9 hacks to make long layovers more bearable
Yes, it is possible to transform a few hours hanging around an airport into an unexpected adventure...
From anti-procrastination suggestions, to how to get free food and drink, here are our top tips sure to upgrade the longest of gaps between connecting flights.
1. Find a hidden gem in plane sight
Take the time to explore your airport – there are often some fascinating features to discover. Changi Airport in Singapore, for example, has butterfly gardens, infinity pools and a slide – instead of an escalator – connecting two of the floors.
In North America, Vancouver International Airport has one of the continent’s largest aquariums and, at San Francisco International Airport, flyers can have the pleasure of meeting the Wag Brigade, a team of animals (including puppies and a pig) on hand to soothe the nerves of stressed-out passengers.
2. Escape the airport
Depending on the length of your layover, you might just be able to explore beyond the aerodome for a few hours. Several airports, including Changi in Singapore, offer a range of free whistle-stop guided tours for passengers with long waits for their connecting flight.
At Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, passengers on layovers of over six hours can sign up for free tours of the Blue Mosque (pictured), Hippodrome Square and the Grand Covered Bazaar.
Northern Imagery/Shutterstock
3. Stock up on snacks
If you’re faced with a dreaded overnight layover, a little preparation can go a long way. At many airports, the vast majority of retailers and restaurants will shut up shop around midnight, so stock up on supplies – including healthy treats and bottled water – sooner rather than later.
The best bit? Many terminal eateries will sell their stock at vastly reduced prices prior to closing time.
READ MORE: Dangerous airports: the scariest airport landings in the world
4. Look out for a lounge
It’s all too easy to spend serious amounts of cash at airports – whether it’s on reading material, bottled water, or the calorific junk food which suddenly looks so appealing. It's surprising but paying for lounge access can actually be a huge money saver.
For example American Airlines offer 50 Admirals Club lounges at selected airports including Atlanta, JFK, Miami and LAX, and with access from £46 ($59) it's likely to be the best purchase you will ever make airside. It gives you access to a spacious lounge with unlimited healthy food and drink, plenty of power points, seemingly endless reading material and, best of all, access to a nap room where you can spend blissful hours in the land of nod (just don’t get too carried away!).
5. Power up
Pack a fully-charged power back for your phone – perhaps even consider investing in a spare laptop battery. Prolong precious battery life by plugging-in gadgets on the first flight, even if you’re not using them, as finding power points in airports isn’t always easy.
If you do need to find a power point in a terminal, don’t just look for the charging stations you’ll find near departure gates: become an expert at sniffing out sockets – they’re most likely to be found above floor level in restaurants and bars, and often on pillars in public areas. Look for double sockets near vending machines, too.
6. Work in a workout
Feeling sluggish after your first flight? View the airport as your very own gym. Pound those staircases, perfect your yoga moves in a quiet corner and make it your mission to walk from one end of the terminal and back in a set amount of time.
Scout out the airport gym – they’re popping up all over the world. In America, fitness brand ROAM has opened a slew of fabulous airside gyms, most recently at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
7. Make a battle-plan for your escape route
When faced with an eight-hour layover, it’s all too easy to assume you’ve got heaps of time to make your connecting flight, but if you’re departing from a different, unfamiliar terminal you can still easily end your long layover with a mad dash to the gate.
In a worst-case scenario, you could discover you’re flying out from the city’s secondary airport. As soon as you land, find a map of the airport and work out where your next flight departs from and how long it takes to get there.
8. Recline and read
Once you’ve run out of reading material, don’t assume that airport shops are only good for pricey paperbacks – see them as an opportunity to pick up magazines and newspapers not available in your country, whatever subject you’re interested in.
Gordon Bell/Shutterstock
9. Check out other terminals
If you’ve got a long layover between internal flights at an international airport, head to the international terminal. There’ll be more retailers, restaurants and bars: they’ll be open for longer and the amenities will be better (think bigger toilets, more power points and comfier seating).
Lead picture: Jeshoots.com/Unsplash
Long layovers are a breeze if you’re staying at one of the world’s coolest airports.
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