I hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday this 2012 season, and is ready to welcome in a new year. Over the holiday's, I had several family members and friends travel in from out of state. Some drove and some flew in from various places. We didn't have the weather we usually have, that is until right after the holiday when everyone was departing back to the respective places. I dropped one of my close friends off at the airport, fully expecting they wouldn't make it out, due to the weather we had that day. Unusually, they were on one of four flights that made it out that day. Never crossed my mind that they would get stuck overnight at their connecting flight stop due to mechanical malfunctions.
This brings me to what this post is about, sleeping in an airport. People sleep in airports for various reasons. Some are voluntary, some are not. But either way, an airport is not a five start hotel. No, far from it. But if you will be staying in one, or are in the situation where you have no choice or don't want to cough up $100 plus dollars for a hotel, there are several things you can do to be prepared for that dreadfully long stay at an airport.
Be prepared. If you know beforehand the weather is going to be bad, expect there to be delays or cancellations.
Wear extra clothing. Airplanes themselves can be quite chilly and airports are no exception. Not only will wearing extra clothing help keep you warm, but that sweatshirt you have on can also double as a pillow for you to sleep on.
Soft ear plugs. This should be obvious.
Sunglasses. Believe it or not, some airports do not allow you to lay down or close your eyes. Sunglasses can be a clever way of disguising that, as well as providing the illusion of darkness to better help you sleep.
Have a way to wake up. Whether that be an alarm on a cell phone, or an alarm on a watch, make sure you have a way to wake up.
A breakfast bar/snack/food of some kind. Not everything in the airport is open all the time, and vending machines can be hard to come by. So if your sticking it out overnight at the airport, and you had counted on having that 16oz. prime rib for dinner but now are trying to make it on an empty stomach, that power bar or granola bar will come in handy. You can always buy a small snack too once you arrive, or if you realize that you may not take off, just in case.
A small blanket/pillow. These are not a necessity, if you dress with extra clothing much of that can be doubled as a blanket or pillow, but these never hurt. Also, don't be hesitant to ask the attendants at the counter for a pillow and blanket that the airline should provide. Just be polite and ask. Also, don't forget to return the items when you awake.
An electronic device for watching movies or listening to music. This goes without saying that you may indeed be in the airport for a long period of time, with no stores open to browse, television to watch, or things to do in general.
Look around at your surroundings. Security in airports post 9-11 has certainly become an issue of social mainstream. You should not feel as paranoid about your belongings, as everyone in the airport has had to pass through security and has a reason to be there. However, your personal items, such as passports, money, etc., should be kept somewhere that if you are to sleep, someone would have to wake you in order to get to them. Also, being aware of your surroundings includes knowing where your terminal is for the next flight. If you do not want to sleep sitting up, you may have to venture to find chairs that will allow you to lay down, and they may not be at your gate.
While some of you may be staying at the airport intentionally (afraid of missing the early morning flight, etc.), there are those that are going to be forced to stay. Remember as well, airport officials take the stance that an airport is "not a hotel." If it's bad enough, airlines will often try to offer discounted rates at local hotels for you to stay at. Some might even compensate you for the hotel. Others will offer nothing. Whatever your situation is, staying at an airport does not have to be an all-nighter. With a little forward thinking and preparedness, staying at an airport can save you money and not be a bank buster or stressful event.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
While You Wait...
Sometimes is seems the more layovers you have the cheaper your flight will cost. While it might take you all day to go from A to B, the price cut may well be worth it. But what about the 4, 5, sometimes more, hours you spend waiting in the terminal for that connecting flight? Wasted time or not? What do you do while you wait?
Having various conversations with our wonderful fans that use Westwind Airport Valet when traveling out of the Dayton International Airport, we have come up with several things that seem to prevail over others. Using that and our own personal remedies for the time in between, here is what we have.
1. People Watch
Have you ever seen someone doing something like screaming into their phone, and wondered "What is that all about?" Or witnessed a person with the look of total confusion and wonder if they are going to make their flight? It's interesting to watch a human being from an outside perspective. It lets us know that we can be attentive and oblivious at the same time.
2. Eat
Nom, nom, nom! Eating is always a choice with tons of places to pick from in airports. From the isle side vendors to the full sit down restaurants, there is not shortage of places to grab a meal. A little tip. Certain foods cause you to be drowsy after consumption. If you have trouble flying, try eating some of these foods before your flight to help you maybe take a nap or be in a more sedated mood when flying.
