20 Interesting Ways to Pass Time At the Airport Terminal

Woman walking through the airport with luggage and her phone — Adobe Stock

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

Woman on her phone at an airport terminal — Adobe Stock

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

Woman reaching for perfume bottle at a store — Adobe Stock

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

Man reading a book at the airport — Adobe Stock

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.