The 8.30am flight

Long ago I came to the conclusion that the people who run airlines are bitterly jealous of the people who use said airlines to fly to exotic destinations.

Anyone who’s seen what time the return flights are from destinations such as the Maldives and the Seychelles will know what I mean. These flights are almost always around 1am to 3am and, with hotel check-outs usually falling around midday, it not only means a miserable day in civvies with your suitcase sitting in reception but, worse, that all the good of your holiday’s undone as you struggle to stay up for 36 hours with over-tired children (to take a four-hour flight).

So I was overjoyed this year to see that a new 8.30am flight had been added to the Seychelles-Dubai flight schedule.

“There’s a day flight!” I squealed down the phone to DH, while clicking “buy tickets” with the other hand. Honestly, it was the deciding factor in booking the holiday.

So, roll on to the evening before the “day flight” back from the Seychelles. Our provisional bill appears under the room door, along with a suggested itinerary for check-out the next morning. Here’s what it says:

4am – Check-out at hotel reception.

4.15am – Breakfast at hotel reception.

4.30am – Buggy to jetty.

5.00am – Speedboat transfer to Mahe.

5.40am – Car transfer to Mahe Airport.

6.00am – Check-in Mahe Airport.

8.30am – Flight.

So, given we had to get up, get dressed, get the children up, get them dressed, put the last things in the bags and do a final check of the room, that meant alarm at 3.30am. So much for a good night’s sleep.

It’s jealousy, I’m telling you.