We’ve all been there, a two-hour layover turns into a five-hour test of your endurance.
You’re stuck in an airport and while sitting in a sweaty tub seat for hours on end is an option, it’s time to get creative to suck up some time.
Get moving
The first and most obvious and most glorious time waster is doing some simple exercise. A couple of laps of the airport should have your step count ticking over nicely and has the added advantage of improving your circulation to avoid those nasty blood clots when you do get on your flight.
While the world’s largest airport in Saudi Arabia, covering a whopping 776 square kilometres, should give you plenty of options for a gentle stroll to a serious hike, closer to home is Thailand’s international airport in Bangkok, which covers 32.4 square kilometres.
If that doesn’t appeal, many airports have gym options including exercise equipment and pools and some will even hire exercise clothing and runners.
It’s a bit US-heavy, but here’s an excellent guide for your next overseas trip.
Probably the most relevant for Australians is a gym at the Ambassador Transit Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport. Showers, workout gear and massages are all available.
You can also swim in the rooftop pool and jacuzzi and, for the little ones, there is an air-conditioned play area.
And if you pass through Denver International during winter, the airport sets up an ice rink to get your blood pumping, although for my clumsy self I would see nothing but a close encounter with the unfortunate American health system following this option.
Lounge about
See if you can sit out your time in style at one of the many airport lounges. Not a member? You may be able to pay to enter, so check out LoungeBuddy to see where you can pay to stay.
There’s nothing like free snacks and drinks to fill your hours. Some lounges also have showers, putting greens and movie theatres.
It also pays to check if your credit card provides you access to certain lounges, for example the Commonwealth Bank Ultimate Rewards card grants access to more than 1000 lounges.
Catch up
Been meaning to send that detailed email or catch up with a friend? Now’s the time to do it. Let’s face it, we all have that one friend we cannot get off the phone and usually we don’t have time to indulge in their chat, but now is your time to give them free rein. I know a couple of people who could easily fill an hour for me just on a couple of calls.
If you are on your outward leg, this spare time may also be a good opportunity to do a bit more research on your destination.
If you are on your homeward leg, it’s a good opportunity to upload all those delicious photos to your social pages to drive friends and family mad with envy. What’s the point of travel otherwise?
Shop around
Unless it’s a small regional destination, most airports have shops.
Once it was nothing more than a pharmacy, newsagent and travel store but these days it’s everything from high fashion to toys.
My sister and I once spent an entertaining hour or two trying on clothes we would never even consider in real life – leopard print knee-high suede boots the most egregious example – but you may actually need something you have forgotten.
You may even double dip on time wasting by spending half an hour choosing a book that you can then spend several hours reading.
Ask if the cosmetic stores offer makeovers, you could come out with a completely new look, one that doesn’t say: I have spent four hours in the airport and want to stab someone.
And relax
Been at the airport for a while? Getting nowhere fast? Is it driving you batty beyond belief?
Bust your stress levels with a relaxing massage or spa session. Many international airports have some sort of massage room at the very least and full spa service at the most.
They are well aware of the time constraints on travellers and offer everything from quick 20-minute massages to full body wraps.
As well as filling time, time spent in a spa may make you more relaxed when you do eventually board your flight.
And if I was to compile an airport time-wasting wish list, can more airports please offer nail salons? I don’t know why they aren’t at every airport.
What’s your favourite time waster for long airport waiting periods? Why not share your tips in the comments section below?
Also read: Six surprising in-flight requests
