Ooooh. The countdown to our babymoon in Boston is officially on! Six days and counting! With my second trip of the year coming up, I thought I’d let you in on a few little tips and tricks that I use to help pass the time if my flight is delayed. Being stuck in an airport and ultimately bored is not the best way to prepare for the holiday you have been dreaming about all year. Although you will be able to buy things at the airport, it is cheaper to bring your own things and you can never guarantee that the airport will have exactly what you are looking for anyway. Therefore it is worth bringing a selection of things with you so that you know that you will be able to pass the time easily.
My Sudio Headphones
Many people use their mobile device as a way of entertaining themselves and they can be great to use at airports. You do, however, need to make sure that they are not annoying, so take headphones to wear if you want the sound on or if you are listening to music. You also need to be aware of the cost of using them outside of the home and whether you need to switch off data and just use apps that do not need an Internet connection. Plan what you want before you go so that you can do any big downloads first (I always download Netflix box sets at home to my phone before I travel) or things like that to watch or listen to as these will take time. Even if the airport has wi-fi you may not be able to download things like this as it takes too much power from other users. A good Netflix series is a godsend when you are delayed and it stops you spending a ridiculous amount of money in Monsoon.
My Charger Pack
I don’t go anywhere without my charger pack and when I’m travelling I have two so that the person I’m travelling with can stay charged too. If you are using electronics then you will need to make sure that they stay charged. Obviously charging them before you leave is wise, but if you are delayed then they could still easily run out of charge before you get on the plane. I’ve spent so many holidays in the airport sat next to a bin trying to charge my phone when I should be on my second airport prosecco and it’s not the most glamourous start. A battery pack is ideal as you cannot guarantee that there will be free charging ports when you need them.
A Sophie Kinsella Novel
Having something to read can really help. It can help to pass the time and give you something different to think about to lower your stress levels too. You may want to download some ebooks to your mobile device, but this could run out of battery so it may be good to have a printed book as a backup. Find reading material that you know you will enjoy and that will keep you entertained for a nice long time.I always pick up a Sophie Kinsella novel in the airport.
Airport Snacks
If you are delayed then chances are that you will get thirsty and hungry. Sometimes airlines will provide you with compensation in the form of food and drink vouchers to spend at the airport, but you cannot rely on them doing this and the delay will have to be significant for you to get these and you may be hungry or thirsty earlier. Therefore it is good to have some snacks and drinks with you or even a small meal depending on what time of day it is and how long you expect to be delayed. It will save you money too as airport food and drink can be pricey. Do think carefully about the type of food and drink that you take. You want light things that will release energy slowly such as nuts but watch the salt as that will make you thirsty. Pret is always a good healthy option. I always stock up on Ginger shots to stop me picking up any bugs on the flight.
Pillow/blanket/eye mask/ear plugs/socks
Yep, I don’t travel light. It may be that you will want to nap when you are waiting for your flight and if so, you will need to be prepared for that. Think about what things you might need to help you to go to sleep. Some people may like a pillow, although a bag or folded coat or jumper may work as well. Inflatable pillows can be a good way to take a pillow without it taking up too much room in your bag. Some may like a blanket and a coat or cardigan may work for this as well although you can get lightweight blankets. To shut out the light an eye mask may be required and possibly even earplugs to shut out the noise. Just make sure that there is someone available to wake you up if your flight gets called as you would not want to sleep through it.
Layers
You never know how cool it might be in an air-conditioned airport If you are sitting around or wanting to sleep then you may feel that you want to be warmer as well. As mentioned above you may want to make clothing into a pillow or blanket as well. If you have others with you, they might get chilly and you may be able to lend them something warm. It can be wise to light items which are thin but still warm such as thin cardigans as they will not take up too much room.
What are your airport essentials?
*This was a collaborative post but as always my hatred of airport delays are 100% my own.
