Sleeping in Airports

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expat

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I'd guess there have been more than a few people doing just that this last week.

But if you find yourself in that situation, it seems there is a website just for you
http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

I admit, more than once I have tried to get some Shut Eye while in a terminal.

Best: Amsterdam (6 hours to kill)

Really enjoyed my time there, Nice lounge chairs in a quiet area, or lots to see and do if you wish to pass the time otherwise. There was even a small Art Gallery exhibiting works by some Grand Masters.

Worst: Miami (16 hours, Bad storm hit the East coast, no Hotel accommodation to be had)

Loud announcements and an endless 'Kenny G' CD playing. There were probably 100 people trying to sleep on the floor, but the cleaning staff made no concession, constantly waking and moving people. I even thought of renting a car to sleep in, but was advised that might not be safe.

Anyone have experiences?
 
Always travel with at least one novel in your carry on.
Preferably two novels.

In 2005 I was on an aircraft, on the tarmac, for 5 hours waiting to take off. That was after a 4 hour layover. The flight was only supposed to last 45 minutes, and the driving time to my destination was only 2 hours from where I was.
Large airport at Charlotte to the small airport at Newport News Virginia.

I killed a 300 page novel that day, and wished I brought more.
 
One time I was returning to school after winter break and there was a snow storm in Wisconsin. I ended up spending the night in Atlanta in one of the Delta terminals. It was one of the worse nights sleep I've ever had.
 
Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
Always travel with at least one novel in your carry on.
Preferably two novels.

In 2005 I was on an aircraft, on the tarmac, for 5 hours waiting to take off. That was after a 4 hour layover. The flight was only supposed to last 45 minutes, and the driving time to my destination was only 2 hours from where I was.
Large airport at Charlotte to the small airport at Newport News Virginia.

I killed a 300 page novel that day, and wished I brought more.


You, my friend, need a Kindle!

I cannot ever sleep in an airport, and barely can on extended flights (12-24 hrs.) For any flight greater than 7 hrs I show up extremely jet-lagged due to time difference and lack of sleep.

With that said, finding a quiet(er) place to relax (and maybe have a beer or glass of wine) while reading or listening to music while people watching is pretty nice. While traveling always makes me a little anxious, moments like those almost seem enjoyable and vacation-like.

So, must-have for me while traveling are:

Kindle
Well-sealing BT headphones
Phone (music + web-surfing)
Snacks (purchased outside of the airport)
 
Only once have I ever done it, and that one time was by choice (long story). Its tough to get quality rest, but you can get 30 minutes here, an hour there.

Sleeping in a rental is a smart idea, assuming you can leave it parked in the garage or other decent/safe place, and dont need to run the engine.
 
Originally Posted By: expat
Loud announcements and an endless 'Kenny G' CD playing.


I can't stand that soprano saxophone/clarinet he plays.
 
Originally Posted By: expat


Worst: Miami (16 hours, Bad storm hit the East coast, no Hotel accommodation to be had)

Loud announcements and an endless 'Kenny G' CD playing. There were probably 100 people trying to sleep on the floor, but the cleaning staff made no concession, constantly waking and moving people. I even thought of renting a car to sleep in, but was advised that might not be safe.

Anyone have experiences?


Nashville Tenn. - back in the 90's. I found what I thought was a cozy out of the way corner to catch some shut eye as I was exhausted and had a long layover through the night - except that every 20 minutes this super loud announcement would boom through the airport "Welcome to Nashville, home of country music and country music greats." So I would doze off, be startled awake, doze off, be startled awake all night long. By the time I got on my plane, I was a zombie.
 
I got stuck in Newark one night.....talk about being scared. Bums would come in off the street and actually pick and eat food that was left on the table from a pervious guest. I got a seat at a bar that had a mirror that I used as a reflection to see who was behind me. Had a few bums come around and check me out but couldn't see my face so they just kept on moving on. Worse place EVER in all my travels. Hawaii was pretty nice and so was Guam.....Narita was really nice.....LA and San Fran...not so much.
 
Originally Posted By: Schmoe
I got stuck in Newark one night.....talk about being scared. Bums would come in off the street and actually pick and eat food that was left on the table from a pervious guest. I got a seat at a bar that had a mirror that I used as a reflection to see who was behind me. Had a few bums come around and check me out but couldn't see my face so they just kept on moving on. Worse place EVER in all my travels. Hawaii was pretty nice and so was Guam.....Narita was really nice.....LA and San Fran...not so much.


At least now if you're stuck at the airport, everyone around you is a ticketed passenger and has been through security. An ID and a plane ticket keeps most of the riff-raff out!
 
My wife and I got stuck arriving at the Kingston, Jamaica airport about 15 minutes before it closed, and had to wait until morning to catch a flight to Miami. We, along with another couple travelling with us, slept on benches outside a small police kiosk in the airport manned by a little fella with a police uniform that was 3 sizes too large.

I have also had the (dis)pleasure of sleeping at Pearson in Toronto and Schipol in Amsterdam; the latter being light years ahead of the other two.
 
Got stuck several winters ago at JFK Jet Blue terminal at Christmas time. Snow storm. About 12 hours of pure torture! Throngs of people laying in every direction...floor, stairs, chairs, etc. The bathroom stunk of urine...and many of the people didn't smell much better after 12 hours. I could not sleep as I was afraid I might miss my flight announcement. I finally got on a plane headed in my needed direction....at my cost. Slept in a very uncomfortable seat on the plane. Arrived in Vegas (on the way to Seattle) and they had lost my bags. Then I had an announcement over the loudspeaker to report to some baggage claim area. Found my bags (been opened and completely gone through by the TSA...idiots). Finally got on a flight home.
Needless to say I'll never fly during Christmas again.
 
Plane got delayed from Indianapolis to Chicago because of the fog. We then missed that plane to Frankfurt and then the plane after that to Sofia, Bulgaria.

Do the math on that wait. lol
 
We were stuck in Newark one night.
Spied a chain hotel across the field.
Called on courtesy phone, got a room and got picked up by their shuttle.
Worth the ~150 bucks plus the cost of a decent dinner in the hotel bistro.
Rooms were available because lots of the impecunious or merely cheap slept at the airport.
 
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
seems like during air travel disruptions the air port management could find something else for the maintenance people to do, and let people sleep on the floor??????


It seems some airports will go as far as to provide Cots when there are significant disruptions.

I guess there are two strategies: Make the travelers life a misery, and hopefully push them out into a Hotel
Or:
Provide some creature comforts, and hope they don't take advantage and bank on the airports hospitality for an overnight stay.
 
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