Have you taken a flight recently? Or even within the last few decades? Then chances are that if you have, you have experienced a long layover at one stage of your journey. The reality is that if you want to take a trip without breaking your bank beyond the usual amounts, you have to settle one of two things: either an impossibly short time span between connecting flights, or a ridiculously long wait at the airport. The first option will most likely leave you breathless and in tears as you struggle to run between your late arrival and your departing flight; the latter will leave you grounded in a place that wasn’t meant to be experienced by any one person for any longer than a few hours.
Let’s face it, airports weren’t designed to be lived in. They weren’t meant even to be comfortable for a few hours, let alone provide a place for tired travellers to sleep for a few hours. Airport lounges, which provide only chairs (hopefully comfy – I wouldn’t know) and showers, cost extra. A relaxing hot meal will also cost you money – likely more money than you would pay for the same meal outside of an airport. In every way, airports are designed to separate you from as much of your cash as possible, so when you’re destined to spend more hours there than you’d like, you’re pretty helpless.
The truth is that airlines and airports have us right where they want us when it comes to layovers. We have to accept them if we want to go where we want to, and the upside—the trip we’re taking, whether it be to visit family or spend a week in the sun—means that we’ll grudgingly take the layovers in exchange for a good time otherwise.
I had the chance to take a flight for the first time in years this spring, when I was given the wonderful opportunity to take a trip to Ireland. The holiday itself was amazing: it really is an Emerald Isle, and the historic landscapes are breathtaking. The flight home, however, was interrupted by an 18-hour overnight layover at the Toronto International Airport. The experience was less than ideal, and although I hated it, I have to admit that I would do it again if it meant having another great holiday.
I wish I could offer the ultimate solution for surviving such horrific layovers on a student’s budget, but I can’t. I’m lucky I even stayed sane over the 18 hours that I spent in Toronto. I can only offer some advice—or, at least, what I would do if I had to relive that overnighter again.
- Bring a Pillow
If you anticipate being tired on your layover (and who isn’t?), a pillow can make the world of difference to your comfort levels, whether that be a neck pillow or a flat one. As it was, I ended up resting my head on my suitcase during my overnighter, leaving me with a sore neck and zipper marks down my face.
- Book a Hotel for Overnight
If I had to do it again, I would probably spend the extra money to book a hotel room, even if it were only for a few hours’ sleep before I’m back at the airport again to check in. As it was, I ended up catching 30 minutes’ sleep here and there and wound up exhausted. Then again, airport hotels can be expensive, so make sure you can justify the price before you book. If you have a hardy constitution, maybe you’d prefer saving money and trying to sleep in the airport.
- Bring Your Own Snacks
We all know how expensive things are at airports, and bringing your own snacks that you bought or made before your flight can save you a lot of money. As a plus, if you made your food and it’s a familiar recipe, it can add to your comfort. I wished I’d packed homemade muffins when I was forced to buy some instant noodles in Toronto.
- Have a Sound-Proof Set of Headphones
Although this might be obvious to some, it wasn’t to me when I was packing for my trip. Sound-proof headphones, rather than earbuds, are essential if you like music, videos, or podcasts to keep you entertained, both on the plane or in the airport, both of which can get very noisy. The cheap airplane sets that are handed out on most long flights just don’t cut it. Similarly, if you like to read like me, bring a book that is neither too hard to concentrate on, nor too fluffy to keep you interested.
- Get Acquainted with the Floor
Face it, the seats in an airport are uncomfortable and often occupied. If you’re looking for a place to stretch out, and even sleep, without hitting a hotel, the floor is often your best bet. With this in mind, a blanket can come in handy, as can your pillow. Don’t worry: you won’t be the only one hitting the hay on the airport floor.
- Know What You’re Willing to Pay and Endure
The moral is that everyone has their own tolerance levels when it comes to expense and discomfort. Options are limited in an airport, and sometimes you have to make sacrifices with your cash to get some little luxuries. Know before you go whether you’re willing to sleep on an airport floor, pay for a hotel room, or pack your own snacks versus buying a sit-down restaurant meal. If you plan for it ahead of time, it won’t be so distressing when you, too, are faced with an 18-hour overnight layover.
