Flight delayed? Five tips to pass the time

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     flights

We’ve all been there: Ash cloud, strike, or just ‘flight delayed’, there are a number of reasons we find ourselves with too much time to spare in an airport.

But what to do? If it’s only a setback of 45mins then there’s little to worry about, but when it’s several hours you need a little imagination to see you through.

Here’s five things to do, to make the wait for boarding less boring.

Shop – Yes, nowadays it seems that transit through an airport is more like a trip to the shops! Not one to complain, though. I always feel I’m getting a bargain when I buy in airports, but are they really cheaper?

Sleep - Probably the number one pastime of the long-distance traveller. If you need to dissolve time, there’s no better way than to sleep through it. But on those chairs? And who decided to make rows of seating with fixed arm rests, it’s cruel.

Surf - You could get your board out and practice a few moves, quicken your reaction times. More likely you will get online. Most new mobile phones have half-decent web browsers, and if you have a netbook or laptop, better still. Connection may not be free, but with ten hours to fill it could be worth paying for.

Sort out – A favourite of mine. Rummage through your rucksack or travel bag and give it a re-pack; get rid of the banana peel you respectfully put into your top pouch rather than chuck away, and shake out the inside – after a week’s camping your gear needs some tlc.

Spruce up – Yes, there’s nothing better than a good wash, and after days of face wipes and camping stoves, it’s time for a proper scrub. Even if your holiday didn’t feature extreme sports and the furthest you got was the beach, a good wash will leave you refreshed.

Ok, now you’re ready to do it all again. A few cycles of our ‘five ways to kill time in an airport’ and you will be settling in, ready for the in-flight entertainment.

If you have any other suggestions, no matter how far off the board they may be, drop them below.

About the author

Mark Pawlak wrote 194 articles on this blog.

Editor at Adventure Sports Holidays, Mark's love affair with travel and the challenges of adventure sports continues... "You could save all year for a two-week, all-inclusive, doss by the pool, booze and buffet binge. Or, with a little planning and some good equipment, get off your arse and plan an adventure!"

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