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6 tips on how to sleep at the airport
“I’m sorry, but the next flight out isn’t until tomorrow morning.”
This sentence isn’t usually a fun one to hear when your flight has been canceled due to weather conditions or some other reason. In this scenario, your options are limited. If you’re still in your hometown, you can go home for the night and come back in the morning. If you’re not close to home, you’ll either have to head to a nearby hotel or, if those are sold out — which often happens during a major weather event — sleep in the airport itself.
Related: These are the cheapest and priciest airports in the U.S.
Some people prefer to stay in the airport instead of heading to a hotel, hoping that there might be last-minute availability. Others simply don’t want to go through the effort of heading to a hotel late at night only to return a few hours later for an early morning flight.
If you find yourself spending the night in an airport terminal, here are some tricks to make your experience more comfortable.
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Access a 24-hour lounge
Whether you have access through your elite status or your credit card, airport lounges can be an overnight traveler’s best friend. This is especially true once you factor in the cost (and quality) of food in addition to lodging expenses.
Many of the best Priority Pass lounges in the world are open 24/7, which makes catching a cat nap (or more) very easy. Keep in mind that some lounges frown upon people sleeping there, and many also have time limits on how long you can stay, so factor this into consideration when planning out your night.
Still, some lounges offer designated quiet zones and reclining seats. I took a great nap during a layover in Frankfurt which really helped me combat jet lag. At the Plaza Lounge in Taipei, there are even nap rooms you can rent by the hour.
Plus, of course, getting the chance to shower off that airport grime is a great way to reset.
Rent a sleep pod
AirPods: This isn’t just the name of something for your ears. This European company has a trendy name and concept backing its airport nap pods. Other nap pod brands, such as Minute Suites and GoSleep, share a similar concept.
Minute Suite rooms are available through the Priority Pass airport lounge program (as of the time of this post), which means that the first hour of nap time is complimentary for Priority Pass holders. After that, it’s $48 per hour. There’s also an eight-hour option for $175, which could be a solid alternative to booking a hotel for an extended nap. From personal experience, however, there may be a wait time involved for booking a Minute Suite if you’re stuck at the airport due to weather-related concerns because there’s a higher likelihood that fellow stranded travelers will be vying for the same limited airport amenities.
Travel with sleep accessories
You should always hope for the best, but it helps to plan for the worst. Here’s what you’ll find in my travel backpack no matter where I go, precisely in case I get stranded somewhere:
- Noise-canceling earbuds and/or foam earplugs.
- Eye mask that blocks out all ambient light.
- Spare set of clean socks and underwear.
- Sweatshirt or similar soft, warm layering piece.
- Water bottle.
- Granola bar.
All of these items are helpful at the best of times and absolutely invaluable for airport overnighters. Stores in many airports shut down at 9 p.m., and it’s nice to have a snack on hand for those late-night/early morning munchies, especially if you flew in from another destination and haven’t eaten in hours. Hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes would also be nice to keep in your bag.
You’ll feel more ready to sleep if you can change into something comfy, such as sweatpants, instead of the jeans you were wearing. Don’t worry; the only people who are around to judge you are the ones who are also in the airport at this late hour. Some people dress up nicely for the airport, and I respect that very much. I am not one of them; on longer trips, I’ll choose comfort over classiness. In fact, I’ve definitely been guilty of flying home to Taiwan in my PJs before.
Nowadays, leggings and joggers are perfectly acceptable plane wear, at least in coach class. I also carry a sleek little pillow with me which unzips into a blanket (one of my favorite Christmas gifts ever). Airports can get really chilly at night, and it sucks to wake up because you’re feeling cold.
Get cozy on a couch, chair or floor
In worst-case scenarios, you’re going to have make yourself a little nest, either on an airport bench or on the floor itself. I usually mosey on over to my departure gate and set up camp there, just to make it easier on myself when I wake up. I try to find the darkest, quietest corner possible and make sure I’m not in anyone’s way.
PEOPLEIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
If you can, find a padded couch or seat that doesn’t have any armrest dividers on it; you’ll feel the most comfortable, especially if you’re a side sleeper like I am. Your next-best option may be a carpeted floor if you prefer to lie flat when you sleep, but you still might prefer a bench to the ground if you’re worried about germs.
My mom taught me to always carry at least one change of clothing in my carry-on bag, which converts nicely into a pillow in a pinch. To make my “bed” for the night, I usually dig into my luggage to find something to use as a makeshift sheet between me and the floor. A beach towel is pretty awesome if you’ve just come back from vacation and have one handy.
If you can’t find anything large enough, at least protect your face and head with a clean T-shirt or something similar. You’ll have to do laundry when you get to your destination anyway, and you’re better off getting germs on your clothes than on your bare skin.
If it’s wintertime and you have a coat handy, put it on and zip it up; you can even roll up the hood into a little pillow to support your neck. You’ll have a bit of padding between you and the ground, and it will keep you cozy enough to fall asleep. I also like taking off my shoes and putting on a clean pair of fuzzy socks. Just remember to maintain standards of etiquette however you can. You’re still in a public space, so keep your personal belongings neatly stowed in a corner out of sight as much as possible.
You’ll be sleeping under a bank of fluorescent bulbs, but you can still make it as comfortable as possible. Try to keep to your bedtime rituals and find a bathroom where you can wash up and brush your teeth. Make sure you refill your water bottle on the way, so you can stay hydrated without getting up throughout the night. An eye mask and ear plugs are invaluable for tuning out the harsh airport environment, but you can make do with a T-shirt over your eyes and headphones if you have them.
Keep your luggage safe
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Airports theoretically should be relatively safe at night, but I still take no chances: I keep my cash and passport inside an internal pocket of my backpack, and use that backpack as a pillow. That way, I’ll wake up if anyone tries to steal my stuff while I’m asleep. For larger items or carry-on suitcases, I’ll often loop my arm through the handle or make sure some part of my body is either touching them, so I’ll wake up if I feel movement nearby. If I’m sleeping on a bench, I’ll often slide my carry-on suitcase underneath so that someone who wants to get to it will have to lean down and make more effort. If I’m charging up my laptop or phone as I sleep, I like to set up camp either right by the outlet or close enough to notice if anyone tries any funny business.
If you’re traveling with very young children but don’t have a car seat or stroller handy to keep them restrained, it can be helpful to corral them into a corner, then position yourself in such a way that they have to clamber over you if they want to get out. (If you’re stranded overnight in an airport with a toddler, I am so, so sorry.)
Remember to set an alarm
After all that effort, you’ll definitely want to make sure you don’t miss your next flight out. I usually set myself multiple alarms set for about 30 minutes before boarding time, just to give myself enough buffer time in case I need to go through security again, print out a new boarding pass, talk to a gate agent or even just grab a coffee and brush my teeth. If I’m using headphones to block out ambient sound, I plug them into my phone so I’ll hear the alarm go off. When I’m using earplugs, I turn on my vibrate functionality and hold the phone in my hand as I sleep.
Prefer a hotel? Here’s how to get a last-minute room near the airport
Last summer, TPG’s Summer Hull was stranded in the Midwest for almost 24 hours due to a weather-related diversion. Her top tip from the experience? “Arrange your own transportation to the hotel so you can check in before everyone else.” SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
If all of that sounds too overwhelming and you just want to find a hotel room near the airport instead, here are a few strategies TPG editors deploy.
First, if the airline offers you a free room, take it — but skip the van full of other passengers and arrange your own transportation to the hotel to beat the crowds.
If you’ve received a voucher from your airline, do make sure you read the fine print carefully; many times, vouchers can only be used with a specific hotel that has an agreement in place with the airline.
If your airline doesn’t offer you a room, use an app such as HotelTonight to search for last-minute room availability. Use the map functionality to search for the closest property that fits your needs, and also check to see if the hotel offers shuttle service from the terminal.
