Tag Archives: air travel

Airport Layovers: A Guide to Preventing Boredom

Oh, the dreaded layover. It’s a necessary part of flying for most of us, and yet we still find ourselves sitting in an uncomfortable concourse chair, absolutely bored out of our minds.

No longer! Make time fly by (pun intended) during your next layover by managing your time.

Less Than 30 Minutes to Boarding

When there’s less than half an hour until boarding, head to your departure gate. Music is OK, so long as
you listen to it quietly enough that you can hear any pertinent announcements. Take this time to paw through
your carry-on bag and remove any trash, fully read magazines or anything of that sort. Re-arrange the contents
so you can get to anything you’ll need during the next flight without completely unpacking that bag in your
tiny airplane seat. Make sure your ticket is readily accessible and you know what boarding group to listen for.

Once you’ve dealt with all the pre-flight business — which can take mere seconds for some travelers or
many minutes for others — try to relax a little bit. Play a few rounds of Jewel Quest, fill out a KENKEN puzzle or read the next few pages of People Magazine. The key to successful time wasting in the pre-boarding phase is multi-tasking: being ready to jump in line to board at any moment while, simultaneously, carrying out a small task. You can totally do it. Time will whizz right by.

30 to 90 Minutes to Boarding

Do your devices need charging at all? If so, this is the time to do it but don’t worry about staying near your gate because you’ll be bored senseless. Get up and moving for a little while. Find a restaurant and have a meal or grab a comfortable chair at a Starbucks and get plugged in. Watch a movie or read a book. Get comfortable while you’re plugged in and enjoy the (relative) peace and quiet.

If you don’t need to be plugged in, go ahead and get some exercise. Chances are you’ll be spending hours
upon hours sitting on a traveling day, so get your blood flowing and see the sights at the airport. Many airports, at least the major ones, have some really cool architectural details you can scope out. Detroit (DTW) and Chicago’s O’Hare airport (ORD) both have amazing light tunnels connecting terminals. They are certainly worth a short trip on foot, or on people movers. Some airports have small museums of some kind or shops you can explore.

90+ Minutes to Boarding

If you have more than an hour and a half before you board, it’s going to feel like a long layover.
If you have an unexpectedly long layover due to a delay, check in with a gate attendant to be sure you
can’t make a different connection and to see if the airline is offering any sort of concessions or compensation. While it’s rare to get any sort of perks for a delay that’s only a few hours, it never hurts to politely approach and inquire. Gate agents rarely respond well to aggressive behavior, so be polite and remember: they are people too!

Long layovers are good times for concourse naps. If you’re going to try this (rather advanced) maneuver, you need to find a small patch of real estate or check to see if there is an airport napping room where you won’t be in the way of foot traffic. Use your carry-on as a pillow so no one can get into it without waking you. Set an alarm for at least 30 minutes prior to your boarding time so you can get to the
gate on time.

Hopefully, next time you’re between flights these tips will help make your travel time feel shorter. Do you
have any tips for making time fly at the airport? We’d love to hear them in the comments!

Authored By: Paula Eastmann   Though she misses her husband, Paula is happy to help other military wives to keep orderly homes that are inviting and easy to keep. She loves sharing military mom tips with other wives and moms.

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10 Tips On Long Stay Parking At Airports

Air travel is not fun anymore. It is filled with tensions and hassles. Airports are crowded and the biggest problem that faces travelers is parking at airports. The World Wide Web has eased airport parking to some extent by bring to travelers the facility of booking airport parking online at rates that are competitive. The internet also provides in depth information on how to secure airport parking, what are the options available for air travelers and all about off-site parking facilities.

There are umpteen ways to ease parking problems at airports and some of the many popular online websites are
http://www.airportdiscountparking.com/ and http://www.longtermparking.com/ . The online airport parking websites often offer great deals on parking rates as well as discount coupons from their affiliate parking lots across the US.

If you are planning a long trip here are a few tips:

1. The minute your trip dates are final log on to the internet and book your airport parking slot.

2. Look up the airport site map and familiarize yourself on where the long term parking slots are located. Try
and choose one that is closest to the terminal.

