According to travel experts, we’ve officially hit the midway point of the busy summer travel season. If you’ve made it to your vacation destination without dealing with delays then consider yourself lucky. The latest airport survey results reveal that airline confusion coupled with Mother Nature’s wrath has wrecked havoc on many families’ travel plans.
If you haven’t taken off on your summer vacation yet you might want to consider these helpful tips regarding what to do if you face the unfortunate position of getting stuck in an airport.
Airline Clubs. Passing time in a swanky airline club can be a great way to alleviate your suffering and make your layover a little more comfortable. And the good news is that you don’t always have to be a member of the elite clubs to be admitted. If you aren’t a member check your wallet. You may be carrying a credit card that offers a rewards program, which gives you access to certain airport lounges. If that tactic fails turn to your computer–there are a ton of people who sell day passes to airline clubs on eBay. Another tip… negotiate. Airline representatives would much rather fulfill the request of a passenger who is demanding to get into the lounge than one who is insisting to be rebooked immediately.
Airport Play Areas. I travel with a toddler and know what life can be like being delayed in an airport for hours on end. In these situations I have found designated play areas are a saving grace. Currently, more than 40 airports throughout the country have such facilities, and more are cropping up each month. My daughter loves the one located at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (it’s located in Terminal 2). “Kids on the Fly” features a two-story control tower, airplane with cockpit and cargo hold, luggage slide and ticket counter. Designers of the play area say it was created to help pint-size travelers understand the air-travel experience.
Click here for a list of other airports that offer play areas for children.
The Airport Mall. When in doubt (or in times of delays)—shop! You may be surprised at what you will find in an airport if you just take the time to explore. A few years ago Dallas/Fort Worth became the first U.S. airport to add a convenience store in Terminal C. And at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, more than 100,000 square feet of space is devoted to shopoholics. The airport is home to more than 106 restaurants and stores including Lands’ End, Tumi Luggage, Wolfgang Puck, California Pizza Kitchen, Maui Tacos and Ben & Jerry’s.
For additional ideas on how to pass the time during long airport delays check out these articles:
“Mommy, There’s A Dinosaur In The Airport!”
Preparing For Travel Delays–Part 2
A Place For Your Kids To Play Between Flights
More Places To Play At The Airport