Related: What you can ask from an airline after a delayed or canceled flight
Don’t forget to check hotels that are directly connected to the airport, so you can forgo additional ground transportation. Some of these properties are so good, we’d stay at them even if we weren’t stuck at the airport. The iconic TWA hotel at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is a great example that’s featured on our list of the 10 best airport hotels in the U.S. and Canada. In San Francisco, the Grand Hyatt SFO exceeded expectations for TPG’s Summer Hull over a holiday trip. (See our favorite international airport hotels here.)
Keep in mind that the right travel insurance, such as credit card trip protection or an independent travel insurance plan, could get you a free night’s hotel stay. You will still need to swipe your credit card when you check in, but your insurer will reimburse you for the cost later on if your delay is eligible for coverage.
Bottom line
Being forced to stay the night in an airport thanks to inclement weather or flight cancelation is not ideal, but there are some ways you can make it more bearable. This is one guide I hope you never have to use (unless you want to). And if you do end up bailing out for a hotel, use our tips above to beat the crowds and help secure a room.
Additional reporting by Melissa Klurman.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
How to sleep at the airport: tips and cautions
October 16, 2016
Trips
Spending the night at the airport is difficult, but possible. And with our advice, it will be possible to do it quite comfortably.
Why should I sleep at the airport?
Unfortunate connections happen when it makes no sense to go to the city, but you want to sleep. The flight may be delayed or cancelled. In addition, with regular travel, an overnight stay at the airport can save hundreds of dollars.
Can you sleep at all airports?
Honestly, you can’t sleep in any. But some airports treat sleepers indulgently, while others close at night. It is better to clarify the operating hours of the airport, in which you may have to spend the night.
Is it safe?
Not exactly. An airport is not a train station, but there are also enough thieves, scammers and people with impure intentions. It is best to sleep where surveillance cameras are installed, or contact the airport security service, they will tell you a safe place.
I’m also worried about my luggage. How to protect it?
Hide small items, money and documents under clothing. Fasten your luggage to your arm or leg with handcuffs. We are serious. Toys will do.
What will come in handy if I still decide to spend the night at the airport?
- Air mattress or caremat, headrest. Airport seats are not meant to be used for sleeping, and you will most likely find it uncomfortable to lie on them. Please note that at many airports workers are especially unfriendly to sleeping on the floor, resort to this method in the most extreme cases.
- Sweater (or plaid) with a T-shirt underneath. It is difficult to guess what temperature will be inside the airport, where you have to spend the whole night. Prepare for the heat and the cold.
- Ear plugs or earmuffs. The boarding announcements and conversations of the neighbors in the waiting room need not disturb your sleep.
- Water and biscuits. At night, most shops and cafes are closed. The remaining coffee shops can break the price so that an overnight stay in a hotel with dinner included will be cheaper.
- Book. It may be difficult for you to fall asleep in a new and not very calm environment. This book will help pass the time.
- Tee. Charging at airports is not enough, and there may not be enough for everyone. In order not to wait for a sleepover colleague to charge all his equipment, offer him to charge with the help of a tee.
- Wet wipes. There are many dirty surfaces at the airport. And dragging with all your luggage to the washstand before dinner is not very convenient.
- Cash and credit card. It is necessary to foresee situations in which an airport employee will demand a bribe for going to the toilet or you will have to pay for Wi-Fi.
How to behave?
The rules are simple. Do not interfere with others, do not make noise, do not attract too much attention to yourself and try to behave as adequately as possible. Having allowed you to spend the night at the airport, its employees have already gone to meet you. Respect their kindness. If the airport workers are not very enthusiastic about your idea to spend the night in the terminal, try to make them feel sorry – it works.
Will I oversleep the plane?
Quite possibly. Write on a piece of paper a request to wake you up before departure, indicating the time (preferably in English). Usually, airport visitors are willing to wake up travelers. But it’s better to additionally secure yourself with an alarm clock.
What to do if you can’t spend the night at the airport?
If you can’t sleep at the airport, here are the simplest options: rent a hotel room or a hostel near the airport. In some countries, it is cheaper to rent a car for a day and sleep in the parking lot. Some airports offer sleeping boxes right in the terminals. Always have a back up plan. Overnight at the airport is far from a completely reliable undertaking.
