Flight Delayed? Tips on How to Kill Time in an Airport

If you’ve been on an airplane recently, there’s a strong chance you’ve had to deal with delays. In the first eight months of 2024 alone, more than one-fifth of all flights have been delayed. It doesn’t matter which airline you choose, you could be stuck in an airport for far longer than planned. If you find yourself stuck, don’t worry. There’s plenty to do to fill the time. Here are some options to make your delay less frustrating.

15 things to do while waiting for a flight

When your flight gets delayed, it can feel like you’re losing that day. However, you don’t have to turn that time into wasted time. Here are fifteen things you can do to make the time go by faster (and even get some work done) while you’re on the ground.

Keep an eye on flight statuses

Having your boarding pass and passport ready is one thing, but you should also check your flight status. Even in the worst-case scenario, it’s unlikely that your flight will change terminals. It’s far more likely that it could change gates. Make sure you find the right screens for your flight information. Also, check if there’s an app available for your airline. Apps are often more up-to-date than the displayed airport information.

Explore the airport

It’s only when you’re truly stuck in an airport that you realize how many things are available to do and look at. They might not be the successors of malls, but you’ll be surprised how many different food places, stores, and interesting sights you can find if you look around. Take the opportunity to explore the space. You never know what cool architectural pieces you’ll find!

It’s also very valuable to find places to charge your electronics. There are few things worse than your phone or computer dying while you’re waiting out a delay. Larger metropolitan airports usually have charging stations spread around the airport. They tend to fill up fast, but if you’re patient you can grab one. Otherwise, you can use your exploration time to find any wall or floor outlets that people might have missed.

Read or listen to a book

Reading is another great way to pass the time. You probably have already brought at least a book or two, but you might also be able to download new audiobooks or e-books to your various devices if you have a strong enough connection. There are also airport shops that carry a collection of best sellers along with recent issues of magazines and newspapers for something lighter if you’re exhausted from travel.

Catch up on work

Airports can be noisy places, but bring out your headphones, or maybe find a quiet location, and they can also be a pretty good place to get some work done. You may need to find an aforementioned outlet, but most places usually have some kind of free wi-fi that you can connect to or the option to buy a premium connection. It’s far from perfect, but sometimes you just have to make do with what you have!

Exercise

If your flight is delayed you’re going to be doing quite a bit of sitting, so you might want to consider some different exercises. The easiest one to consider is taking a walk around the airport. Make sure you have a planned route — say from one end of the terminal to the other — so you don’t get lost and miss your flight. You can also regiment things by creating a circuit to walk and maybe light calisthenics.

All of this can help you avoid some nasty looks from starting to do jumping jacks or push-ups in everyone’s personal space.

Meditate and relax

Any kind of travel can take its toll on you whether your flight is on time or you’re stuck at the gate. Calming down can be easier said than done, but meditation and deep breathing exercises can go a long way. You may be surprised how much it helps to center your mind and control your inhaling and exhaling. One of the most common exercises involves breathing in, counting to five, and then breathing out while counting to five for five minutes.

Do some shopping

You might think you’re done with souvenir shopping by the time you get to the airport, but if you’re in the airport for three extra hours, that blanket you thought was twenty dollars too expensive starts looking pretty cozy.

Hopefully, you’re dealing with lower stakes than that, but the shopping options are surprisingly robust in airports. Things are certainly more expensive, but once you start looking into duty-free products, it might be worth your while. Grab an extra piece for your loved ones or favorite co-worker (or yourself), or just browse for an hour. After all, you’ve got the time!

Call a friend or loved one

Traveling alone is stressful enough, but being stuck alone for hours adds additional stress. Therefore, if you’re stuck on a delay call a friend or loved one. It can lower your stress to talk to someone familiar. It will also help make the time go by faster or allow you to vent a little bit about your situation. We all need to let off some steam now and then, and frustrating travel certainly makes the blood boil.

