Layover. If you travel by plane at all, that word strikes fear into your heart. The literal definition of layover is waiting at the airport for the next plane. The effective definition of layover is the 10th circle of Hell, where you wait in a seemingly endless purgatory.
How to Conquer a Layover
A layover is the bane of every air traveler’s existence. You have at least an hour if not more of just sitting around. It can be a torturous nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be. There are ways to make a layover more fun and less, “OMG! ARGH!”
[tweetthis]A traveller’s nightmare? A layover can be a royal pain in the butt for any traveller. These tips can help. #travel[/tweetthis]
Keep Your Portable Charger on Your Person
At all times! A layover can be an hour or eight hours, so keep your portable charger on hands at all times. That way, you’ll always have access to social media, productivity apps, and most importantly, Angry Birds or Dragon City.
[tweetthis]Keep your tech close at hand when you #travel in event you have a layover.[/tweetthis]
Apps for Work and Play
Apps are a great way to kill time or get some work done during a layover. For work time, you can get all kinds of great productivity apps across all devices on the Windows Store, iTunes, and Google Play. You can also find tons of great time-killing apps like Fruit Ninja, cut the rope, Gummy Drop and – for you super gamers, or teenagers out there – emulators that allow you to play games from systems like Nintendo all they way up to Playstation.
Snacks – Don’t be Hangry
If you have a bag, keep plenty of non-perishable snacks on hand for layovers and flying in general. The snacks you bring will be far more substantial and far less costly than anything you order either on the plane or from the food court at the airport. In addition to being cheaper, packing your own snacks allows you to keep healthy options available at all times.
[tweetthis]Great tips from @inkscrblr if you encounter a sudden layover #travel[/tweetthis]
Money
Keep your purse or wallet on you at all times. If you experience an unexpected overnight layover, you could need that cash for a room if there’s a hotel nearby, or just food. The snacks won’t last long on a 12 hour layover.
Medical Supplies, Medicine, Prescriptions
I have talked about this many a time. I often travel with kids who have medicines and I myself carry prescriptions such as migraine medication. Special needs travel is different. You need to be prepared. Just as you would when flying with a baby. YOU never ever want to be caught without something important to your health. Always keep your medication, and your family prescriptions close at hand. That might be allergy medication to help your child breathe better during a long flight, or it might be an epipen, or an inhaler. Doesn’t matter what the medication or prescription – don’t be caught so that a short layover turns into a medical emergency. Always carry these close at hand. (same thing goes for sanitary napkins, tampons and diapers) Keep these in your purse, laptop bag, diaper bag, or carryon.
Patience
Last but not least, is the one thing that you absolutely must have on any layover. Patience. Patience is the key to surviving any layover with your sanity intact. With patience, a semi-uncomfortable layover can be sailed through easily. Without patience, that same layover will suck you down into a quagmire of misery and take everyone in your area with you.
Conquer the Layover. Don’t Let it Conquer You
If you fly, a layover or three is just an unfortunate fact of life. How you handle said layover is what makes or breaks your trip. If you keep yourself in snacks, apps, power, and positivity, you can conquer the layover instead of the layover conquering you.
I pay extra for non-stop flights. I hate layovers and it’s so worth the extra money to me.
I have never been on a plane and we don’t travel much because we just don’t have that kind of money to do so.
We did send my step son traveling to Fl to help his grandma for the summer he ended up moving there he’s 21 and it’s good for him to get out on his own. He was so scared of the lay over and all the traveling stuff so we upgraded him to priority passenger and he was first to get on and off and he didn’t have a lay over because we paid that extra as well. It really is worth it as a first time flyer to go all out and spend that extra for convenience and security.
Amanda: That’s really nice! I am glad he was priority passenger. Smart idea!
I tend to play Candy Crush. That helps pass the time for me!
I like to read my travel books when I am waiting to arrive at my exotic destinations (Barcelona or Paris maybe???)
I always keep a charger with me when i travel. I love playing games on my phone to help pass the time.
Great tips! There’s nothing more frustrating than a layover if you don’t know how to make it work for you!
One of my fears of flying, the layover! I never fly but when and if I do… I will not look forward to the dreaded layover especially with kids.
I always make sure to bring work that I can do. I also treat myself to a beverage or breakfast depending upon the time of day.
I should tell these tips to my brother. When he flies he often has 10 hour layovers in between planes.
These are all good tips. We now have a Priority Pass through American Express so we try to plan layovers for airports that have lounges we can hang out in for a while. It definitely makes it easier.
This seems to happen to me a few times a year. I do actually like to play puzzle games on my phone to pass the time.
I hate layovers! I will usually pay extra to avoid them if possible.
I think patient is the key for everything, thanks for the great tips! 😀
Your tips are on point. I also try to get details on the airport for the layover. Many times there are interesting shops or art to see there
These are really great tips. Luckily I have never been stuck on a layover and i hope I never am.
I actually like to have a layover once in a while. It lets me get caught up on work.
I am the most impatient person when it comes to waiting, especially if I have the kids with me. These are great tips.
The portable charger is a biggy. My phone always seems to die when it is most inconvenient.
I have had the opportunity to travel a lot lately and a good book does the trick. I used the charger station when I couldn’t find a port, but reading a book was a great fail safe.
Layovers can be good and bad. If I was by myself it maybe nice to have a little bit of me time. If I was with my 5 kdis layoers would be awful! Thankfully technology is always there!
I hate layovers, too. What I usually do is read, read, and read more. Sometimes I play games, too. Yup, gummy drop is one of my favorite games.
I can deal with layovers as long as it does not take more than an hour. However, if this happens, I would make sure that I would not fall asleep on an airport lounge seat. I’d keep myself pre-occupied with snacks and reading.
I don’t travel often, and I haven’t been on a plane since I was 8 so I haven’t had to experience a layover. But this is some great info, I’m glad to know for my future travels!
I’ve been on a plane a couple times, and I always bring crossword puzzles. Keeps my mind busy
I can’t stand layovers! I try to always go non stop to avoid them. These are great tips for a layover though, especially the cash and snacks! I know what it’s like to be hangry.