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Like I’ve said before, travelling is often far from glamorous. A LOT of the time it involves waiting around in airports for hours on end, trying to sleep while clutching all your bags so that no one robs you or plants anything in them. Flight delays and long layovers are something every traveller has to learn to deal with. I’ve had some ridiculous experiences over the past few years which have all lead to me becoming a bit of an expert on how to pass time in the airport.
My Worst Flight Delays
Sydney to Hong Kong – I was supposed to have a 5 hr layover in Singapore, which would have been fine because Changi is one of the best airports in the world. BUT, my flight (with what is now my least favourite airline) from Singapore was delayed by 5hrs. I had 10hrs to kill in the airport. It was also over night, so the layover tourist bus that allows you to visit the city between flights wasn’t even running. They gave me a meal voucher for $5 for dinner which didn’t go very far. The in-terminal hotel was fully booked. I ended up watching about 7 episodes of America’s Next Top Model on my phone and trying my hardest to nap. When I got to Hong Kong I was medically classifiable as a zombie and had to wait another 4hrs to be able to check into my hotel.
Cebu to Manila – I was in Cebu when there was a typhoon warning. The Philippines has a lot of trouble with the destruction caused by these tropical storms. My mother was frantically texting me to check I was still alive. When I got to Cebu airport all of the flights on the board were delayed. And there is NOT a lot going on in Cebu airport entertainment-wise. I think I watched the same “Breaking News” about 20 times on the TV in the waiting area. Then the flights started getting cancelled. I was sitting there for hours, reading, eating and wondering if I even wanted to fly in this awful weather anyway?! My flight was the final one to be allowed fly to Manila. Every flight after mine was cancelled. I survived the flight FYI.
London to Toronto – I had to get the train to Gatwick Airport and then wait in the airport for about 7hrs. Luckily Gatwick has plenty of places to eat/shop/charge your phone. The only unfortunate thing about this delayed flight was that I had serious back pain and then got my period while in the airport. So, ya know, that was ideal. So now I always pack pains killers and emergency lady products in my hand luggage.
Top Tips for Passing Time in the Airport
OK, so after all of the above and MANY more, I have a few tips for you on how to pass the time in the airport. Here’s a handy infographic for you to pin/print/keep for your travels.
Personally I do all of the above! However, I also spend my time in the airport doing a lot of work for my website and Youtube channel. Nearly all over my videos are made whilst waiting in airports. I usually Instagram something, call someone or catch up on a bit of good old-fashioned social media stalking. And when I’ve had enough of technology, and I have some company, I find playing travel games is a great way to pass the time in an airport.
What do you do to pass the time in the airport?
Have you ever had any nightmare layovers/ delays?
Let me know in the comments.
*This post is presented in association with Chelsea Ellsworth.
Where was this last week when I needed it?? I had the exact same experience at Dubai International last week, what was supposed to be 4 hours at the airport quickly turned into 8 after delays – overnight. I was so tired trying to sleep in those ‘lying-down’-chairs they have, haha.
Oh the $5 meal voucher is the worst deal ever.. no one has ever considered inflation since it was implemented and the cheapest item is usually at least $8.50.