Layovers - 5 Things You Will Love & Hate about Airport Layovers

Heading to the Airport? Have a long layover? Here are the Best & Worst Parts of having a layover. Whether it is the ability to go visit a city for a few hours or having to eat overpriced overcooked food layovers can be the best or the worst. Flying is fun... Layovers not always the same.
Filmed in Copenhagen, Denmark
Copyright Mark Wolters 2015
USA Today & 10Best's #1 Independent Travel Videographer 2014

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[nakedsoul]

Singapore Changi airport is the best for layovers. Free 24 hour cinema, amazing gardens to chill out in, an actual chill out area with soft music & recliner chairs, massage chairs everywhere, tons of restaurants. If only every airport was like that :)

[MatthewHildebrand-kndj]

Maybe it's just me, but when I'm in a layover, I like to walk around the airport looking at all the airplanes, and watching them all take off. I mean, If it's a big airport, it can be interesting to walk around and see all the airplanes/flights, to kind of soak in the idea that everyone there is traveling and on the same mission as you are. I simply enjoy sightseeing, because I don't travel often, so when I do, it's refreshing to observe just...all the people around the world...traveling the same time as you are. Might this be a pro to layovers?

[alessiar.]

BTW you can't always leave the airport during long layovers. If you have a layover in Russia for example, no matter how long it is, you can't leave the airport unless you have a visa.

[Adamis]

I was in Helsinki airport for 6 hours, so I put my bag in a locker and walked out of the airport. Yes walked out. I ended up finding a Plane Museum down a kind of forest road and spent a couple of hours there. I was lucky enough that the day I was there, there was when a restoration group who were there working on their latest plane that day, some of them WWII veterans, and I had a good long conversation with one of them about it. Best lay-over I've ever had.

[Fruck]

One way you could deal with a layover is by striking up a conversation with someone if they don't mind. Also have the potential of meeting new people and becoming friends.

[matthewcandler]

I like talking to people you meet while waiting. Everyone has an interesting story and because of the extended period of time along with the fact you will probably only see each other once people are really open.

[JmaJeremy]

My favourite thing about layovers is the people watching...so many people going to many different places... And the plane spotting, since now with post-9/11 security, you can only ever access the tarmac viewing windows with a boarding pass.

My favourite airport so far is Munich: free coffee, free newspapers, free WiFi and plenty of power outlets located conveniently on chairs' armrests, and all that in the general lounge, no elite flyer status required.

Another recent development seems to be the sleeping pods...pay by the hour to have a tiny private room where you can nap or get some work done, found in many European and Asian airports.

[jamiesp]

I had a cool 12hr layover in Suoel, South Korea. Pretty easy to take the train to the city. Saw a festival, got a good lunch and shopped at a street market. It was like a second trip.

[YingFaXiaoLang]

I think one of the best things about having a longer layover is that you're less likely to miss a connecting flight if your original flight is delayed. I was coming back to Australia from France via Singapore last January and my first plane was delayed by about an hour due to the need for deicing and then the route just taking longer than expected (it was at the time when they were changing all the routes to not fly over the Ukraine but not actually updating the flight time). Originally my layover was three hours, but by the time we actually got into Singapore and off the plane I really only had just over an hour and a half which once I got to the next gate and then through security meant that I, and the people I was with, were running to make sure we got on the plane. If my layover had been any shorter I would have missed that connection and it would have taken who knows how long to actually get home.

[caressaclark]

Layovers in London and Stockholm.. best people watching ever😍

[scmager]

Thanks, Mark. One more positive thing about a long layover -- at least it wasn't TOO SHORT. I once planned a trip with a short plane-change layover, thinking I was saving time. Unfortunately, my first flight got a late start and arrived behind schedule, and there wasn't enough time to make it to the gate for the connecting flight -- I ran all the way, but it was a VERY BIG airport (Dulles). The airline obligingly put me on a different flight, but by the time I arrived at my destination (Paris), I had lost about five or six hours and my subsequent plans were spoiled. Moral of the story: It is difficult to anticipate the requisite travel time on foot in an unfamiliar airport. Leave a margin for error.

