As much as I do not like waking up at an outrageously early hour to travel — such as 2:30 in the morning, as I did for a recent trip — I must admit that I usually wind up appreciating the 12 reasons why early morning flights are preferable when all is said and done.
12 Reasons Why Early Morning Flights are Preferable
The advantages of early morning flights include:
- Early morning flights typically cost less than flights that are scheduled later in the day — because people do not like waking up so early in the morning.
- Little to no traffic on the roads and highways to get to the airport.
- More parking spots are usually available at or near the airport versus later in the day.
- Airports are usually quieter and not chaotic.
- Lines at security checkpoints at airports are shorter.
- Flights have significantly greater success of departures that are on time and not delayed or canceled.
- In the unlikely event that the flight is delayed or canceled, flights later in the day may be available — as opposed to booking a ticket for the last flight of the day.
- Airplanes are usually not full of passengers.
- The interiors of the airplanes — which includes the lavatories — are likely to be cleaner and perhaps even sanitized if they were parked at the airport overnight.
- Less chance of turbulence occurring during the flight.
- Members of the flight crew might be more refreshed if they are working the first flights of their days.
- You arrive at your destination sooner with the remainder of the day ahead.
The disadvantages of early morning flights include:
- One must either wake up at an outrageously early hour to travel; stay up through the night and skip getting any sleep; or book a room at a hotel property near the airport in order to wake up later for the early morning flight.
- Ride share services may not be as available during the early hours as they are later in the day.
- Roads and highways could be closed due to construction or other reasons.
- Mass transportation may seldom operate — or not operate at all during overnight hours.
- Stores, lounges, vendors, and facilities within airports may not yet be open for business.
- The interior may not be cleaned or sanitized if the airplane arrived at the gate from an overnight flight.
- The connection between flights — especially if a flight is to an international destination, which usually has less frequency than flights to domestic destinations — could be significant.
Final Boarding Call
Despite waking up while the rest of the world is seemingly asleep, I find that early morning flights save me time overall and are less stressful for me. Besides, I can usually take a nap in a lounge at the airport, at the gate, or aboard the airplane if I am tired enough to do so…
…and if I do not get that nap — well…they say that sleep is for the dead; or one will have plenty of time to sleep after they die.
Is anything missing from either list? What is your preference — and what are your reasons why?
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
