21 top tips for entertaining yourself during a layover

YOUR flight is cancelled, or maybe just delayed. Either way, you have time to kill, and you’re bored out of your mind. We’re here to help.

The cold, polished airport might seem boring — but there are a wealth of activities on offer. Source:Flickr

YOUR flight is cancelled, or maybe just delayed. Either way, you have time to kill, and you’re stuck at the airport. It’s perfectly normal that you might not feel inspired by the polished white corridors or duty-free shops.

Here are our tried-and-tested tips for filling in the hours until your flight:

1. Go on a scavenger hunt. This one is especially good if you have kids to entertain. Make a list of random objects and wander around the airport until you find them all.

2. People watch. Airports are melting pots of culture, religion, age and gender. Guess where people are from, and where they’re going.

3. Eavesdrop. If you understand the conversation, it’s entertaining. If you’re learning the language, it’s good practice. And if you have no idea, make up your own story.

4. Make a bid for YouTube stardom. Remember this guy? He catapulted to YouTube stardom to the dulcet tones of Celine Dion’s ‘All By Myself’.

5. Netflix and chill. What did we do before Netflix? My nerves are on edge just thinking about the endless hours I’ve spent counting tiles in airport ceilings.

6. Go for a stroll. This is especially good in large airports, where you can wander through the shops and visit the far-flung terminals to stretch your legs.

7. Go on a foodie tour. It’s a delicious way to pass the time, plus you might pick up a few Instagram followers. It’s sure to be better than plane food.

It may not be a foodie haven, but modern airports offer more than a few tasty treats.

8. Watch the planes. It’s therapeutic, like waves at the beach, plus physics is cool. It’s amazing how they can launch a chunk of metal into the sky and make it fly.

9. Call your family and friends. It’s a great way to pass time. You might not get much from a teenage brother, so maybe try your grandma or a chatty aunt.

10. Do yoga. The airport floor is perfect for a makeshift yoga studio. Just make sure you follow the directions of airline staff, or you could be heavily fined like this guy.

11. Make a new friend. Whether it’s the frazzled lady at the ticket counter or the teenager serving Chinese food, you might find your next BFF.

12. Try juggling (or something else you’ve always wanted to master). While it might not be the time to try your hand at yodelling, you could always attempt a cartwheel.

13. Write some postcards. What better opportunity to send some love via snail mail? Raid the gift shop, pick up your pen, and embrace the days of yore (circa 2007).

14. Sleep. Depending what kind of traveller you are, it can be much nicer to stretch out on the terminal carpet for a while than wait until you’re squished into your seat. Plus, you can seize the opportunity to charge your phone.

Long delays gives you ample opportunity to catch up on sleep.

15. Learn something. Pick up a local newspaper, or find yourself a book. Depending how long you have to wait, it’s worth tempting fate on overweight carry-on.

16. Organise your bags. This is especially helpful if you’re on a short weekend trip, and you hastily threw a few things in a bag that morning without thinking.

17. Get changed. You may as well get comfortable.

18. Spoil yourself. Airport day spas are becoming increasingly common. How better to bliss-out than a hot stone massage or an exotic facial?

Many airports offer luxurious day spas to help pass the time.

19. Make the most of the bathroom. It’s a good opportunity to brush your teeth, do you hair, or fix your make-up, especially if your supplies are handy.

20. Double-check your flight time. Keep an eye on the boards, make sure you have your boarding pass, and ensure you’re waiting at the correct gate.

21. Take a daytrip. If you’re stuck for more than eight hours, you could venture out and see the city you’re in. But why bother, when there’s so much to do at the airport?