Airport Layovers: How to survive them.
02/21/2017
LAYOVERS: AND HOW TO SURVIVE THEM.
Having experienced an 8-hour layover at Budapest, this writer can well recall the excruciating boredom of sitting in an airport with absolutely nothing to do except wait, with a limited selection of English-Language Newspapers and magazines.Seated in a bar or restaurant (often a severely overpriced one), or just trying to snooze on hugely uncomfortable airport furniture.
TOP TIPS
In that light, we thought we would give you a few tips on things you could do to alleviate the tedium and even, perhaps, make it an enjoyable experience.
I believe that we should begin by acknowledging that many international airports have moved on from an 'any size fits all' approach to provision of services in the Terminals, to a more nuanced strategy (that understands that you are dealing with a hugely diverse group from the very old to the very young, ethnically diverse, and with different religious and cultural traditions).
Many of the innovations shown by airport managements range from the just plain cute to the eminently practical.One can recall with a wry smile, the Christmas events created by Denver Airport last year which included an ice rink and Christmas Carols (with of course free skates).
On a more directly religious front, prayer rooms and chapels are now present in airports throughout the world. A little gentle contemplation can calm the mind wonderfully.
Years ago you were lucky to get a news vendor, a snack bar and somewhere to buy toiletries and other basics. Nowadays it is sometimes difficult to tell some departure areas from a Shopping Mall. With such a wide range of stores, sometimes hours can be lost simply by browsing.
Pay a bit more to use an Airport Lounge
For a bit extra you can pay to go into an airport privilege lounge.Sometimes for $40-50 you can enter a lounge and get what is effectively a land-borne upgrade with workstations for business people, comfortable seating, great food cooked by professional chefs, and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Some lounges even provide sleeping places.Magazines and newspapers plus TV are also free. And of course the obligatory Wi-Fi.
One big problem with layovers, which parents often dread, is what to do with the kids to keep them amused.Here provision is a bit patchy.If you are lucky, you will find a movie theater, slightly more usual is a children's play area or a family room.It is the very young ones who cause the greatest headaches, so it is a wise move to bring some toys or a favorite blanket. For the older ones Wi-Fi relieves a lot of the problems, if it is not free, then Wi-Fi access can usually be paid for (it is a wise investment).
Go out and explore
There is, of course, the option of leaving the airport. This is not always easy. Passengers need to have plenty of time between flights to do this, particularly if the terminal concerned is a significant distance from where they want to go. Also, remember that customs and immigration are factors when entering the United States.
If you do not know the area, you want to visit, it is best to do extensive research on the internet, so you know the amount of time your itinerary will take. An especial tip is to check local public holidays so that you do not go on a wild goose chase !. A safer way to have a look around is to book a tour from the airport.Departing from the airport and arriving back at a fixed time, this choice removes the stress of constant clock-watching. Tours can range from one to seven hours, depending on the location.
Check out the Airport website
A simple but useful tip if you do not know the airport is to look up the website.Here you will find a myriad of maps and other information as to how to negotiate your way around the Terminal (especially if it is a very large one).
Some very innovative airports have gone out of their way to keep you there, some have Spas, Nashville has 100 concerts throughout the year (as you would expect from the home of country music). San Francisco has art galleries, and Munich has its own Oktoberfest (a Bavarian-style pub located in Terminal 1).
Munich has featured in the top three airports in the world for layovers.It too features an ice rink (in winter) and surfing (in the summer), there is even a Christmas Market and mini-golf for the sporting.
The top two airports are Singapore Changi (highlight: XBOX 360 gaming stations) and Seoul Incheon (highlight: Endless shopping).Both airports offer free tours, and other delights include fish spas and cultural centers.
CONCLUSION
Our top tips are research your airport/layover destination and take account of your requirements even before you fly.You will find it saves a lot of time and, of course, stress. And one final pointer, if you are a passenger on your own with just hand luggage and facing a long wait,why not go to an airline desk that serves your destination and ask how much an earlier ticket is. At www.paylessflights.com we have plenty of flight and hotel offers