Tirana middle-of-night flight. How to make it bearable?
 

BA2651 from Tirana to LGW leaves at the bizarre time of around 04:00 (slightly different times on different days). Has anyone here taken this and any are there any tips for making this bearable or even comfortable?
Options that come to mind:
Check in / bag drop and enter lounge several hours early (is that even possible, and if so would there be dozens of others trying to sleep everywhere?)
Airport hotels that charge by the hour (yes, yes...)?
Stay in town until 1 or 2 a.m. despite checking out of hotel many hours earlier?
Anything else?

Thanks for any tips. Not yet booked, but making the flight bearable could make the difference between booking or not.

Book the hotel where you are staying at to cover that night as well.
That's what I normally do for flights leaving at weird hours.

Great idea ! This is what I am doing in Vegas next month; only 9.30pm flight home - but the rate at the hotel was $32 (plus resort fee and tax...) so seemed a no brainer !

EDIT: removed having missed the point entirely...

OP is flying TO LGW not from

In any case there are hourly trains from central London (Blackfriars) to Gatwick leaving at 01.02 / 01.40 / 02.40 and later just check on national rail enquiries.

The problem the op has is that check in / bag drop is unlikely to open much earlier than 2 hours prior to departure so there is little point getting to the airport super early.

Whoops, yes. I didn't know about the later trains (but I'm usually travelling north to Gatwick).

Yep, another vote for keeping the hotel for the last night. It's horrible just knocking around waiting to go to the airport at 2am after a busy work trip. Much better to go out and get some dinner, then relax in the room before heading out.

Although being an early riser, I'm not fond of flights leaving at this ghastly hour. A departure shortly after midnight, especially for a LH flight is OK, but this flight less than 3h, requesting check-in at 02.00-03.00, and then waiting another hour for departure, sitting with barely any recline for three hours, looks like a secure way of spoiling the night. I join the crowd suggesting you keep the hotel for the next night. I would, day plans permitting, try to have a 30-45min nap before a late dinner out, rest in your room until time to depart for airport.

As a side comment, I was surprised to see how many departure times there are for the LGW-TIR rotation. There are 0-2 daily flights, leaving LGW morning, two different afternoon times, and three in the evening from 19.15 to the latest at 22.50, arriving TIR at 02.40, which would be the 04.00 departure OP has. Is there any other destination with this very wide variation, considering the low number of weekly flights?

If it's bad for the pax, think of the poor CC working that rotation :eek:

I'd def book the extra night in your hotel in Tirana. The airport is only about 15-20 mins taxi ride and quite a small place with not much to see or do (esp at that time of day). As far as I remember, rates at the Sheraton Tirana were quite cheap by European standards (though expensive if your a local).

Tirana airport is grim. I can't imagine being there at that time of night... it was bad enough during the day! IIRC nowhere accepts credit cards for normal food and drink (i.e. non-duty-free), so make sure you have cash if you want to buy anything. Traffic was awful to the airport when I did the journey but for the 4am flight it should be fine, so definitely keep the hotel room, and don't leave before 1.45am ish. I don't think much can make it easier. It's just going to be a pretty awful experience. Sleep when and where you can and get an early night the night you get back to London. Good luck!

Surely flying back on another airline is preferable in this instance if you haven't booked?

Lufthansa via FRA into LHR/LCY has much more sensibly timed flights. OS go via VIE and hell, even WizzAir fly non-stop to Luton in the morning.

Not just BWI. I think all the US East Coast flights are just one night stays for crew. I believe the standard for WW crews (this may have changed) is they typically do two successive US East Coast trips with a one night break between them in the UK. I remember talking to one FA a few years ago when waiting for the doors to open at LHR having arrived from JFK and he said he was off to PHL or IAD or similar tomorrow and that was a typical schedule.