I was having a go at hubs for ordering a pint of stella after our cooked breakfast at the airport last year and the waitress said "You'd be surprised ". Well I looked round and there were pints of beer being drunk everywhere! And realising what we were talking about they all raised their glasses! So I thought "what the hell" and ordered a mango bellini. Well, if you can't beat em ...

we arrived at the airport [on our last trip] at around 3-30 am for a 7 am flight [train times dictate] we were surprised to check in straight away, through passport control and in to the departure area by 4.15 wife was disappointed as we had to wait till 5 am for the bar to open .. then we hit the bar 3 drinks each, NO we are not alcoholics and NO we have no fear of flying but had both been up since 6 am the previous morning [i had to go to work] our holiday starts in the airport bar going out and finishes in the airport bar [to get rid of any funny money] coming home

Yes I do mari. My holidays always involve drinking a fair bit and once I've waved bye bye to my lift or taxi at the terminal and I've checked my bags in I am officially on holiday and I see the airport as timeless somehow.

There are always plenty just like me in the pub/bar at Manchester.

lol ive been saying to my partner dont be stupid the bar will be closed people will think your an alki. I'd better let him have a drink then i'll save myself for the evening

My mate thinks I'm mad. She'll be coming with us on holiday and can't believe that I intend (along with at least 3 others of our party- and probably her husband as well) having a drink or two at the bar in Cardiff airport at around 7.00am.
I don't much like flying and with a flight to Mexico in front of me I'll need a glass of wine or two.
As others have said it does seem to mark the beginning of the holiday.
Having said that - I'm sure my mate will more than make up for it during the holiday. I think she might even be persuaded to enjoy a glass of strongbow before take off!

Like lots of others ,my holiday starts in the airport after checking the bags in etc. Normally fly early in the morning...between 7 and 8 a.m. As soon as the bar opens, I just can't resist a Bloody Mary or three...and lol..no I'm not an alcoholic either and have absolutely no fear of flying.

We usually fly from Gatwick (live in Birmingham) so we arrive earlier than expected after allowing extra time for the traffic.

First task of the day is trying to convince my 47 year old child that the queue for check in won't be that bad. He absolutely hates queueing and airports so not a good combination. Queue up for check in and, second task, try and convince said child that the queue for security isn't that long.
Queue and get through security and, third task, try and convince same child that 2 hours in Gatwick airside isn't that bad.

Once airside I try all the perfumes, drink far too much coffee and have something to eat. Then I try all the perfumes again, drink more coffee and wander around the shops. Then I try all the perfumes again, drink more coffee... See a pattern forming here?! We buy a couple of magazines, sweets and drinks later rather than earlier otherwise we'd drink and eat everything before we get on the plane.

We then wait for boarding to come up on the screens and watch everyone run to the gate. Once at the gate we either wait for the seat numbers to be called or wait until the majority of people have queued before we board. It's long enough to be sitting in a plane seat without sitting in waiting for everyone else to board!

Roll on the day they have teleporter pods!!