Review your upcoming trip

If you want to be prepared, it’s also a good idea to review all of the details of your upcoming trip. Wait time is a good time to look at your plans for after you land. That way you can relax on the flight. Review your transportation options, your itinerary, or hotel information. You could even revisit the area to which you’re traveling to see if you missed any fun and interesting things you want to add to your trip.

Write in or start a travel journal

Get a head start on your trip and start a travel journal. It’s easy to pack a notepad, notebook, or Moleskin in your carry-on, so you won’t lose space. Plus, it may help to clear your head and streamline your thoughts about the coming trip. Being stuck at the airport might not be the most exciting start to your trip, but a travel journal will allow you the ability to regularly document your thoughts about each step of the trip.

Get some food and drink

This goes back to the recommendations for exploring the airport, but depending on where you are, you could have a few options for food. If you’re lucky, there might be a sit-down restaurant or two or a food court-style situation. Other times you may only have a newsstand for your meal options. Your mileage will vary (sorry), but it never hurts to ask someone who works there if there are any other options.

Watch a movie

Pull out your headphones and preferred device and set up your own airport cinema! Watching a movie on a tablet or computer is a great way to pass the time. You may have a hard time actively streaming, so it’s worth downloading a couple of movies either before you leave home or when you find a strong signal. Just make sure that you don’t miss your flight. Your movie can wait, the plane won’t.

Play games

Games are a wide category here, but whether you packed a deck of cards or are booting up a game of free online Solitaire, playing games is a great way to stay busy and test your mental faculties. And with so many different options, you’re not going to run out of time to play or test your skills.

Make friends

It’s not the most pleasant icebreaker, but you have one thing in common with everyone at your gate - you’re all on a delayed flight. Be mindful of what others are doing, but talking to your neighbor is a great way to find out information or get to know people. So many people have stories you wouldn’t expect, and you may meet a new friend. That or they’ll be someone to avoid once you’re on the plane.

People watch

Crowds can be stressful, especially if you’re stuck in a line. However, large groups of people offer the best opportunities to people watch. Ten out of ten times, you’ll see something you can’t explain or a person who tripped on their shoelaces and hoped nobody saw it. Plus it can help take your mind off the frustration of the situation — if even for a short time.

Top 10 airports in the world

If a layover or delay is completely unavoidable, hopefully you’re lucky enough to end up at one of these plush airports. According to the World Airport Awards, these are considered the ten best airports in the world.

1. Istanbul Airport - The main airport of Istanbul and Turkey, this airport has only one terminal for all of its domestic and international flights
2. Zurich Airport - A short ride from downtown Zurich, this is the primary hub of Swiss International Air Lines
3. Munich Airport - This expansive German airport offers over 50 places to eat and 150 retail stores to shop at.
4. Dubai - This airport in the United Arab Emirates is among the busiest airports in the world.
5. Paris CDG - Named after Charles De Gaulle, Paris CDG is the largest international airport in France.
6. Tokyo Narita - The international hub for All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, this international airport serves the greater Tokyo area of Japan.
7. Tokyo Haneda - Another airport located in Japan, Tokyo Haneda is one of the busiest airports in the world and a short drive south of central Tokyo.
8. Seoul Incheon - The largest airport in South Korea and is one of the busiest in the world. It previously won first place in the World Airport Awards back in 2012.
9. Singapore Changi - This airport in Singapore is one of the busiest passenger hubs for Southeast Asia and has a reputation for first-class service.
10. Doha Hamad - Located in the capital of Qatar, this airport has been described as one of the most luxurious and architecturally significant airports in the world.

Don’t let the time go to waste

No one likes being stuck in an airport, but you’ll regret it if you don’t make the best of it. Travel can be a lot for anyone, but by taking the time to utilize these suggestions you can hopefully make your experience slightly better. You might be there for a few more hours, but keep playing your game. You have nothing but time.

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