Planning a trip involves several parts, especially if you’re going a long distance away from home. While you may book a non-stop flight, sometimes you may find yourself in the middle of a long layover. Consequently, the thought of sitting around at the airport for hours waiting for your next flight can be agonizing, but it doesn’t have to be.
If you’re wondering how to occupy time during a layover, this article has got you covered. It brings to your attention five exciting things you can do during the layover. So, the next time you find yourself stuck between connecting flights, make use of one or more of these suggestions to maximize your time.
1. Entertain Yourself
There are many ways to occupy time during a layover, and one of them is to entertain yourself. Luckily, many airports provide entertainment for travelers through digital signage displays. They understand that travelers spend a lot of time waiting in airport security lines, baggage points, check-ins, and gate boarding checks.
Meanwhile, digital signage content helps reduce perceived waiting time, so airports implement digital screens throughout the waiting areas. Consequently, you don’t have to spend your 1-hour layover time bored. Find a good spot in the airport where you can watch entertaining videos, TV series, news, sport, Disney movies, or weather updates to occupy time during a layover.
2. Catch Up on Work
Have you been too busy to finish your school or work assignments? Catching up on the last-minute work projects on which you’ve been procrastinating is an excellent way to occupy time during a layover. Many airports provide exceptional work or business sections with Wi-Fi and outlets to charge your laptop or phone.
After finishing all your work assignments, use this time to attend to all your other obligations. For example, you could pay bills, answer emails, or whatever other task you’d like to accomplish to make the most of your trip.
3. Take a Nap
Do you already feel tired from the first flight? Why not use a quick nap to restore your energy levels? Understandably, you may think that sleeping in the airport is disturbing, but that’s not always the case. Depending on the airport conditions, you can look for a comfortable couch and catch some sleep.
Moreover, some airports have designated sleeping sections or specially-made chairs for painless sleeping. For example, South Korea’s Incheon International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport provide comfy airport lounge chairs for travelers to stretch out fully. Remember to take care of your carry-on bag while you sleep.
4. Explore the Airport, Inside and Out
One of the best ways to occupy time during a layover is to enjoy an airport layover adventure. You could walk around the airport and enjoy the various amenities if yours is a short layover. Think in the lines of refreshing yourself in the shower facilities to energize before your final destination. Besides, you could use this time to shop in the duty-free shops, especially if you’re in Dubai. What about using this time to do yoga in the airport’s yoga room?
Alternatively, you could leave the airport and visit near places in your extra time. However, that’s only if you have plenty of time between international flights. For example, in Amsterdam, Toronto, Atlanta, Chicago, and Disney, you can quickly get public transportation from the airport to the city. Interestingly, you can spend up to half-day in a city tour. Explore new places, attractions, shopping malls, and eateries while at it.
In view of the fun that lies ahead, it would help to sketch an itinerary of your sightseeing schedule and do some research. Inquire about the kind of transportation you’ll need to and from the airport. Luckily, most airport websites list this information and provide helpful travel tips.
5. Treat Yourself to a Healthy Meal
The airport website is your go-to resource when you want to find intriguing food stops. Don’t waste your chances if you’re flying through the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. It’s rated a top stop-over for airport food lovers. Thus, occupy time during a layover by visiting BBQ spots, cereal restaurants, bars, or Mexican restaurants to try new menus. If you check into a bar, remember to stay responsible. Undoubtedly, you don’t want to indulge so much that you don’t have enough time to catch your next flight.
Final Thoughts
Have you, intentionally or unintentionally, booked yourself a long haul flight on your upcoming trip? That means an opportunity to do stuff you might not ordinarily do when you have a direct flight. If you’re short of ideas to occupy your time during a layover, the list above can be a perfect reference point. While some of them may mean extra cost on your budget, you’ll ultimately have fun and cut the boredom.
