23 Tips For Surviving A Long Layover

Ah, the joys of air travel. There's nothing quite like booking it through the airport, carry-on slung haphazardly over your shoulder, in a desperate bid to make it to your connecting flight before it takes off. But what if we told you there's an antidote for this chaotic tarmac-to-tarmac shuffle?

Whether you choose it on purpose to save a few bucks while traveling by air or find yourself temporarily grounded thanks to an unexpected delay, a long layover — or a layover of more than a few hours without requiring an overnight stay — can leave unprepared travelers feeling as lost as Tom Hanks in "The Terminal." But with a little careful planning, the long layover can be a traveler's best friend — or at the very least, a cordial frenemy. And it certainly beats the heck out of missing your flight. Fasten your seatbelt and secure your tray table for this pre-flight survival guide to your next long layover.

Having the right supplies handy can make all the difference when you're stuck in a holding pattern. If you know you've got a long layover ahead of you, be sure to pack everything you might need in your carry-on bag. Double-check to make sure you've got charging cables for all of your devices instead of packing them in your checked luggage. 

Make sure you've got your headphones handy if you didn't use them on your first flight, and if you tend to get sensory overload, consider bringing a sleep mask and earplugs or noise-canceling headphones. And if you don't want to spend your souvenir money on expensive airport food, be sure to stash a few snacks in your bag to keep you from getting peckish between flights.  

Anyone who spends much time jet-setting knows that layering is the key to comfortable air travel. Even if you're traveling between locales with similar climates, you never know what the temperature will be like inside the airport. Dressing in comfortable layers is as simple as removing or adding an item if you get too hot or cold.

How many layers you'll need will depend on when and where you're traveling, but it's always good to start with a lightweight, breathable base layer. Pull on another lightweight shirt followed by a cardigan or hoodie. If you're especially cold-natured or you're expecting chilly temperatures, grab a scarf and throw a pair of gloves, an extra pair of socks, and a beanie in your bag.

The last thing you want is to end up in a strange city with a zero percent charge on your phone, and your layover downtime is the perfect opportunity to juice up. But before you do, be careful you're not giving cyber thieves an easy payday. While most airports feature charging ports for their travelers' convenience, the FBI recently put out a warning that public charging ports could be vulnerable to hackers who install modified USB ports loaded with malware — a practice called "juice-jacking." 

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself safe while charging up. Investing in a charge-only cable lets you use any charging port without transferring sketchy data to your phone. If you're still too wary, most airports offer hundreds of outlets you can plug into. And it's never a bad idea to carry a fully charged external battery, especially if your travel itinerary includes an all-day outing.

Traveling by air can mean a lot of time spent sitting, something the CDC warns Americans are doing far too much of these days. The Aerospace Medical Association also warns that prolonged immobility periods can increase pain and muscle stiffness while putting passengers at increased risk of Traveler's Thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening condition when it leads to a pulmonary embolism. 

To combat these issues, think of your layover as a chance to get your steps in. Using your map of the airport to navigate, get out, stretch your legs, and see what your layover spot has to offer. If you really want to shake out some of that pent-up travel energy, some airports even offer fitness accommodations. Catch a moment of zen at the San Francisco International Airport yoga rooms, elevate your heart rate at Toronto Pearson International Airport's GoodLife Fitness Club, or get a workout in at Chicago O'Hare's Hilton Health Club.

It's easy to overlook this basic yet important health need while you're running around the airport all day, but hydration can be even more essential when you're traveling. According to Dr. Peter Hackett from the Institute for Altitude Medicine, air travelers should add about a liter to their daily water intake while flying. 

To make sure you're getting the right amount of water while flying, stash an empty Yeti in your carry-on bag before heading to the airport and fill it up during your layover. But don't overdo it — taking in way too much water can affect your body's sodium levels, leading to its own set of problems.

Even if you've got a bagful of granola bars, browsing the local snack offerings can be a lot of fun and could give you a chance to try some things you don't have back at home. Whether you're traveling domestically or skipping across the pond, a visit to the vending machine or snack shop can reveal a treasure trove of local treats.

Take some time out to browse through the airport snack shop in search of regional goodies that aren't available in your neck of the woods. If there's room in your carry-on, a novel brand of cookie or candy can make an affordable souvenir for your snack-loving loved ones back home.

If you're like most folks, your phone is full of downloads that could use some organization. Deleting some of those long forgotten files means you'll have more space for all of those travel photos. Take advantage of your layover to sort through all of those memes, photos, and PDFs you've been hanging onto and get rid of some things you no longer need. If you've been hoarding emails, an airport layover might be the excuse you need to finally go through your inbox.

Most of us love a good series binge. But finding guilt-free time to stream every episode of "Succession" or "The White Lotus" can be tough in the busy day-to-day of life. Getting stuck between flights provides the perfect opportunity to binge on some of those shows that are on your list but you haven't had time for them yet. And according to NBC's wellness blog Better, it can even give you a much-needed dopamine boost to help take the edge off of sitting entirely too close to strangers.

Whether you prefer phone games or come packing a deck of cards, getting into a game can make the hours fly by. If you're traveling with companions, you can get a lot of mileage from old standards like "I Spy," "Categories," and "20 Questions." Or hop onto the Internet and grab a list of "Would You Rather" questions to entertain each other with. If you're on your own, "Solitaire" and "FreeCell" are old standbys. It's also a good excuse to try downloading a new game from your app store.

Many of us are guilty of downloading apps that are doomed to become forgotten relics, taking up space on our home screen but going largely unused. So why not use your layover time to get into some of those long lost applications? Login to Duolingo or another favorite language learning app and take advantage of the downtime to work on your language skills, browse Amazon reviews, or spend some time shopping on Poshmark. Or consider downloading something new — if it's been a while since you browsed through the app store, you might be surprised at some of the interesting productivity and shopping apps you've been missing out on.

If you need an airport pick-me-up between flights, a pen and some postage stamps might be just the ticket. Remember the thrill of getting a stamped envelope or a postcard from a friend on holiday? The airport has everything you need to brighten someone else's day with a little old-fashioned snail mail. In a world where communication is often focused on brevity and responsiveness, letter writing gives us a chance to write with intention and share deeply meaningful interactions. And according to the United States Postal Service pandemic-era research, receiving personal correspondence can help lift the spirits of recipients.