One of the most aggravating things about air travel is delays and cancellations. It wasn't too long ago that I was upset because my flight was delayed a few hours due to a bum airplane wheel.... but, could you imagine being stuck in an airport for nearly a week??
That's exactly what happened to flyers in some parts of Europe whose flights were canceled due to the volcanic ash clouds forming to the east of Ireland. Around 95,000 flights were canceled last week due to the ash clouds which was a loss of close to $184 million for the European airports. This has affected nearly 7 million passengers so far.
Hopefully none of you will have to worry about being stuck at the airport for a week but if you have a long lay over or your flight is delayed, here are 10 tips for making time fly by...
1. Relax, step-back, take a deep breath and think about things. Just be positive!
2. Be a people watcher. This can actually eat up a lot of time and be fun! Try to decide what they are thinking and see how different groups of people interact.
3. If you have your computer with you... get online. Some airports have free Wi-Fi access and this is a great chance for you to check your email, facebook, etc.
4. Send someone a postcard. Almost every airport has a bookstore or kiosk with postcards. Surprise your family or friends with a postcard from where you are!
5. Check out some of the airport museum displays. Just take time to explore the airport that you're at... many have interesting artifacts or art work from different parts of the world.
6. Play a game. This can be a game on your cell phone, a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, etc.
7. Here's a hard one for most people to do... talk to a stranger. Even if this is out of your comfort zone, you'll be fascinated on the conversations you can have.
8. Meditate. Take time to think about life. You might even want to make a to-do list.
9. Grab a bite to eat at one of the airport restaurants. If you're hungry... this is a great way to kill time. If you not, just grab something small or a drink.
10. Check out all the stores and kiosks. There are places that have books, magazines, and newspapers. Read or buy souvenirs for your family or friends.
I hope these tips will help you or your family in the future if you ever have to wait on transportation. Remember, if you're sitting at the airport and start thinking about your insurance... give us a call! =)
All good ideas: How about combining a couple of ideas? You could buy a magazine and then talk to a stranger about trading magazines when you're done!