No one likes being stuck waiting for their flight. Whether you are arriving early, dealing with a delay, or passing time during a layover or connecting flight, you will need something to keep you busy. Here are some of the most interesting, fun, and sometimes, productive ways to pass time at the airport terminal.
Call Home
A nice way to spend your extra time is to call home. This gives you ample time to let everyone know how your trip is going. If you have been delayed, this also lets friends and family know you are safe and will be on your way soon so they don’t worry if you fail to arrive on time at your destination.
Go Shopping
Who doesn’t like to shop? This is a great time to grab some duty-free souvenirs. If you are trying not to bust your budget, you can still window shop. There’s always a lot to see in shops at the airport. These shops often offer items and gadgets that you won’t see anywhere else as well as necessities.
Read a Book
Getting lost in a good book makes time fly by. You can opt for an audiobook or go the old-fashioned route and flip pages. Either way, you will likely be so absorbed in what you are reading that you won’t even notice the time passing until you are on the plane.
Walk the Terminal
This is a good way to get an idea of where everyone else is headed off to. It’s not only interesting to see where all the other people and flights are going, but it can also give you a ton of ideas for future trips for yourself. Additionally, it helps keep your circulation going and keeps you alert.
Brush Up on a Language
If you are headed to a country that speaks a language other than your native tongue, hanging out at the airport gives you time to brush up on a few words and phrases. There are lots of cool videos, audio recordings, and books that you can use to get you ready to speak a whole different language
Kick Back in the Lounge
Airport lounges aren’t free, but even if you aren’t a member of one, you can likely snag a day pass. This will allow you to relax in comfort and style and stay out of the hustle and bustle of people heading in a million different directions trying to catch their flights.
Find a Good Podcast
There are a ton of great podcasts out there. You can catch up on your favorite or find a new one that you have never heard of before. There are podcasts related to everything you can imagine, so there is something for everyone out there.
Try a Meditation App
We use apps for everything these days and meditation is no different. You can find a good meditation app that will help you forget your troubles. Whether you are nervous about flying, need to de-stress before vacation, or just need a good distraction, you’ll find a meditation app that can help.
People Watch
If you find yourself stuck at the airport and you haven’t brought a special book or something else to occupy your time, you can always people-watch. You will see lots of different people with unique styles from many places and walks of life. Watching people can keep you entertained for hours at an airport.
Listen to Music
Your favorite music will keep you in a good mood while you wait and you can’t ask for much more than that. Just pop in your earbuds and get lost in your own world with all of your favorite tunes. Just remember not to sing out loud because it might get you some strange looks from passers-by.
Make a New Friend
If you are the outgoing or gregarious type, you might find it easy to strike up a conversation with a fellow traveler. You never know who you might meet or what you might learn while you are sitting and waiting at the airport.
Charge Your Devices
If you are going to be there for a while anyway, you might as well make sure that all of your devices have a good charge on them. This ensures that you will be able to use your phone and other devices as soon as you are off the plane.
Return Phone Calls
If you are between flights, you may discover that you have missed a few calls while you were unreachable. Now is a great time to check your voicemail and texts and respond to anything that needs a response sooner than when you reach your destination.
Explore the Airport
Every airport is different and they usually have a lot to see and do. You might find an art exhibit, a specialty shop, or bits of local lore. Keep your phone with you so you can check for updates on your flight as well as take pictures of the interesting things you see.
Answer Emails
Answering emails isn’t the most fun thing to do but it is super productive. If you are going to be stuck there for a bit, answering emails now means more time for fun on your trip. Not to mention, it removes a menial task from your to-do list.
Get a Bite to Eat
You don’t have to get into the snacks you have packed for the flight. In fact, there are some pretty good places to eat at airports. Not only can you get a snack, but you can actually go to a restaurant and grab a hot meal between flights if you want to.
Edit Your Photos
If you are on a return flight, now is a great time to edit photos from your trip. You have a plethora of photo editing apps to choose from, including some free versions that work really well. Now you will be ready to share your pics with friends and family as soon as you arrive home.
Scroll Social Media
No matter which platform you are a fan of, if you have been on a flight for a few hours, you are bound to have missed something. This gives you plenty of time to check out Facebook, X, Instagram, or just watch a few funny cat videos (they were made for times like this).
Check the News
There’s a lot going on in today’s fast-paced world. One thing you can do is check out the news while you wait. You can take a look at the news and weather for the destination you are going to. This gives you a leg up and lets you be better prepared for when you land there.
Take a Nap
If you have a while to wait and you are sure of when your next flight will be arriving, you can take a nap and catch up on lost sleep. Make sure you set an alarm so that you don’t oversleep, you don’t want to miss your flight this way.
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