The seat was comfortable when you first sat down, ensconced in your private space, everything at hand to make the hours of your airport layover slide past. And they did, the time flew. Then it began to slow down, and down, now every time you glance at your watch the little hand just sits there giving you the finger. It is unavoidable, if you travel, you will spend minutes, hours and days in the crypt-like halls of the airport departure terminal. Here’s how to liven them up a little after exhausting the duty-free shops.
Get yourself comfortable
For some reason airlines like landing in the dark and taking off during the day. In those early hours of the morning there is not much to do except try to sleep if the time difference hasn’t messed with your head too much. Set yourself up with a camping spot. Don’t limit yourself to the chairs provided as they become uncomfortable within minutes and awkward armrests squeeze everyone into line. Restaurants are the exception: if they are open, make a couch out of a couple of chairs and keep the drinks coming.
Otherwise, the floor is your best bet for sleeping through the layover and don’t worry, no one looks twice at what might otherwise be taken for a homeless person. Use your hand-luggage wrapped in clothing as a pillow – this both cushions the hard floor and makes it difficult for your bag to be pilfered while you sleep. This is why I always carry extra clothing in my carry-on, also useful for counter the effect of airport air conditioning.
Entertainment
This is key: the number-one method for getting through any long wait is entertainment. When it comes to books, don’t be a hero. Don’t put yourself through the torture of deciding this is the time to attempt that book you have always felt obligated to finish (such as War and Peace). MP3 players are your friends, especially one that can play movies or TV series. When boredom strikes, the small screen ceases to matter. Just make sure it is fully charged and loaded up with content. Never plug it into a computer you don’t know as losing 120GB of music and movies is soul-destroying. Unless there is wi-fi and an accessible plug, laptops aren’t much use, they swiftly transform into shiny doorstops.
Set targets
Anything is easier when broken down into chunks: food, heavy weights, and long waits. You won’t be able to sit in the same place for hours, so when you have to do something, set yourself a time to do it. 30-minute blocks are great for this, if you need the toilet, are feeling hungry or just want to take a walk – only do it on the hour or the half-an-hour. Those few minutes you have to wait pass quickly, give you something to look forward to, and add up quickly.
People
Meeting people, learning their stories and telling them yours, is a great part of travelling but you should also be careful. If you talk to the wrong person, you may suddenly be deluged with hours of mundane conversation as well as an extra piece of baggage as your new best friend is impossible to lose. To avoid this: talk to people away from your base camp, have a book or movie that you want to get back to and try to get a sense of the person before you open dialogue with them. If talking isn’t your thing, people-watching can be fun. Play ‘spot the spy’ and pretend that you are in a Robert Ludlum novel.
Make sure you have some money
Being stuck, bored and broke can feel like something out of Dante’s Inferno. Empty pockets are a sad element of returning home; the word budget doesn’t exist at the end of a holiday. This can leave you hungry and stuck with War and Peace. This can cause delerium to the point that when you get on your next flight, the in-flight magazine and even the food become wonderful. To avoid this, remember to keep some emergency money. US Dollars are generally accepted in many airports so keep some in reserve, even better is going to the currency exchange when it is open and getting some local money. This will also give you the option of splashing out on one of the fancy lounges that have all the bells and whistles – sometimes even beds.
Leaving the airport
If you have over a certain amount of time to wait, it is day time, and your airport is clued up, they may offer tours of the local city. This is probably the best way to pass a layover. You will be able to see a very tiny part of another country, and it becomes someone else’s duty to entertain you. Ask at the information desk if they offer tours (they do cost money so see above point).
There are state-of-the-art, all-the-comforts-of-home airports and then those that feel like a warehouse stuffed with second-hand school chairs. Do some research, know what to expect, be prepared and when booking your flight try and keep downtime on the ground to a minimum. And keep an eye on your bags. Safe travels.
For the best (and worst) airports around the world, read this blog by Linda Schonknecht
Photo by Diametrik
