5:00 am flight out of Lisbon
 

Our flight out of Lisbon (going to Amsterdam and then onto Vancouver, Canada) has changed so that it now leaves at 5:00 am (on a Monday morning). Of course the KLM website says to get to the airport 2 hours early but how early would you really get there at that hour? Does anyone have experience with such an early flight?

My inclination would be to see if I couldn't get a different flight. If the whole thing is booked on 1 ticket that would be easier than trying to co-ordinate different ones, I realize. It's always been my experience that when an airline changes a flight time, one need not just accept it, we have the option of saying no, not convenient and have them find us something else. But I detest having to be at airports (or anywhere) very early so that would be my approach, possibly not yours.

Is this an open-jaws itinerary? If so, you might be able to reverse the sequence, flying into Lisbon first. Then head home from a European gateway such as Amsterdam or Paris where flights heading west depart mid-morning or even early afternoon.
If you have already bought your tickets, you may have some leverage with the issuing airline if you can argue that its rescheduling constitutes a major change. For instance, when Air Canada moved me from a mid-morning departure to early in the day, it accepted that a four-hour revision exceeded its guideline and transferred me to a more convenient schedule. Each company is different but it is worth asking. By the way, I went to my local airport so I could discuss the AC change in person, which is more persuasive than over the phone.

I've never had a 5:00 flight but the Lisbon airport is small and so close to town that I would not get there at 3:00. Depending on where you're staying in Lisbon, it won't take much more than 20 minutes to the airport. At that hour, probably less. Did you check to see what time the check in desk opens? You may not be able to check in before 4:00.

I agree to try to change the flight. 5:00 is excessively early. Are you going to be sitting around in Amsterdam for hours?

Can you get a later flight with one of KLM's partners?

Actually, about 90% of the Lisbon Airport is located inside the city of Lisbon.

This is an important warning, because taxis should not change normal fares going to its civilian terminals.

Only part of the runway and part of the military airbase are not located inside Lisbon.

Traffic at night in Lisbon should not be a problem - unless there's a huge accident somewhere lol which by no means is that common.


So the issue here is the checking at the airport.

Thanks--I'm not going to change the flight (it's not possible if I want to get home that day which I do). I think I'll just aim to get there 60-75 minutes early.

If you can check in online at the hotel or with WiFi somewhere the day before. We did this online the last time and it helped expedite the counter check in.
Even if the desk is not open, we have found that people check in very early and lines can be long.

Good luck.

Outwest, I would consider spending my last night at an airport hotel. I would spend the evening in Lisbon, have dinner etc. and get to the hotel late to just sleep. I have had one early flight from Rome and it's not fun.

From 2 posts above from those familiar with the Lisbon airport, it appears staying in Lisbon itself is a bit like staying at the airport in other places. Sounds unnecessary to move, to me.

Agree with adrienne on checking to see when the airport or your terminal opens. We sat around the Rome Delta terminal quite sometime the morning we left b/c the terminal wasn't open at all. And then we had to wait for security to open!!

<website says to get to the airport 2 hours early>

Normally I do what I am told. But I do think it's worth checking if the airport & airline counters are even open that early.

I'll try to find out how early the airline counter will be open--I believe the airport is open 24 hours (I've read about people getting to Rome's airport for early a.m. flights and finding it still closed.)

I did debate switching to an airport hotel but have been assured our apartment is only 15 minutes away by cab so it didn't really seem worth it.

It's a drag but once we get to Schiphol we'll have time to have breakfast/get a coffee and relax a bit.