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Kill some time during airport layovers

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aka 6 things to do during airport layovers

Background: I have a tendency to miss my flight. I have flown <100 times in my life, but have managed to miss >10 flights. The result? The dreaded sleepover chez aerogare.

Add to that the inevitable stopovers and layovers when you travel anywhere farther than your grandma’s backyard and you have LOTS of free time to kill in the airport.

So what to do during this time? Here are 6 things I’ve done to amuse myself.

1. Check out the vending machine

Nothing else offers such an immediate and profound look into the psyche of a city like the vending machines do. Not convinced? Check out the fine balance between multinational offers and local fare in each metal repository. Fittingly, SFO sells iPods.

2. Take the free shuttle

Realize that not all airport terminals are created equal. Chances are, you’re not in the coolest one. Rectify that right away and exercise your airport passenger rights. Hop on that free shuttle and faire le tour. It’s better than an amusement ride! Bonus points for taking an airport cart with you past the gates and the guards.

3. Bargain with the vendors

Try this in particularly empty airports where the vendors look as bored as you feel. Good deals could be in the making. Or high entertainment factor anyway.

4. Make some friends

Insight: Until their flight gets called, your airport neighbours are captive audiences. Grease up your social skills. Strike up a conversation.

Just don’t stalk them. That’s still illegal in most countries.

5. Watch others sleep.

For such a universal activity, people sure find many different ways to do it. Posture, position, audio and vocal additions, pitch, movement and sprawl all factor into sleep styles. Go ahead, sleep id your neighbours. Do some psychoanalyzing.

6. Get some sleep yourself

Sleep is never overrrated. Maximize your R&R time when you’ve got nothing better to do so you’re not kneeling over from fatigue when you actually do have better things to do. Besides, nothing passes time faster than blissful unconsciousness. Just make sure you don’t end up using those metal armrests as a pillow because that kink you’ll get in your neck after the fact is bleeping inconvenient.

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The author (Pokin :p) realizes that the sleep picture is not at an airport, but at the local IKEA store. But you get the idea. Use your imagination.