Airport layovers can be a breeze, or they can feel like time is moving backwards. Usually, using your time most effectively is the best way to combat layover boredom. In the modern age, with so much technology available at our fingertips, there are plenty of ways to stay entertained during a layover. We’re going to browse through some of the more popular ones, as well as newer ones that are causing a stir in the industry. Let’s dive in!
Check out some mobile gaming
It doesn’t matter if you take your smartphone, iPad or laptop with you when you travel; there are mobile games that are suited to all types of user interface. Airport Wi-Fi has improved remarkably over the last decade, and depending on the airline you work for, you might have access to lounges where the internet is even quicker and more reliable than it is out in the public areas.
Mobile gaming offers a vast array of options, ranging from games that engage the mind, such as Wordle or a crossword, to exploring what a cashback casino has to offer. Ultimately, the aim of keeping yourself entertained during your airport layover is to keep your mind busy and to check out gaming genres and options that are significantly different to what you usually access.
For those who haven’t played at an online casino before, accessing promotions can be the most cost-effective way to see what they have to offer. However, you must read up on these games before you start playing, and you should never gamble with money set aside for essentials, nor should you gamble with money that you can’t afford to lose.
Meditation apps
If you’ve been on a long-haul flight and have been dealing with the worst customers, then finding a quiet space to relax and switch your brain off can be invaluable. This is where meditation apps can help you de-stress, and while it might not be the first thing you would consider entertainment, there are some that can provide restoration and engage the brain.
The proliferation of health and wellness apps has been a blessing or a curse, depending on who you ask. I had to shop around for a while before I found one that I liked, and then after a few weeks of using it, they started putting large chunks of their app behind a paywall. That’s what I get for being a cheapskate, I suppose.
Either way, meditation might not be your thing, but if you have been on a bumpy flight, a long-haul night flight, or you have had to deal with a passenger who was ringing their bell every 12 minutes for a variety of mundane reasons, then they could be worth checking out. If you have friends or family who use meditation apps, ask them which ones they use, shop around, check out reviews and find those that are cheap and easy to use.
Get your steps in
This might contradict our previous point, but if you are somebody who likes the idea of stretching their legs during an airport layover, then you can cover some pretty significant ground in the airport. That’s not to say you need to get your 10,000 steps in on every layover; in fact, some experts are undecided on whether 10,000 steps is the correct figure we should be aiming for.
However, if you are there for a good few hours and you don’t want to sit around on your phone, then going on a bit of a walk can be a great way to pass the time. When I stopped over at Incheon, I managed to get in 20,000 steps, and while it wiped me out for my connecting flight, it definitely helped to pass the time and keep me entertained.
Picking up a book
In a world where new media like podcasts and audiobooks have taken centre stage, it is the good old-fashioned paperback that can keep us entertained as we watch the minutes go by in the airport.
Before widespread access to the internet, airports would be full of people sitting around reading books, newspapers and magazines. For many people, these have been replaced by the remarkable innovations of their mobile devices, but there are still traditionalists who enjoy taking a book with them on their travels, whether for work or pleasure.
You might be someone who enjoys the autobiography of one of your favourite celebs. Others might prefer to dabble in a spot of fiction or a thriller. While I wouldn’t go as far as to recommend purchasing one of these books inside the airport itself, given how extortionate the prices can be, why not pick a few out and take them with you on your ventures around the globe?
Download a movie
If you’re after something more low-key, then downloading movies and TV series for the iPad is always a winner. It can help pass hours at a time, especially if it’s a comfort series or something that has incredible bingeability (if that’s an actual word). Read around, see what movies people recommend, and write up a list of ones to watch. Believe me, this small amount of planning can go a long way.
Final thoughts
Airport layovers can be the most arduous part of the job if you are somebody who works in the airline industry. However, they don’t have to be. We’re sure we haven’t provided you with tips that you haven’t heard of or thought of before, but by giving them all some serious consideration, there’s no doubt that you will be able to find better use of time as you sit around in airports all over the world.
If I had to pick one of these tips, I’d say getting steps in is one of the best ways to pass the time, as long as the airport is big enough. If you are stopping over at a small, regional airport, then doing laps of the departure lounge is going to get boring, but if you are in a big international terminal, then you’ll be surprised at some of the amenities they boast.
