Spending hours stuck in an airport due to a delayed or canceled flight can be incredibly frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be the worst thing to ever happen to you. Here are some tips to make the best of an extended airport layover and keep your sanity intact.
Stay Entertained
Having plenty of entertainment options loaded up before your travels is key to surviving an airport delay without losing your mind to boredom. Download movies, eBooks, magazines, podcasts, and playlists to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop so you have plenty to keep you occupied. Queue up for a few new apps, audiobooks, or streaming series you’ve been wanting to check out as well.
Bringing a physical book, deck of cards, or portable gaming device can also be great delay entertainment as a backup. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll want to pack toys, books, games, and other activities specifically to keep young ones engaged and happy during a potential delay. Also, be sure to visit this page to find casinos with free spins offers and play some online slots or games if that’s your taste.
Stay Comfortable
Once you know your flight is delayed, it’s important to find a comfortable gate area or other location in the terminal to camp out for potentially hours. Take some time to explore the terminal and find spots with ample seating as well as power outlets and USB charging stations to juice up your electronic devices.
Come prepared with neck pillows, eye masks, and headphones to help you nap or relax during the delay. Also, be sure to get up and move around periodically to avoid stiff or sore muscles from sitting too long. Stretch your legs with a walk through the concourses or find a quiet corner of the terminal to do some light yoga or exercises.
Stay Fed and Hydrated
Being stuck in an airport for hours on end means remembering to eat regular meals and snacks to keep your energy levels up. Take advantage of airport food courts and restaurants so you don’t have to survive on just junk food. Check out the healthier or gourmet options for many airports now have. Staying properly hydrated by drinking plenty of water is also key, while avoiding too much alcohol or caffeinated beverages that will dehydrate you. Be sure to bring an empty reusable water bottle you can refill post-security, so you have water on hand.
Get Work Done
If you want or need to be productive during an airport delay, it can actually be a great opportunity to catch up on work away from your normal environment and distractions. Find a quieter area of the terminal and take advantage of the free airport Wi-Fi to answer emails, finish up reports, or make headway on a lingering project. For many, the change of scenery and lack of regular interruptions can help boost productivity. Just make sure your laptop, tablet, or smartphone is charged so you can make the most of the delay work time.
Stay in Touch
When facing a long flight delay, it’s important to let folks picking you up on the other end know about the delay right away and give them regular updates. This helps avoid leaving them wondering or unnecessarily waiting for you. You’ll also want to notify any important work contacts about the delay. Make the most of the free airport Wi-Fi to call, text, email, or video chat to catch up with family and friends. Airport delays can be a great opportunity for meaningful conversations with loved ones when you have hours with nothing else to do.
The key to surviving airport delays is staying comfortable, fed, entertained, and productive. While flight delays are unavoidable nowadays, you can take steps to ease the frustration and make the best use of your unexpected extra time stuck at the airport.
