Airport Sleeping Tips
1.
Always Have a Backup Plan:
This is the most important tip for anyone who voluntarily sleeps in
airports. Some airport officials are not totally supportive of the
airport sleeping idea. Although in 95% of the airports you won't be
kicked out, you will be asked why you are there, why you are not in a
hotel like normal people and they will ask for proof that you are
flying out the next day. So BE PREPARED to answer those questions!
They seem to not appreciate us using these massive wastes of space as
our personal hotels -- go figure!?!?
"Thankfully
(and thanks to this site), we were fully prepared to sleep at the
airport with our blankies and pillows." -Janet
2. Expect your flight to be cancelled and be
prepared:
If weather or a schedule delay cause you to be stuck in the airport
for longer than you had expected, it would have been better to be
prepared, wouldn't it? Your emergency airport survival kit could
include:
A cheap
inflatable pool raft (they fold up nicely and make the hard floor a
lot more comfortable). Keep in mind that in some airports sleeping on
the floor is a no-no.
Eye shades
and ear plugs
Bottled water
and snacks (many dining facilities and shops close down at night, so
be sure to bring or buy food before the airport shuts down)
Books/magazines/diary
Personal
music device with large headphones. Place it under your coat/in your
pants....whatever turns you on. There have been cases of people waking
up with just their headphones, so be sure you don't make it easy for
someone to walk off with it. Headphones that cover your ears will help
block out loud announcements.
An alarm
clock or a pen and post-it pad. If you are travelling solo, write a
"Wake me at 5:00 AM" note and stick a few on yourself and the seats
around you -- it works. People will wake you.
An airline
blanket and/or pillow (borrowed - NOT STOLEN!!!).
Disinfectant
wipes. Cleanliness is a problem in some airports, so these handy
wipes will make your "bed" for the night a little less germ and grease
covered.
Tissue/toilet
paper. In some third world airport bathrooms, you will be forced to
pay a King's ransom for two single ply sheets of toilet paper.
Tipping money
if you forgot to pack aforementioned toilet paper
Vick's Vapour
rub. Place a dab of this under your nose to block out bad terminal
odours. It works for people who work in morgues, so it should work in
the airport.
Power bar -
energy supplies are short in some airports. You will make friends for
life if you bring a multi-outlet power bar to recharge cell phones,
laptops and ipods. Instead of waiting for the other person to finish
recharging, whip out the power bar and offer to share the outlet.
Now, the challenge will be finding a live outlet that works. Airports
have made quite the effort deactivating a lot of outlets. And what's
up with the employees who take personal offence to us recharging our
electronics. Does it come out of their salary?
Your camera
to document your stay.
Entertain
yourselves. A Twister mat and spin card are light and take up little
room in your carry on. Cards always come in handy. If these are
unavailable to you, luggage carts and airport wheelchairs have also
brightened a few faces around here.
"Thanks to a
tip from the sleepinginairports website I found the reclining padded
wheelchairs and slept in one of them." -BRValentine
3. Bring something comfortable to sit on:
If you
have read any of the entries on this site, you'll probably have read
about those pesky chairs with the arm handles and curved seats. These
seats are not only uncomfortable, but also unfair to airport sleepers'
rights (we have a right to be comfortable when we sleep, don't we?)!
Not everyone has a sleeping bag with them, so if you have the
aforementioned inflatable raft, a towel or something else that is
cushiony throw it down on the floor and try that method. In some
airports bringing out your sleeping bag is a no no. Remember that if
you take advantage of the free lodging too much, the airport officials
will "crackdown" on airport sleepers making it more difficult for us
to obtain reasonable sleepage.
4. Get there early:
If you are staying at a busy airport overnight, you'll have to get
there early if you want a good spot, especially during the summer
season (peak airport sleeping season). Airports such as London's
Stansted are so popular they can look like refugee camps on an average
night. Consider that many people complain of limited seating when
they arrive at 10PM.
"Thanks for
this homepage we found the nice comfortable bench at the restaurant
where we spent the night." -kmaja
5. Scope it out: finding a good spot may be your
biggest challenge.
If the situation looks dismal, explore the airport and various
terminals (take the terminal shuttles - that's what they are there
for). Even if you are flying out of terminal A, you may discover that
terminal C has nice digs. Consider seating, temperature, announcements
and people traffic when finding the best place to spend the night.
You may need to be creative such as sleeping behind ticket counters,
in wheelchairs and on luggage conveyor belts. Your best source of info
will be security, airport and airline staff. If you are nice, these
people will likely direct you to a nice spot!
6. It's sometimes better to arrive than depart:
The Arrivals
lounges are often more comfortable than the Departures lounges. It's
amazing how different the two areas can be in some airports. Of
course airport logic seems to be that people who are departing
immediately go to their gates, they don't sit around the ticket
counters for hours. While the arrivals lounge aims to make all those
family members, who are waiting for your flight to finally arrive
after a four hour delay, a little more comfortable until you and your
bags finally show up.