3. Many long stay airport parking facilities offer travelers a free ride to the terminal and a pick up.

4. Always check what the long term parking rates are online and offline. Use any discount coupons you may have
gathered for parking on previous trips.

5. When parking the car especially in wet weather and winter, choose a spot that will minimize exposure to the
elements. If possible opt for closed parking space.

6. Always check for offers like free car wash, no charge on certain days, or offers to service the car while you are away. Most long stay parking lots display their offers on websites. Make the best of it by being an informed traveler.

7. Plan for the trip well in advance and take along the airport parking booking. Always allow around forty-five minutes extra time to park the car secures it, and make your way to the terminal. Last minute rush can be disastrous.

8. If there is a courtesy coach or drop to the air terminal use it. This will help as you will not have to carry your luggage and walk.

9. Some parking lots have a “meet and greet” program where they will pick up your car from the terminal and
park it for you. When you return your car will also be waiting for you ready for you to drive away. Find out
whether the long stay parking company or lot is offering this service and whether it is paid or free.

10. Check what the rates are for off-site and on site long stay parking lots and make a comparison before making a booking. Any parking for over six hours is considered long stay.

The internet is a fountain of information for airport parking and there are websites that offer many on-site as well as offsite airport parking bookings. Most airport websites have maps on the air terminals and parking lots so that travelers can locate the parking lot without going round in circles. Travelers can book the airport parking well in advance and travel without running helter skelter looking for parking at the airport.

Timothy Rudon is a writer for Airport parking, the premier website to find Airport parking, cheap airport parking, airportparking, air port parking, airport shuttle, parking at airport, airport parking service, Airport Car Parking Providers and many more.

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The Ultimate Airport Survival Guide – Travel Tips

airport survival tips

 
Your bags are all packed, you checked into your flight online, and you are all set for your trip. Except for one small thing, you have to make it through the airport. Getting through the airport can be the most stressful part of any vacation. But have no fear; your airport survival guide is here!

These five tips will help you make it through the airport with ease and you’ll still have the energy to play a few rounds of golf and a game of bridge with your friends once you reach your destination.

Allow Enough Time

First and foremost, you need to allow ample time for you to check your bags, get through security, find your gate, and maybe even grab a bite to eat. It is always better to arrive at your gate early, rather than to rush through the airport thinking you are going to miss your flight. Many airports offer live security point waiting times online that you can check on the day of your flight. The Dublin Airport suggests adding on even more time if you need assistance with your bags or use a walker or cane.

Protect Yourself

If you think that you will be using the free WiFi at the airport to say your last goodbyes and check up on email, make sure you take precautions to protect yourself from identity theft. By simply signing up for a company like Lifelock.com you will be able to ensure that you are safe using the WiFi
when sending any messages or surfing the web. Identity theft is a real problem, so you do not want to take it lightly.

Be Prepared For Security

One of the biggest delays in getting through the airport is the security checkpoint. points out that if people would come prepared the security line would move much faster. So how can you prepare? Have your 3.4-ounce liquids in a clear plastic bag before you ever even leave your home. If possible, you should also wear slip-on shoes and skip the belt. While in the security line, read the signs to make sure that you have removed all necessary items from your carry-on. And finally, give yourself one last pat down before heading for the metal detector to ensure that you haven’t missed anything.

Use Technology

Another great tip to make your traveling just a little bit easier is to take advantage of your smartphone. Most airlines will not only allow you to check-in using your smartphone, but you can also store your boarding pass on it. Yes, that means no shuffling around a piece of paper as you go through security, grab a snack, and work on your laptop. When boarding your flight you can simply pull up the boarding pass and the attendant can scan your smartphone.

Don’t Spend too Much

Another way to make your trip more enjoyable is by saving yourself some dough. There are many ways that you can save some cash while traveling. Everyone knows that you can save money by only using carry-on luggage, but you can also save money by bringing snacks from home and traveling with an empty water bottle. You can’t take water through security, but as soon as you get to the other side you will be able to fill your water bottle up at a drinking fountain.

Now that you know these five tips to make your trip through the airport more enjoyable, it is time for you to sit back and enjoy the flight and maybe finish that crossword puzzle or settle in for a snooze, next stop your relaxing vacation!

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