A Guide to Long Layovers

Travel

Aug 4

I took a short trip to Charlotte, NC at the beginning of July and realized on my way to the airport that it was my first time on a plane since I went to Argentina in December 2018. On top of that, I don't think that I have ever had a long layover by myself. Turns out, layovers are much more entertaining when you have people to talk to and much easier when you have someone to watch your carry-on while you go to the bathroom. Don't worry, I made it. But I did think of some helpful tips for maneuvering through the airport and keeping myself entertained for hours on end, in preparation for the flight(s) ahead.

NOW BOARDING

First things first, if you have an Apple Watch, do yourself a favor and download your boarding passes (for applicable airlines) to your Apple wallet. When it’s time to board, open the pass and you can scan the QR code the same way you scan a boarding pass. Now you can get on the plane hands-free! You. Are. Welcome.

THE BAGS

For my carry-on, I use the Béis Weekender bag, that I recently got and already LOVE for road trips and flights. This bag could probably fit a good chunk of my life inside of it, but for trips, it can hold a change of clothes (yes, shoes included), my iPad, a book, my planner, water bottle, headphones, LOTS of snacks and more. Plus, it has a pocket for me to have quick access to my ID, boarding pass (if needed) and my credit card. And to make this bag even more user-friendly, it includes a zipper pocket on the back of the bag that doubles as a trolley sleeve to fit over your luggage handle- making it super easy to tow both bags around the airport.

WHAT TO WEAR

It goes without saying that we all want to be comfy on our flight, but it’s especially important for me to be comfy and covered when sitting in an airport for hours on end. Airports are pretty gross. My go-to outfit is usually between loose-fitting pants or leggings with a t-shirt and I always bring a jean jacket or a sweatshirt in my carry-on for chilly airports or airplanes. I also like to wear sneakers that I can slip in and out of for security check. That way I'm not putting my bare feet on the airport floor and it helps me move through that line a little faster.

STAYING BUSY

Once I find my gate, I walk around the airport- good to pass the time and get your body moving when you are sitting for so long. This is when I scope out all of the restaurants, quiet seats and charging stations, but I also tend to wander through the shops. Conveniently enough, I can find a bookstore almost anywhere I go- airports are not excluded. If you know me or have read any of my previous posts, you know that I love finding a good book, so reading book synopses of the ones that catch my eye can eat up a lot of time. Of course, they are a few more books that get added to my already very long list every time I do this.

EN ROUTE

When I finally board my plane, I have everything that I might need for the flight in a smaller pouch/bag to keep in my lap so that I don't have to get up and open the overhead bin or pull my bag out from under the seat in front of me. It usually includes headphones, gum, wipes, lip gloss, eye cream and other small items. In addition to my iPad and/or a book, depending on how long I’ll be in the air. And most importantly, keep your water bottle close by! Flying tends to make us dehydrated and no one wants to feel super fatigued when they get to their destination.

I typically have a music playlist cued up to tune out all of the noise. Just make sure that it's downloaded before you switch into airplane mode. If not, it can make for a very long flight of talkative neighbors and crying babies.

And there you have it, surviving a layover (and your flight) 101. Safe travels!

Acacia Holmes