5 Tips for Sleeping in an Airport
5 Tips for Sleeping in an Airport
It’s better to arrive at an airport extra early than having to run through the gate at the last possible minute, only to discover that your plane has just taken off a minute ago. That being said, however, you’ll often be in a situation where you arrive too early, due to subpar time management or simply because you had no other choice.
More often than not, this happens sometime during the night, so it’s perfectly understandable that most people are very tired when they arrive at the airport and want nothing more than to doze off a bit until it’s time for them to get on the plane.
This can be a lot harder than it sounds, as airports are usually super packed with people who have the exact same idea as you. If you do plan on getting a few hours of shuteye at the airport, however, here are a few tips that will hopefully make your life a whole lot easier.
Find a Comfy Spot
(Photo: Joshua Ganderson via flickr/CC Attribution)
This is quite possibly the most challenging item on this list, but if you want to get some quality sleep at the airport it’s imperative that you find a somewhat comfortable spot to sit or lay down and wait for the time to pass. It doesn’t have to be a couch, a seat next to a wall you can lean on works just fine. Bringing a pillow along (a real one, not an inflatable one – trust me) can make a world of difference, as just laying your head down on a comfortable, soft surface already does wonders for your comfort level.
If you don’t mind spending a bit of money and you’re frequent at airports, it might be a good idea to get yourself a quality sleeping bag so you can sleep on the floor. No one is looking at you, trust me, and even if they are it’s out of envy that you have a place to lay down and take a nap. Again, don’t expect to really get a good night’s sleep while you’re on the floor of an airport, but it is definitely better than curling up in an uncomfortable chair next to dozens of people.
Hide Your Valuables
Sleeping travellers are gold mines for pick pockets and thieves at the airport, so make sure that you don’t make their jobs and easier than they already are. If you have an inside pocket on your jacket or anything of the sort, that’s where you want to keep your phone, wallet, passport or anything else of great value. As long as your valuables are hidden away well, even if you’re asleep the chances that anyone will be able to steal anything go down considerably. Trust me when I say you don’t want to realize your passport is missing when you’re at the gate, as that is the sort of nightmare you do not wish to indulge yourself in.
Layers, Layers, Layers
The weather is an unpredictable thing, especially when travelling long distances by plane. You never know what kind of weather you’re going to expect, so prepared to be super cold or super hot at your next airport. The only logical thing you can do is to dress accordingly and bring as many layers as you can so you can always warm yourself up or cool yourself down if need be.
Can’t Sleep? Bring Entertainment
Despite your best efforts, there will be times when it will be downright impossible for you to go to sleep at the airport. In such a scenario, you should probably have some way to pass the time, whether it’s a game, a TV show (offline – don’t expect Netflix to work on airport WiFi) or a simple book, anything it takes to stop you from having to stare at a wall for five hours.
Set an Alarm
If you do manage to fall asleep, it is absolutely essential that you have an alarm capable of waking you up at least an hour before take-off. This way you have enough time to wake up, gather your thoughts, freshen up and get everything ready before you actually have to pass through the gate. The last thing you want is waking up ten minutes before your flight and to load your luggage with one eye open, so make sure you prevent that from happening by giving yourself ample time to prepare.