How to get to the airport at night
Answering the question about how to get to the airport at night, most Russians will say: “Only by taxi!”.
At night, taxis are one of the fastest ways to get to the airport. Going to Sheremetyevo or Vnukovo, you only need one thing – to worry about calling a taxi in advance.
It is impossible to get to Sheremetyevo at night: faster than by taxi.
Moreover, the prices will surprise you unpleasantly, since most taxi companies have special fixed rates for trips to airports, but this, nevertheless, will be cheaper than taking a taxi, for example, at the station.
Prices for transportation to the airport in the city are usually fixed
In Europe, the picture is somewhat different, but in most cases you can not do without a taxi.
Moscow airports
You can get to Domodedovo at night not only by taxi, but also by minibus.
You can go to Domodedovo at night both by taxi and minibus.
According to the announcement on the airport’s website, the interval from zero hours is 40 minutes, but it is known that it is not safe to rely on the accuracy of this mode of transport.
A fixed-route taxi in Moscow is less reliable than a taxi.
In addition, the shipment is made from Art. m. “Domodedoskaya”, which also needs to be reached, and the metro in the capital works only until 1.00.
You may not have time to get to the airport by metro. And it only works until the hour.
A car trip, if one of your relatives can take you, from the Moscow Ring Road to the port along the Kashirskoye Highway will take 40 minutes.
The best option is if one of your friends agrees to give you a lift.
The only way to get to Sheremetyevo or Vnukovo is by taxi or car. You can order a taxi in advance not only on the date of departure, but also on the date of arrival, even if the return is expected only in a month.
Taxis can be booked for the date of departure or arrival in advance.
Not only do many companies accept such advance applications, but they also offer very attractive conditions. Moreover, it is impossible to order a taxi during the flight, and sometimes it takes a long time to wait for the ordered car after landing. The use of carriers operating directly in the port costs 2-3 times more.
Directly at the airport, a taxi ride will cost a fortune.
St. Petersburg: Departure from Pulkovo
Pulkovo Airport is one of the few in Russia that can be reached by public transport at night.
Pulkovo can be reached by public transport, which is rare for Russian airports.
From Art. m. “Moskovskaya”, “Technological Institute” and “Vladimirskaya” can be reached by express train K-800, circulating around the clock, to Pulkovo-1, and from the station. m. “Vladimirskaya” and “Dostoevskaya” get on K-900 to Pulkovo-2. Moreover, in the city over the Neva on weekends at night there are metro backup buses.
Buses that duplicate metro routes make it easier and faster to get to Pulkovo.
And between the stations “Admiralteyskaya” and “Sportivnaya” and on weekdays, the metro train circulates, however, most likely, the route will be closed by the fall of 2013.
Night trip to Paris airports
If you are going to travel to Paris, then in the case of a night landing, the choice of transport will depend on the port where the liner landed.
When you arrive in Paris at night, how you get around the city will depend on which airport you landed at.
Planes from Russia often land at Roissy, better known as the airport. Charles de Gaulle. Bus 143 runs to this port from Gare de L’Est, but you also need to get to the stop itself. Of course, there are night buses in Paris, but there are not many routes and you won’t be able to get exactly to the required place, and even a fifteen-minute walk around the city at night is romantic in its own way, but it’s inconvenient and unsafe with things.
If you have a lot of things on hand, it is better not to walk.
As a result, a taxi will still be required, but a one and a half kilometer trip will not cost much, and those who wish can take a walk. An alternative is a shuttle – this is a small bus with a capacity of up to 7 passengers, which is provided to travel to the airport from a hotel or other address. The cost of the trip depends on the number of passengers who made the order.
Traveling around Europe: is there a real alternative to a taxi at night?
In most European capitals there is night transport, but the number and variety of routes is limited, since trips at this time of day are not very popular, both for tourists and local residents. Therefore, in Paris, and in Prague, and in St. Petersburg, and in London, it is far from always possible to get from the hotel directly to the airport without many transfers and walking at night.
Changes and forced rushes on foot – the harsh reality of the road from the hotel to the airport in Europe.