3. Read
Reading is a great way to pass the time while traveling. If you have a good book, a long layover, and a few flights, you might be able to finish the entire thing. Not only does it keep your brain active, so when you arrive at your final destination you're not "lost", but it allows you to focus on what you are reading and not be distracted by factors that can stress you out. I think it's safe to say that there is a bookstore in about every airport.
4. Drink
Make it a double! Some people head straight to the bar. Many people have the misassumption that alcohol will "calm my nerves" because they're a nervous flier. Actually alcohol is a stimulant and does the opposite of what you think it does. Most airport, TSA, and airline companies will tell you to try to avoid alcohol consumption before flight, but magically they all serve alcohol aboard the flight. Ironic? Of course you can drink enough to pass out if your that nervous of a flier, but try to find alternatives to calm your nerves.
5. Sleep
That flight at 5 a.m. comes quick. And if it was a last minute plan, or procrastination just took over, you might not have gotten that full nights sleep. So catch a few Z's while you wait. If you are a light sleeper, try putting some headphones in, with or without music playing, to drown out background noise. Just be sure you have a way of waking up, either by alarm, a travel partner, or someone who is waiting on the same flight as you. Asking someone around you if they will be so kind as to wake you up in 30 minutes etc., usually is not a problem for most travelers and can even be a great way to strike up a conversation.
6. Work
Most of us know it never stops. And just because you're traveling, does not mean that the work flow back at the office is getting put on hold just for you. Doing work while you are waiting is great way to stay ahead of the game and keep things on a level so you do not have an overload of to-do's when you get back to the office.
These are just a very few of the things you can do while you wait. After sitting for so long, getting up and walking around is a good way to spend the layover time and get some exercise. If the wait is long enough, see about checking out the local town, grab a shower, etc. There are plenty of options to chose from when waiting on a flight.
What do you like to do?
Having various conversations with our wonderful fans that use Westwind Airport Valet when traveling out of the Dayton International Airport, we have come up with several things that seem to prevail over others. Using that and our own personal remedies for the time in between, here is what we have.
1. People Watch
Have you ever seen someone doing something like screaming into their phone, and wondered "What is that all about?" Or witnessed a person with the look of total confusion and wonder if they are going to make their flight? It's interesting to watch a human being from an outside perspective. It lets us know that we can be attentive and oblivious at the same time.
2. Eat
Nom, nom, nom! Eating is always a choice with tons of places to pick from in airports. From the isle side vendors to the full sit down restaurants, there is not shortage of places to grab a meal. A little tip. Certain foods cause you to be drowsy after consumption. If you have trouble flying, try eating some of these foods before your flight to help you maybe take a nap or be in a more sedated mood when flying.
3. Read
Reading is a great way to pass the time while traveling. If you have a good book, a long layover, and a few flights, you might be able to finish the entire thing. Not only does it keep your brain active, so when you arrive at your final destination you're not "lost", but it allows you to focus on what you are reading and not be distracted by factors that can stress you out. I think it's safe to say that there is a bookstore in about every airport.
4. Drink
Make it a double! Some people head straight to the bar. Many people have the misassumption that alcohol will "calm my nerves" because they're a nervous flier. Actually alcohol is a stimulant and does the opposite of what you think it does. Most airport, TSA, and airline companies will tell you to try to avoid alcohol consumption before flight, but magically they all serve alcohol aboard the flight. Ironic? Of course you can drink enough to pass out if your that nervous of a flier, but try to find alternatives to calm your nerves.
5. Sleep
That flight at 5 a.m. comes quick. And if it was a last minute plan, or procrastination just took over, you might not have gotten that full nights sleep. So catch a few Z's while you wait. If you are a light sleeper, try putting some headphones in, with or without music playing, to drown out background noise. Just be sure you have a way of waking up, either by alarm, a travel partner, or someone who is waiting on the same flight as you. Asking someone around you if they will be so kind as to wake you up in 30 minutes etc., usually is not a problem for most travelers and can even be a great way to strike up a conversation.
6. Work
Most of us know it never stops. And just because you're traveling, does not mean that the work flow back at the office is getting put on hold just for you. Doing work while you are waiting is great way to stay ahead of the game and keep things on a level so you do not have an overload of to-do's when you get back to the office.
These are just a very few of the things you can do while you wait. After sitting for so long, getting up and walking around is a good way to spend the layover time and get some exercise. If the wait is long enough, see about checking out the local town, grab a shower, etc. There are plenty of options to chose from when waiting on a flight.
What do you like to do?
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