How To Turn Your Airport Experience Into Disneyland
Being in an airport is an overwhelming feeling and most of them are like amusement parks. Airports are one of the most exciting places where incredible stories happen. It’s fun to observe and guess where people are going or coming back from. You also never know who you can meet.
– Why I love airports: It means a new adventure is about to start. I’m going somewhere new or going back to a place or someone I love.
– Why I hate them: Goodbyes! I am probably leaving special people behind with no reunion date in the books. The scene is generally not great: long cues, stressed people and the coffee is mostly not worth the 8 dollars.
– My favorite Airports: Singapore & Mexico City: Great food and really efficient.
– The worst: Colombo / Sri Lanka, just NOTHING worked there, worst food and nothing if you have claustrophobia.
Because I spend more time than I’d like to in airports, I created these tips on how to turn your airport experience into Disneyland and actually start enjoying it:
- Don’t stress, take your time and find the lounges: here’s an app for that.
- Use the Quick Spa and massage chairs, find a quiet corner and do some Yoga moves (SFO even has a Yoga room).
- Shop. Buy a gift for your friends and family at duty free and souvenir shops, or get a breeze of high fashion brands. London Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 5 has a great selection.
- Be productive. Use the free Wifi, write and work off emails or play with powerpoint.
- Breath the airport city air. Most of the airports have some sort of outside area, some of the restaurants even beer gardens (like in MUC). Watch out for outdoor garden terraces or, if you are in Singapore, check out the airport rooftop pool.
- Learn something new. Some of the airports have museums or exhibitions, for example Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) has a cool Art Gallery.
- Play & Entertain: guess nationalities, talk to someone and find out about their story, skim through the free magazines at the gates.
- Dress smart and avoid zippers (=beeps). You’ll power through the security, the airport population will treat you better and chances for upgrades increase.
- And if things are really going wrong: there is a statistically high chance that you will be able to buy a Toblerone or M&Ms at any airport of the world for a sweet and reliable quick-fix.
…and most importantly see the airport as part of the experience. It starts right here and it’s not just the annoying transit part to get to your destination. Embrace the journey.
Photo Nick Harris.
