InsideInsurance

As others have said, thats sociable timings compared to many flights.

Ultimately comes down to priorities and when you think the holiday starts. I'd rather spend more time on my holiday than an extra few hours in my bed. I can always sleep on the way to the airport/ on the plane etc if needs be.

Coming back can be slightly different as landing at 2am when you'll have to be in the office the next/same day at 8am is a bit of a pain but its the lesser evil than having a morning flight home.

MobileSaver

sjw64 wrote: »

Jump in a taxi to Heathrow plenty of flights later that day.

I did seriously consider that but it's an additional three hour journey each way for me and would really have had to allow for 4 hours each way in case of traffic issues. Fortunately, I wasn't that bothered on which airport I arrived at and so changed plans to Marseilles.

arthurdick wrote: »

ditto above..(balletshoes)
have always booked a flight for between 5a.m. - 8a.m...
used to getting up early anyway, mostly before 5a.m.. all year round.

I'm an early riser too, typically 5.30am but that's because I choose to be. I'm grumpy if I have to get up early.

A 5am flight would mean, what, having to get up at 2am?!?!? Why even bother going to bed?

InsideInsurance wrote: »

I'd rather spend more time on my holiday than an extra few hours in my bed. I can always sleep on the way to the airport/ on the plane etc if needs be.

I guess this thread shows we all have different priorities. For me, having to get up at 4am or even earlier is just an awful way to start a holiday. Obviously a lot of people disagree and don't mind the lack of sleep.

P.S. I'm always the nominated driver so sleeping on the way to the airport is probably not a good idea in my case.

InsideInsurance

MobileSaver wrote: »

P.S. I'm always the nominated driver so sleeping on the way to the airport is probably not a good idea in my case.

Likewise if we are driving to the airport.

Though again priorities, I am more concerned about not being able to make good use of the free bar in the lounge/ on the plane on the way back as nominated driver rather than the loss of a sleeping opportunity.