There are only two types of travelers in the world: those who like long layover flights and those who don’t. However, that’s because you either see long layovers as an annoyance since you just want to get to your destination faster or you see it as an opportunity to explore the place where you are.
But no matter how you see it, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider booking your flights with long layovers. For starters, it’s often cheaper compared to nonstop and direct flights. Plus, it can give you a chance to discover a new city or country while you’re at it. So, if you’re taking a long layover flight, here are some activities that you can do while waiting to depart:
Eat
If you had to be at the airport early, you probably wouldn’t have enough time to eat. But since you still have some time before your departure, you can take this as the best opportunity to sneak in a quick meal or snack, so you won’t have to travel on an empty stomach.
Plus, this could give you a chance to taste the local cuisine, especially if you’re in a city or country that you’ve never been to before. Don’t let the opportunity go to waste because you don’t know when you’ll have the chance to go back. That’s why you should get a taste of the local food and take your taste buds on a journey.
Shop
You might have the chance to do some last-minute shopping before leaving, but that highly depends on the airport you’re in. For instance, if your layover is in Singapore, you can enjoy the shopping experience at Changi Airport before you have to board your flight back home or to your new destination.
This would be the perfect opportunity to buy the things you forgot to bring while you were packing for your trip or to replace the items you lost while traveling. Additionally, you can use this time to buy yourself some souvenirs and memorabilia, or small gifts for your friends and family back home.
Play
Aside from shopping, you can also take this time to just play games on your smartphone, laptop, or Switch, particularly if you don’t want to walk around the airport. Instead of roaming, you can just find a comfortable spot to play your games and pass the time until you have to board your flight.
Make sure to find a place that has Wi-Fi, so you won’t have to rely on your cellular plan if you need to have an internet connection to play your game. Or you could check if there’s an arcade or play area inside the airport where you can play actual games with other people. This way, you can use your pent-up energy.
Sleep
If you feel like you haven’t had enough sleep from all your flights and constant traveling, the layover can be a breath of fresh air because you can finally catch up on some shuteye. Most airports offer lounges and sleeping areas for passengers in transit, so you can find a peaceful area to get some sleep.
But don’t forget to set alarms because you might sleep through the boarding calls and miss your flight. If you’re traveling with someone, you can have them wake you up. However, if you’re traveling alone, the best way to avoid missing your flight is to set the alarm an hour before you have to board or to sticky note for a wake-up reminder on you so other passengers can wake you up.
Watch
Lastly, you can always take the extra time to catch up on your favorite shows or movies. Even if you have four or five hours of waiting time before your flight—though that rarely happens—you can easily pass the time by watching four or five episodes of a series. Or it could be two full-length movies if you prefer watching films.
The point is that those extra hours may look long, but once you get knee-deep into your shows or films, all that time will just fly by. So if you know that you’ll have a lot of time to spare, do your homework and find movies or shows that you’ve been planning to binge on. Make sure to have your earphones and find a comfortable place near an outlet because your device might run out of battery with all that watching.
Long layovers are not the enemy here. Besides, it could save you more money on airfare if you spent a few extra hours switching planes and waiting to board compared to taking a nonstop flight. That’s why if you’re not in a hurry to get to your destination, consider taking the flight with long layovers because it might just be a great way to figure out your next trip.
