When planning your trip, ideally you’re able to start exploring as soon as you get off the plane. If you’re traveling from the east coast, we’re often blessed with red-eye flights. That means we get to sleep on the plane and wake up ready to go. However, that’s not always the case depending on the destination and your home airport, your flight might land in the middle of the night. So what can you do if your plane lands at 2:00 am? Let’s dive in!
Please do NOT be surprised by the middle of the night landing. The only time you should be surprised is if there is a delay in the flight. Planning ahead will make you feel more comfortable and prepared. Researching ahead of time can help you avoid travel stress.
Even if you can’t get a full night’s sleep, try to get some sleep on these evening flights. Read my guide to how to sleep on a plane for tips!
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5 Things You Can Do When Your Flight Gets in the Middle of the Night
1. Ensure accommodation availability
Most hotels do not allow check-in until the afternoon. Many vacation rentals are the same, or you need to contact the owner to get in. Letting your accommodation know when your flight comes in can help them be prepared.
Unfortunately, this may mean that you have to book an additional night at the accommodation.
Be sure to read my tips for saving money on accommodation so you can still get a great deal!
If you can’t spring the extra night, then you can sleep at the airport. It won’t be the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had, but it is possible! You may also be able to pay for a day pass to an airline lounge. They have more comfortable seats and may have food available. Be sure to pack your sleep mask and earplugs!
2. Research transportation options
While public transportation is usually the cheapest (and therefore most recommended) way to get from the airport to the city center, it probably does not run in the middle of the night. Knowing when public transportation stops running, if taxis or ride shares are available can help you be less stressed upon landing.
For taxis: Be sure to know if you have to negotiate the price or if there is a meter. If it’s negotiating, agree on a price BEFORE you get in the car. We got in a cab in Prague where we didn’t negotiate, and they took the LONGEST route and there was a verbal altercation. Learn from our mistakes.
For taxis/rideshares: If you’re traveling solo, a safety tip is to make a real (or fake) phone call. Let your ‘friend’ know that you’re on your way, in what part of the city you’re at, and how long it’ll take to get there. It’ll let the driver know that someone is expecting you.
This may also mean that you have to book private transportation. (Remember before we started I said to plan ahead). If you do not want to be stressed out finding transportation, this is the simplest course of action.
3. Research visa requirements and be prepared
While many visas can be done online before your trip, some countries have visas on arrival. When I visited Egypt, I was a little more than grumpy to have to wait in another line for my visa. It was 3 am, the plane was quite large, and I’m pretty sure I smelled. While the entire process was simple and relatively quick, I just was not mentally prepared for it.
By planning for landing in the middle of the night, you should have all your paperwork compiled and in your carry-on for easy access. Visit the government website where you’re visiting to make sure that you have everything you need. The last thing you want to be doing in the middle of the night is panicking over paperwork.
4. Get food
Any traveler will tell you that their favorite meals are often impromptu discoveries where the locals eat. Restaurants that are open 24 hours probably have the favorite dishes of the local people. Get some grub and re-energize yourself as you’ve got plenty of things to see!
5. Start exploring!
Depending on where you’re heading, there may be some attractions that are open throughout the night. It may take you an hour to get out of the airport (once you account for luggage, customs, visa, etc). So by then, you might be able to get to a popular tourist destination before the crowds (think Fushimi Inari in Kyoto or Trevi Fountain in Rome) and get some amazing pictures.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be afraid of landing in the middle of the night. If that flight is the only option or the cheapest, then do your research and see if you can make the most of the early landing. It could be an amazing opportunity!
Read More Flight Tips
6 Tips for Finding Cheap Flights
How to Move through the Airport Quickly
Tips for Surviving a Long-Haul Flight
Save “What to do if Your Flight Lands in the Middle of the Night” for Later
I am always sleep deprived when the plane lands in the middle of the night or very early in the morning. But for the first time on my last trip to Spain, I booked accommodation for the morning I got in and it was wonderful to get to the place at 7 AM and take a nap. Well worth the money
That’s awesome! So much better to sleep in a comfortable bed then on the airport floor. Then you can explore nice and relaxed!
These are great tips. I really need to look into the airport lounge areas. I think my credit cards might allow me to have access but I haven’t looked. Thanks for the great tips.
Awesome tips for something that is faced by almost every traveler, whether on budget travel or otherwise. You have researched this topic well. Bookmarking it for further reference.
I’d head to an airport lounge if they are open (usually are in larger airports with round-the-clock flight schedules). They are great places to relax, snooze in a comfy chair, and get a bite before you start the day.