Flights getting delayed is a routine thing. True they are a nuisance and can wreak havoc with your schedules, but there is nothing much that we can do about it either. For, most often than not, the reasons are beyond our control.
Those can range frombad weather to technical issues that might have cropped up at the last moment during security checks with the plane. Then there might be crew constraints as well on part of the airline that too leads to delayed flights. Although things have improved a lot over the years thanks to technological advances and the adoption of better management techniques that has allowed airlines to cut down on flight delays drastically, the truth is, it has not been eliminated entirely.
The bottom line is, there is no way you can rule out your next flight is not getting delayed unexpectedly. And instead of pulling your hair out in anger/ frustration, here are a couple of things you can do whilst at the airport to make your extended stay there a little more bearable.
Read a book:
You just have to get yourself comfy and dive right into your favorite book. Of course this implies you are a book lover and always carry a book along to catch on with the reading whenever you get the time. Also, you need not even carry a physical book with you in this age when you have eBooks available. Those can be on your smartphones, tablet devices, Kindles and what not. You can even have hundreds or thousands of them with you.
Popular titles you can delve into while at the airport include Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller, The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson, Iron House by John Hartto, name a few.
Also, even if you are not addicted to reading, you can always walk up to the airport book and magazine store to browse the latest mags or newspapers as well. This will help you catch up with the latest news and trends, besides whiling away some time as well.
Have something to eat:
Ruing having missed out on some local delicacies? Use the time at the airport to have your fill. Whether it is a snack or a full meal, you are sure to have it all at the airport. Priority lounge often have all-you-can-eat buffets as well, which you can make the most of when your flight is delayed. Sure, nothing can match the pleasure that foodies can have from indulging in some binge eating and is one of the best things for them to do when their flight is delayed.
Get hyper-active on social media:
Your fight is delayed, and you aren’t in the least happy with that. It is just this that can be enough to go all out on your social circles. As it is, social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and such already keep us engaged the most on our smartphone or tablet devices. Having some extra time can be more of a reason to storm the social site all the more.
In fact, you may need to be more on the social sites when your flight is delayed unexpectedly as you might want to reschedule your meeting or other appointments. Or you might also want to get along with your meetings or discussions online as well, while you are at the airport. So, if you are a workaholic or too active on social circles, you known which sites or apps to hit at the airport.
Get into online gaming:
This perhaps is the best thing that gaming freaks can get into. Just make sure you have enough charge on your device and dive right in. Also of course, there is no dearth of options here. For instance, you can try online bingo sites, who knows, you might as well earn some extra cash as well.
Listen to music:
It is not for nothing that music is considered the right medicine for the soul. Just out on your headphone or whatever person listening device you have at your disposal and let music take over your senses. This will have a soothing effect on you and will make you feel rejuvenated in no time. With the stress gone, your surroundings will become more lively and joyful, which otherwise might have felt just the opposite when you first came to know your flight has been delayed.
So, the next time you find yourself stranded at the airport, you know you have a lot of things to indulge in.
