Originally Posted by vicarious_MR'er

My first instinct is not to choose that flight and go later. I'd imagine there are other, later choices, even by just a few hours. I guess maybe there aren't other options, depending where you're traveling from... I'm not at ALL a believer in taking the first AM flight just to "maximize" the time at the destination because who wants three more hours anywhere when those are grouchy, overtired, whiny hours? Same goes for taking the last possible flight home after a big day/week of sightseeing. I'm also not a fan at all of choosing such flights for relatively insignificant savings compared to a slightly more expensive flight a little later in the day.

That being said, since we generally travel overseas where flight choices are very limited, and we've taken flights leaving at midnight-plus and managed just fine.

So if those are the flights you're locked into, you'll just have to grin and bear it and so whatever you can to hope they sleep on the plane after all the excitement of the airport and such. You may want to consider staying in an airport hotel the night before the trip and possibly maximize your sleeping hours that night instead of having to get up, drive to the airport, park, and so on.