In 2012, I left Woodlands in Singapore to go to Changi Airport an hour before my flight back to the Philippines.
Needless to say, I arrived too late and had to buy a replacement ticket on the spot, a mistake that cost me a whopping $300. That experience taught me a really expensive lesson: make sure to leave the house early to make it to your flight!
I took the lesson to heart so much that there were times afterwards that I arrived at the airport too early, as early as eight hours before my flight. Since I mostly travel solo, I had to think of a lot of ways to pass the time at the airport.
If you do find yourself with a lot of time before your flight, or if you have to spend the night at the airport, here are some things you can do to kill time until boarding.
My Kindle has been everywhere, from Nepal to Europe.
I never, ever leave the house without my Kindle. I have thousands of books in it, and I can theoretically spend days at the airport just reading. I love reading a series. I finished Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series while traveling in Thailand.
If you’re not into e-readers, just bring a novel, and it will take care of a few hours’ stay at the airport for you.
The beautiful Terminal 3 at Beijing’s Capital International Airport.
I don’t have a tablet and only have a sucky Samsung Galaxy Y smartphone. The internal memory is so small I couldn’t even install games.
I’m pretty sure you have a tablet or a much nicer phone, so before you leave for the airport, stock up on games. It can occupy you for an hour or two before boredom sets in.
If you’re in an airport with a good Wifi connection (unfortunately not in the Philippines), you can easily use your gadgets to spend hours online. Update your Facebook status, chat with friends, email your parents on where you are.
You can also watch movies on your laptop or tablet. Since one movie takes almost two hours, you definitely wouldn’t notice the time pass by. Based on experience, though, I wouldn’t recommend watching Hachiko or My Sister’s Keeper at the airport. They’re a guaranteed tearjerker!
Since I’m an online worker, it doesn’t bother me to spend some time in an airport, as long as there’s an internet connection.
I loved spending the night at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport, because the Wifi is fast and free. I would sit at McDonald’s, use their power source, and order a meal which would last me the whole night.
Massage and lounge at Manila’s Terminal 3.
In airports with bad connectivity, I just choose different things to do. In Manila’s Terminal 3 (4th floor), for example, there’s a massage place for P600 per hour. I tried it once and it was pretty good. They also have a lounge area where you can lay down and take a nap for P250 per two hours.
You can also find massage chairs in airports in Singapore and Thailand. Insert some coins (or bills), sit back, and enjoy the foot massage.
Loved my nap in the Frankfurt am Main airport.
After all these things, you may feel sleepy, so go to sleep. In almost every airport I’d been to, it was okay to find a quiet corner, lay down on the ground, and go to sleep.
I loved the airport in Frankfurt am Main; chairs with cushions are plentiful and you can stretch out with no one bothering you. Coffee and hot chocolate were free flowing too!
Of course, you should be careful with your belongings. I travel with two backpacks; I use the 45L one as my pillow, and hook my arm around the smaller backpack. I also bought a bicycle lock for this reason, but I haven’t had the chance to use it yet.
I’m pretty sure there are a lot more (creative) ways to waste time at the airport, like get a flu shot or do some yoga. Alternatively, you can also do what the guy below did. He got stuck overnight in Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport and made a music video out of boredom.
How about you? What are your suggested things to do to kill time at the airport?
19 Comments. Leave new
I’m surprised you didn’t mention planespotting! It is an airport, after all. 🙂
Just the same I usually play on my tablet and read online books.
@ Kenneth: OMG what a nightmare! At least for me. Did you at least contact the airline? Yikes!
I recently got to an airport about 8 hours too early. Talk about needing to pass some time! Spent a few hours online, a few hour reading on my Kindle. Proceeded to leave my Kindle in the airplane much later. 🙁
@ LJ: I hope you don’t miss any spot when you look up from your knitting to observe people 😀
@ Akyatera Bundokera: I know hahaha When I travel, I make sure to do at least three things: have a massage, run, and enjoy the food!
Haha, travel+massage always reminds me of you.
Knitting while covertly people watching
@ Bronwyn: That guy’s a hoot! If I had been in his shoes, I would just have gone to sleep haha
@ Noel: Yeah, I wish all airports have those La-Z Boy recliners. 🙂
Great tips, I do most of those already but I hate those awful leather chairs everywhere, always hurts my back
That music video is priceless! (One to tuck away for next time, for sure!)
@ Vicky: I love people watching too! It doesn’t bore me, as I always make up stories about them in my head. I agree it’s pretty entertaining 🙂
@ Sam: I love sorting photos when I’m back, not at the airport. Although of course, I do go through my pictures in my phone to choose which best to share on Instagram.
Yes getting a massage! Especially when when I’ve spent 12 hours on a plane from Australia and have another 12 hours after a stop over to get to Europe. It is one thing I look forward to!
Otherwise I’ll spend the time planning and researching where I’m going, checking some opening times and reading reviews of attractions or restaurants.
On the way home I like to sort through my photos (and pretend I’m still on holiday(!
Great list!
I usually waste my time in airports catching up on Facebook/Instagram/emails etc especially if there is free wifi but if not People watching can be whole lot of fun and doesn’t cost a cent! Park yourself at a point where there is a bit of traffic and watch how people move, talk to each other, tell their kids off etc, it can be very entertaining!
@ BertN: Other people have said they drink too, but somehow I can’t imagine drinking alone at the bar haha
@ Sky: I’ve read all of his series. Am kinda bummed there’s nothing new; his latest one just came out and I’m done with it already. Sigh
Last sunday we’re 6hours early before our flight from HKT to KUL. So we burn our time looking at peoples behaviour at the airport just like an undercover police. Lol. Of course we love to see the drama of departing family and love ones. And blunders of getting over baggage at the counter. Hehe
Btw I love Michael Connely as well. My fav are Lincoln Lawyer and The Brass Verdict.
I usually park myself at the closest watering hole to the boarding gate and drink, making sure the plane do not leave without me LOL. I’ve been left behind a couple of times though and that’s one too many. It is expensive, too.
@ Photo Cache: In Frankfurt, there were almost no people in the place where I slept. Creepy!
@ Dana: Yeah, you travel as a couple right? Less boring then if you have to wait for hours.
So funny that the guy in that video is sitting at the door to the women’s bathroom! Great tips. It also helps when you’re not traveling solo because then you can have some great conversations with your travelmates. But like you, I’m always sure to have some sort of reading material around.
very good suggestions. i love to window shop and people watch when at the airport 🙂