An early flight might not seem like a big deal at first. After all, you’re more likely to avoid delays and get to your destination sooner.
But once you factor in traveling to the airport, and the recommendation to get there two or three hours before your flight, you might find yourself up well before sunrise.
While there’s no avoiding an early morning wakeup if you’ve booked the first flight out of the day, there are things you can do to prepare other than simply setting your alarm and hoping for the best.
In this article
1. Sort Out Your Ground Transportation Ahead of Time
This is a step most people skip, and it costs them valuable sleep.
If you're driving, reserve your parking in advance. Airport lots fill up fast during busy travel weeks, and circling for a spot at 4 a.m. is its own special misery.
If you're using rideshare, know the difference: Lyft confirms your ride with an actual driver when you book ahead, while Uber simply queues the request for the morning. Lyft also offers an “on-time pickup promise” for scheduled airport rides; if your ride is delayed, you’ll get account credits. Either way, a scheduled pickup gets you to the terminal door and skips the shuttle ride from the lot, which is typically worth about 20 minutes of extra sleep.
2. Be Travel-Ready the Night Before
Getting organized the night before you fly is key for a smooth airport arrival the next morning.
“We have everything packed and ready to go, our bags by the door,” says Alexis Rich Chami, founder of Palomar Travel, who regularly travels with her kids.
She recommends laying out your airport ensemble, and, if you’re flying with little ones, putting them to sleep in their travel clothes so they can roll out of bed and leave. Have phones charged, documents organized, and snacks packed so there’s nothing left to remember in the middle of the night.
3. Consider an Airport Hotel
If the airport is more than two or three hours away, think about staying in an airport hotel the night before your departure. Just don’t assume waking up there will make the morning effortless. Be sure to confirm what times the hotel shuttle operates and leave ample time to get there, especially if it’s a large airport with multiple terminal stops on the shuttle line.
And don’t forget to factor in the cost of the hotel stay when doing your flight research. You may find that an 8 a.m. flight costs more than the 6 a.m., but the overall cost could be less without the hotel.
4. Don’t Let Coffee Derail You
If caffeine is a non-negotiable, order ahead on the Starbucks app, which works at most airport locations and lets you skip what can be a very long line during the early-morning rush. Pick it up on the way to your gate and watch as the bleary-eyed travelers in line try to contain their envy.
That said: drink water first. Airplane cabins are notoriously dry, and starting the day already dehydrated makes the whole flight worse and will zap your energy just as much as not getting enough rest.
5. Use This Early Flight as the Excuse to (Finally) Get PreCheck
TSA PreCheck is hardly a secret hack anymore. But if you’ve been meaning to make the appointment and just keep procrastinating, let this trip motivate you to take care of the errand.
“I highly recommend TSA PreCheck. It really doesn't take very long to do, and it saves a lot of hassle,” Rich Chami says. It’s not just about getting through security faster; the travel experience is simply less daunting when you don’t have to take your jacket off, unload your liquids, and dig through your carry-on for your laptop. Keeping it simple at 4 a.m. is one favor you can do for yourself.
And if you’re traveling often through airports with CLEAR locations, consider signing up for that identity verification platform, which can significantly cut down the wait time at security as well. Many credit cards cover the costs of these programs, so be sure to check your benefits before paying out of pocket.
The Shortcut
Early morning flights can feel daunting, but there are ways to set yourself up for success before your trip.
Planning ahead is the common denominator.
Spring for the convenience upgrades that will keep your trip on track.
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