[mariab]

Have a 22 hour layover in Paris. Am going to Versailles to see it. Otherwise I would not have had the chance to get out to see the Palace.

[pedanpontif]

I have an idea for a video, if you haven't done one on this already. You could do a video on what to expect and what might surprise you when it happens that your flight is canceled. Now people know in the States what they can expect. The video could be about differences in the laws over in Europe as to what the airlines will and will not do for you. Things that people need to be aware of. Like the obvious is that they might not get you a hotel or you might not get a refund, but only a voucher. This could be good food for thought. And I hope you get some rest because you look tired. As always, love your videos. And I always recommend your channel to people wanting to travel abroad because you give people what they don't get in travel guides.

[smallmj]

4-6 hours are the worst layovers. Not quite long enough to leave the airport. Long enough to be bored to tears.


I had a great 8 hour layover in Paris with the family. Hopped on the Metro and saw some sights. The only problem was that we were all exhausted from a transatlantic red-eye.

[tosht]

Ideal is a couple of hours but I easily prefer a 4 hour layover than a 55 minute connection and always book my flights accordingly. My flight to Warsaw last year was a bit delayed and while everyone was freaking out, I was as cool as can be. Besides, I actually like spending time in Schiphol. :) So, one positive is less anxiety about making your connection.

[luigymack]

I literally just came back from my trip to Peru, & on my stop at El Salvador, they got me on a 5 hour layover! If it wasn't because I saw this video, I would of never known about the VIP Lounges, , , it was $30, but it was WORTH IT! Unlimited wifi, food, alcohol, soda, etc etc. Those 5 hours felt like heaven :) Thanks for your advice!

[cosmocat]

A fun video. Singapore Changi airport has free city tours for layovers of more than a few hours. If your airport has cheap hotels or sleeping cubicles it's great to sleep your lay over. I once had 12 hours in London. Caught the train saw a few things and went back to the airport, and they have showers for rent! Absolute bliss to shower and be fresh for next flight.

[ifwnr]

I actually find airports fun and exciting, including layovers. Why? Because I love the feel of traveling and being in a new place. Even if it's an airport I've been to many times, it's the excitement of going somewhere different. I also like seeing and meeting new people, especially from different cultures. Keeping some alcohol on-hand or purchasing some there can sometimes "improve" the situation as well.

Another reason, and why I also don't mind waiting for trains at a station, for example, is that there are limited things that can be done, which I find to be a good once-in-a-while change. This means there isn't much to worry or think about because there isn't much you can do in the first place! Maybe relax, take a nap, catch-up on some movie/show or book you keep putting off or don't have time for. People watch, explore the airport (or city if more time and possible and you want to).

It's nice and very convenient to have Wi-Fi or data, and I'd always prefer to have it than not to, but if not easily available, it may have (some pros)... like forcing you do some of the things I mentioned above.

[Fanw]

One general tip if you have children. Go outside the terminal to a place where you can see planes taking off and landing - and 'plainspot'. One specific tip for Heathrow - it is not far from Windsor Castle, though you will need a taxi! One specifc tip for Copenhagen Kastrup - it is not far from Malmo (Sweden), though currently there are immigration checks in the Swedish direction (only). The train crosses the massive Oresund bridge!

[lovelyMissInna]

Incheon in Korea is the BEST place to have a long layover. They offer an amazing Transfer Lounge with areas with plenty of plugs, comfortable seating, areas to sleep, even showers for free. If you want privacy you have the option to book a room in the transfer hotel - all without leaving the terminal. All amenities are exceptionally clean, conveniently and mostly free or low-cost. By far my favorite thing the offer though is their transit tours - you can go into Seoul or the surrounding cities on guided tours with transportation all free of cost. They will ensure you are back on time for your flight as well. These tours can be as short as an hour up to 5 hours - so you have a lot of choices. Absolutely incredible airport and cannot recommend it enough as a layover point for those long haul flights to/from Asia.