Day Trips by Plane: How They Work and Whether They're Worth It

A day trip by plane is simple in theory. You fly out in the morning, spend the day somewhere else in Europe, and fly home the same evening. In practice it only works when the timings line up, so it's worth knowing what you're signing up for before you book.

This guide covers how these trips work, how to calculate the time you'll really have, what happens if a flight goes wrong, and when you're better off staying the night. We don't quote fares here, because prices and availability change all the time. For live options, see our Day Trips page.

What counts as a day trip by plane?

You leave and get back to your home airport on the same calendar day. It only makes sense if the gap between landing and your return take-off is long enough to do something worthwhile.

On Flight Monitor, a Day Trip has to meet a stricter bar than just landing and flying straight back. It must fly out and back on the same date, be direct in both directions, and leave at least six hours between landing and the return flight taking off. We only include Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet flights, and the outbound and return can be on different airlines.

Those are our rules, not an industry standard. Other sites and airlines may define a day trip differently, so always check the exact flight times.

How a day trip works, step by step

1. Pick a date and a destination with an early flight out and a late flight back. This is the hard part, because many routes don't run both.
2. Book with the airline. Flight Monitor compares prices and links you to the airline, so you book and pay on the airline's own site.
3. Get to the airport in good time. Airlines set their own check-in and bag-drop deadlines, so check them for your flight.
4. Land, get out of the airport and travel into the centre. That's time you don't spend sightseeing, so count it.
5. Enjoy your day, then head back to the airport well before the check-in and security deadlines for your return flight.
6. Fly home the same evening.

How much time will you really have?

The ground time on a listing runs from landing to the return take-off. Your real time in town is shorter, because you lose time at both ends. Here's the formula:

Here's an example with made-up numbers, not a specific route:

Real figures vary a lot by airport and route. A destination with a fast train or tram into the centre beats one where the airport is an hour away, which is why longer ground time is better.

Is it worth it? Day trip or overnight stay

Here's our rule of thumb, and it's only a rule of thumb: if you'd have less than about three hours in town after the formula above, a day trip is probably a lot of effort for a little time. Consider staying the night, or choose a route with a longer ground time.

Think about the full cost, not just the fare. Add airport transfers at both ends, food and drink, and any bag or seat charges. Optional extras such as extra cabin baggage, priority boarding or reserved seats aren't included in the prices we show.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

A good fit if you

• want one compact thing, such as a Christmas market, a museum or a long lunch
• can travel light, with hand luggage only
• don't mind an early start and a late night
• live near an airport with direct routes

Better to stay the night if you

• want to explore at a relaxed pace
• are travelling with young children, or anyone who tires easily
• can't afford a mistake, such as needing to be at work early the next morning
• are heading somewhere with a slow or unreliable airport connection

UK airports with Day Trips on Flight Monitor

What if a flight is delayed or cancelled?

A same-day return leaves little slack, and most of the risk comes down to one thing: you need to get home that night. It helps to know your rights before you travel. The details below come from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and GOV.UK, so check them for the latest before you rely on them.

Which rules apply?

UK law (often called UK261) covers flights that depart from a UK airport on any airline, arrive at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arrive at an EU airport on a UK airline (GOV.UK summary). The EU has its own, similar rules for flights that depart from an EU airport (Your Europe). So the outbound leg from the UK is covered by UK law. A return leg from the EU may be covered by UK rules, EU rules, or both, depending on the airline and route. Check which applies to your flight.

Delays: care and compensation are different things

Care means looking after you while you wait. It applies when your flight leaves a set time after its scheduled departure: 2 hours for flights under 1,500km, 3 hours for 1,500km to 3,500km, and 4 hours for flights over 3,500km. It covers food and drink, two calls or emails, and a hotel with transport if the delay runs overnight, whatever caused the delay.

Compensation is a separate payment. You may be owed it if you arrive at your destination more than three hours late, but not if the airline shows the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances. It isn't paid automatically, so you have to claim it from the airline. If the delay is at least five hours, you can also choose not to travel and get a refund for the unused flights on that booking. If your outbound and return are separate bookings, only the booking affected by the delay is refunded. That last point is our reading, so check the airline's conditions.

Cancellations

If the airline cancels, you can choose a refund or to be rebooked. While you wait for a new flight, the airline must provide meals and drinks, a way to keep in touch, and a hotel with transport if you're rebooked for the next day. Compensation for a cancellation depends on how much notice you got and the cause. It generally isn't due when the cause is outside the airline's control.

What a refund covers depends on how you booked. On a single return booking, the CAA says a refund covers the unused parts of the ticket, including the other leg of the return. If you bought your outbound and return as two separate one-way tickets, each is its own booking. The airline that cancelled refunds the ticket you bought from it, but a separate ticket on another booking, such as a return with a different airline, isn't covered by that refund. That's our reading of how the rules apply, so check the airline's conditions.

If the airline doesn't provide the care it owes, the CAA says you can arrange reasonable care yourself and claim the cost back. Keep receipts, and don't overspend.

Where you might not be protected

Each ticket is its own booking. If you've bought your outbound and return separately, a late outbound doesn't automatically oblige the airline to rebook your return. The CAA says passengers on separate self-transfer bookings have no statutory right to care, compensation or onward transport, and a same-day trip on two tickets is a similar situation. That's our reading, not a quote, so check the airline's conditions. In that case, extra costs such as a new ticket or a hotel could fall on you.

Entry requirements

Even for a few hours, you still need to meet the entry rules for the country you're visiting, such as a valid passport. Check your destination on GOV.UK's foreign travel advice before you book.

Practical tips

• Fly with hand luggage only where you can, and check the airline's current cabin bag rules before you pack.
• Download tickets, maps and transport details before you leave, and note the transfer times.
• Decide your priorities before you land. With a few hours, pick one or two things and do them well.
• Set an alarm for the time you need to start heading back, not the time of your flight.
• Check the weather and any strike or disruption news the day before.

Quick answers

Do I need to book a hotel?

No, that's the point of a same-day return. But have a plan for what you'd do if you got stranded, such as where you could stay and how you'd pay.

Can I do it with a checked bag?

You can, but it eats into your time and adds cost. Hand luggage only is simpler. Check the airline's rules for the size and weight you're allowed.

Are the prices on Flight Monitor final?

No. We show return flight fares and link you to the airline, which sets the final price. Optional extras aren't included, so check the total on the airline's site before you pay.