How To Handle A Long Airport Layover

Nobody likes a long layover. Most airports aren’t especially comfortable or accommodating to travelers forced to wait more than an hour to connect to their next flight and terminals are no place like home. But you can fight the frustration and boredom with a few tips and mantras to hold close.

Keep moving

Your first reaction may be to bunker down with your smartphone or laptop and watch a movie or explore Netflix. That’s totally understandable, and know your decision is well supported. But after it ends, be sure to get up, stretch your legs and stimulate your mind. It’s easy to relax with a movie when you’re at home on the couch, but waiting for a flight has an element of stress. Relieve it by exploring. Perhaps you’re in an especially gorgeous airport like Beijing International Airport or O’Hare International Airport.

Read magazines

If you’re a bookworm, then by all means, dive in. But if you’re prone to distraction, and don’t have the greatest amount of patience to deal with this nearly unbearable wait you have in front of you, stock up on some magazines at the nearby newsstand. Magazines are packed with tons of different information, eye-catching images and some come with quizzes or other engaging content. Grab one from a variety of different topics, so when you get bored with celebrity gossip, you can read up on scientific discovery.

Eat a meal

If you know you’re going to be dealing with a long layover between connecting flights, plan to sit down at one of the terminal restaurants. Grab a drink, order an appetizer and try to relax while you have the time to kill.