'Twilight bag drop off' can save you stress at the airport - what you should know
Queuing to drop off bags at the airport is likely the last thing you want to be doing before an early morning flight. But did you know there's often a way to sidestep this entirely?
Savvy travel journalist Simon Calder has revealed a tip to Brits that could save them time and hassle at numerous airports throughout the UK. During an appearance on ITV's This Morning, he recommended looking into airline's 'twilight bag drop' services, which typically enable passengers to drop off hold luggage the evening before their departure.
"[This applies] if you live near an airport, if you are staying at an airport hotel," he told presenters Olivia Attwood and Dermot O'Leary.
"Because aviation, as you know, is just a whole series of hurdles, obstacles you have got to get past. So, if you can get that all-important bag drop sorted out the night before, lots of airports and airlines will allow you to do this, if you have got an early flight.
"So, you drop the bags off, you go to your hotel, you have got one fewer things to worry about in the morning." He then quipped: "Of course, I'm a hand luggage-only man."
Believe it or not, numerous major airlines, including EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, and Aer Lingus, provide a twilight drop-off service in the UK. Nevertheless, this is highly location-dependent, with operations differing considerably between UK airports, so it is crucial to verify this with your ticket provider before you travel.
EasyJet, for instance, provides a twilight bag drop-off service at London Gatwick Airport between 8pm and 10pm for those flying out before 8am the following day. On the flipside, Edinburgh Airport's twilight service runs from 4pm to 8pm and covers EasyJet travellers departing before midday.
These twilight services are not just limited to the UK either. With EasyJet, travellers can drop off their luggage between 7pm and 9pm at Amsterdam Schiphol if they're flying out before 8am the next day.
A similar policy applies at Berlin's Airport, where bag drop-offs are available between 6pm and 9pm for customers departing before 9:30am. In all instances, passengers must present their passports and boarding passes.
Advice on EasyJet's website reads: "Got an early morning trip? Beat the rush by dropping off your hold bags the evening before your flight. Simply head to our Bag Drop area during the hours below with your passport and boarding passes, then we'll take care of the rest. Your bags will be ready to collect when you arrive at your destination."
For more information, visit your ticket provider's website.
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