7. When sleep is Impossible:
In Geneva (one of those airports with plastic, arm handle, bucket seat
chairs) I could not sleep. There was absolutely NOTHING to do and
nobody around to talk to. If I didn't have my journal, walkman (that's
how long ago that stay was...the days of the "walkman") and book with
me I would have died of boredom. If you bring something to entertain
yourself, the night will go faster. See entertainment ideas listed at
the end of item # 2.
"I arrived at
Sea-Tac last night with a printout from this webpage under my arm."
-Ray
8. Act Innocent:
Even if you sleep in airports on regular basis -- Do Not Act Like A
Professional!!! Act like you REALLY do not want to be there and that
there is absolutely nowhere else to go. I find crying helps.
Remember, in the airport officials' eyes "the airport is not a motel."
Ha, little do they know....
9. Single Travellers Listen Up:
Travelling
solo can be a pain in the ass, especially when you are an airport
sleeper. Remember that in the airports where few, if any, other people
camp out in, you will have to take your luggage with you wherever you
go. Even though you don't have to worry about people stealing your
belongings, you can't just leave your stuff sitting there unattended.
If you do you may see the bomb squad taking apart your bag by the time
you return from the washroom. For unexpected overnight stays, did you
know that some airports actually have cots and blankets for passenger
use? Ask and you may receive.
"Thanks to
the warnings from your site I organised to visit the Qantas Club which
is a haven in an otherwise horrible experience." -Ron
10. Still bored and can't sleep?
Take photos of the airport to pass the time!!! - Have you seen some of
the photos on the sleepinginairport.com blog? Well, if you haven't,
head over there to have a look at some of the fun photos people have
sent to me. These photos may inspire you to try to come up with
similar (or better) photos. PLEASE don't forget to send them to me
when you get back.
11. Just Park It!
- Ok, so
whether you are stuck in the airport overnight or choose to be their
voluntarily, there may be a chance that you will be uncomfortable and
unhappy with your surroundings in the terminal. If you are travelling
on a budget and do not want to fork out for one of the airport hotels,
head over to the car rentals hall to find out the cost of a car rental
and (assuming you can keep the car in the lot at no cost) sleep in the
car. The great part about this is that you can recline on padded seats
and there will be no annoying security announcements or rattling
luggage carts whipping past your head throughout the night. On the
negative side, car horns and screeching tires may jolt you from your
slumber. Sure the car rental staff may look into your car wondering if
you've had a stroke and the bathroom may be an issue depending on the
location of the nearest toilet, but hey, you're saving money here!
Very important - remember to check the drop-off hours to ensure a
staff member will be there when you "drop-off" the car before your
flight the next morning! This is easier at larger airports.
12. Dress for the occasion:
Dress in layers. Have clothes that will make you comfortable if it is
unbearably hot or sub-arctically cold in your airport. We beg of you
to please apply deodorant and we recommend you to pack a surgical mask
to wear when the travellers around you have not applied deodorant.
The stench from the heat in some airports can be traumatizing.
13. Dealing with airport bribery:
In some
airports you will be asked for a bribe just to pass through a metal
detector, enter an airport or to use the bathroom. When approached by
the unscrupulous individuals, suddenly speak a new language. Learn
Klingon if a real language doesn't interest you. Although you
understand you are being asked for money, be bubbly and happy, but
confused by your tormentor's actions. When the offender holds out
his/her hand for money, thank him, bow out of respect, shake his hand
and smile. Be incredibly dense and show no fear, unless the
individual has a gun or other weapon pointed at you. The object is to
drag it out as long as you can until he hopefully gives up.
Unfortunately, this does not always work and it's better to just pay
the damn "fee" - with lots of coin.
"I called my
friend earlier about missing my original flight and he said I should
sleep here overnight, and he read me some of the reviews on
sleepinginairports.net" -Tetsu
14. Write us and give us the Lowdown:
This
is actually THE MOST IMPORTANT thing to do! Share your story with us
by letting us know what the airport you camped out at was like. By
submitting your experiences, good or bad or just general good to know
information, you are helping to keep this site as up to date as
possible. Chances are you'll be thankful for other traveller's
reviews the next time you need to know about an airport.
15. Have Fun:
While there
are times when you can't sleep, sleeping in airports is not only
extreme budget travel, it is an adventure. Enjoy it! Have fun. Explore
your inner homeless person. Most importantly make the most of the
situation. The best memories of travel are the experiences you return
home with, and trust me, there are quite a few adventures to be had in
airports. From someone who has done it to save money or as a result of
a layover, let me tell you that it can be fun and it just adds an
extra element of strangeness to your trip.
We welcome our readers to share their adventures with
us as to how comfortable our homegrown airports are for this past
time.
HAPPY SLEEPING FOLKS...