Jetsettersblog

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Anyone who travels has, at some point, had to endure the long boring wait in an airport because of a delayed flight. This time is often grueling especially when the delay is long.

Finding ways to keep yourself occupied is not always easy. The following is a list of activities to make the time more enjoyable and also lessen the stress that delays can cause:

For one: Read a book, magazine or newspaper that you brought; or, explore the airport bookstore and find some interesting reading material. The airport bookstores are actually pretty interesting. Almost all of them have several newspapers and different types of magazines, ranging from hobby to fashion, and of course several different types of books.

Number two: Try exercising by walking around by exploring the airport terminal. This may sound crazy, but it can be quite interesting, especially to children. Walk around the terminal you are in, or if you have lots of time to spare, venture over to the next terminal as many airport terminals have different restaurants and shops. Kids will enjoy walking around instead of being forced to sit in the same spot and since airports are pretty large it’s easy to get in some exercise.

Number three: Take the extra time that has suddenly been handed to you and catch up on all those calls you need to make. Parents traveling for business could give their kids a surprise call. They will love it.

Number four: Check out the airport’s shopping facilities. Large airports have an abundance of shops, allowing lots of opportunities to distract yourself from the flight you are waiting for. Unfortunately, this can be hard in some smaller airports, but almost every airport has a “tourist shop,” so find it and check out some of the local offerings.

Number five: Eat a meal or get a snack. Airports often have some fast-food and healthy dining choices, coffee bar choices, or simply a snack section at the bookstore. Regardless, you will be able to satisfy your boredom and your hunger.

Number six: Watch TV. Most airports now have TVs and will have several channels to choose from. Catch up on the latest news or find a cartoon channel to entertain your kids.

Number seven: Listen to music. In order to drown out those distracting airport sounds, pop in your headphones and listen to your music device, whether it’s an iPod, mp3 or even the old walkman.

Number eight: Stay in the airport lounge. Often there are airport lounges that have various offerings. Some have TVs, some have a mini restaurant and some offer free internet access. Be sure to ask if you are permitted in the airport lounge, because some airlines have restrictions. If you are not a member of these lounges, as a passenger, you are often able to purchase day passes. Though these may seem costly, with free snacks, beverages and internet, they are often worth the cost.

Number nine: People watch. Yes, this might sound a bit strange, but it can be quite entertaining. We humans have a knack for living our lives in very different and unusual ways. So while you are waiting for your plane, take a look around and watch your fellow travelers and how they react to delayed flights.

Number ten: Draw or scribble on a notepad. One traveler notes that he brings a notepad and pencils just in case there is a delayed flight. Even if you’re not an artist, drawing, or scribbling figures, on paper can be somewhat relaxing and helps the time pass.

So, there’s no reason to wait in anger if your next flight is delayed. Try some of these tips and see how they can lessen stress and make the time fly by.
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