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Layovers are often a necessary part of travel. When travelers need to make connections and switch planes, they may find themselves with time between flights. Many people dread spending hours-long layovers in the airport, but they don’t have to be boring. With the right planning, layovers can be fun and enrich your trip.
According to AARP’s recent travel trends survey, 37 percent of travelers 50-plus plan to take at least one international trip. Others are planning trips to see family or embark on other adventures. Many of these trips will involve layovers.
Here are 25 great ways to make your layover fantastic.
1. Get the A-list treatment at an airport lounge
Many airports have lounges with unlimited food and drinks, free Wi-Fi and comfortable seating, making them a great place to spend a layover if you pay a fee or have first-class or business-class tickets (more details below). Some lounges have gourmet meals. A Swiss International Air Lines lounge at Zurich Airport has a five-course tasting menu, an Etihad lounge at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi serves award-winning global cuisine, and an Air France lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport offers fine dining with chef-selected wines and table service. Many other lounges serve fresh salads, fruits, hot meals, drinks and desserts that reflect local cuisine and rival upscale restaurants.
There are several ways to access airport lounges. Many airlines include access with first-class and business-class tickets. If a business-class ticket isn’t in your budget, there are other ways to gain access. Some lounges offer daily access by paying a one-time fee. Frequent fliers can access over 1,700 lounges worldwide by buying an annual Priority Pass membership. Additionally, some credit cards geared toward travelers, including the American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X, include a Priority Pass membership or give cardholders exclusive access to lounges run by the credit card issuer. Earning elite status with an airline is another way to get access.
2. Look for airport attractions
Although most passengers think of airports solely as places to catch a plane, “many major airports have attractions within them that are designed to keep travelers occupied for a few hours,” says Michael Soud, cofounder of Travel Insighter. “The best example is Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, which has a butterfly garden and a waterfall.”
Istanbul Airport has a museum filled with art and historic artifacts. Those trying to pass the time at Portland International Airport in Oregon can check out the airport’s free movie theater showing short films. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has an extensive art collection and an on-site art museum. The airport is a great place to see everything from works by great Dutch masters to modern art.
3. Choose a layover-friendly airline
Some airlines encourage passengers to spend a night or two as part of their layover. These “airlines offer great stopover programs that let you explore a new destination without extra airfare costs,” says Jesse Neugarten, CEO of Dollar Flight Club, a subscription service that sends flight deals to members. Icelandair, Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines each have stopover programs. The details vary, but all have perks that make layovers better. For example, Icelandair allows a stopover in Iceland for up to seven days at no extra cost. Etihad Airways gives eligible passengers up to two nights in an Abu Dhabi hotel for free.
4. Take a city tour
If your layover is long enough, book a city tour. “Apps like Viator or GetYourGuide are perfect for finding short tours that fit your schedule,” Neugarten says. City Experiences and The Tour Guy also offer some tours for a half day or less, making them perfect for passing the time during a layover. You may be able to find a tour designed specifically for those who have layovers. These usually hit some of the area’s main attractions and then take you back to the airport. Or, choose a shorter tour that aligns with your interests, such as a food tour.
Booking a spa service at an airport can help alleviate flight-related aches.
Sam Island
5. Book spa services
A great way to truly relax is by getting a massage. Check out the Absolute Spa at Vancouver International Airport or Elemis Travel Spa at Heathrow. There are also XpresSpa locations in airports all over the world. Services vary by location but include neck and back massages, manicures, pedicures and heated chakra mats. Getting a spa service at an airport can help alleviate flight-related aches and get you ready for the next leg of your journey.
6. Treat yourself to a great meal
Many airports have fantastic restaurants. In Paris, treat yourself to tea and pastries at Ladurée, which has been a Paris institution since 1862. Or, check out an airport-based Michelin-recommended restaurant. Ming Court in Beijing Capital International Airport is an outpost of a restaurant of the same name in Hong Kong’s Cordis Hotel that boasts a Michelin star. Saison in Newark (New Jersey) Liberty International Airport serves croque madame and steak frites. “Ask locals or airport staff for the best food spots,” says Jasmine Charbonier, a frequent traveler and founder of Your Tampa Bestie.
7. Search for local eats and treats
Instead of splurging on a gourmet meal, search the airport for local specialties. For example, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has a branch of Washington, D.C.’s iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl. Or, grab a classic Chicago hot dog at Gold Coast Dogs at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport or Naples pizza and pasta at Farinella at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. Some airport shops carry local specialties as well. Pick up some Turkish delight at Istanbul Airport or some Dubai chocolate, a chocolate bar stuffed with pistachios and shredded phyllo dough, at the Dubai International Airport.
8. Look for local crafts and souvenirs
Airports are a great place to shop for local crafts and souvenirs. Whether you want a sweatshirt with a local team’s logo for the grandkids or handmade crafts, airports usually have a great variety of chic souvenirs. The airport in Istanbul sells a nice variety of traditional hand-painted bowls. In Reykjavik’s airport, pick up socks or a T-shirt embroidered with Iceland’s famous puffins. In Heathrow, grab a tote bag from Harrods, one of London’s biggest and most luxurious department stores. Spend your layover looking for something special from the area.
