Joe Louis sleeps at an airport
Phew! Made it!
Getting to the airport was an adventure. The airport shuttle was canceled and taxis weren’t running. It wasn’t surprising given that this was in the midst of a typhoon, but I severely underestimated the havoc to be wrought by an angry Typhoon Nari. Thankfully my guest house host had an opportunistic friend willing to drive for the right price. He must have had one of James Bond’s old cars because we drove through some lake-sized puddles on the way. But we made it.
And that’s when the fun really started. Over the next several hours my flight was pushed out a little, then more, then some more. Each delay came with an announcement over the loudspeaker, followed by a swarming mob attack on the ticket desk.
Unlike many people at the airport, airport delays may frustrate me but don’t faze me too much. When you travel enough you realize that getting angry only makes it worse. So when it became apparent that all flights would be grounded, I switched to a flight the next day and just relaxed. No need to keep following up on these perpetual delays.
I had learned from other stranded flyers that most of the nearby hotels had been evacuated and the few ones still open were overbooked. Oh well. I guess I’ll just set up shop in casa airport.
A community of airport squatters developed and we shared stories while charging our phones. Might as well make the best of the situation.
Finally, 25 hours after getting to Da Nang airport, my plane finally flew away. I didn’t know it at the time, but a flight on the same airline on the same day flying to Laos had crashed. So when I woke up to “are you alive emails??” the next day I was a bit surprised. I may have suffered through a day of airport food and repeated queuing, but at least I was safe and sound.
Da Nang, Vietnam
Power hour
Electrical outlets are a critical resource to be discovered and stockaded like an oasis in a desert. Like an oasis, power strips also become communal gathering spots: a watering hole for the electrically thirsty.
Get online
Some airports have free wifi making connecting to the world easy. Others make you work for it. Check cafes, fast food joints, and the like for networks. Sometimes passwords are taped to tables. Other times you have to purchase something – just buy a water and you’re well on your way to sports scores!
No midnight munchies
Not all airports have 24 hour restaurants and convenience stores. Learn the closing times and if need be, stock up on snickers at the seven-eleven, ’cause you’re not going anywhere for a while.
Make friends
If there are serious flight delays or cancellations, there will likely be a shantyville of stranded passengers like yourself. Say hello, share war stories, pass the time. This is also a good time to break out that deck of playing cards you packed, but haven’t used yet.
Keep your calm with officials
Flights don’t always get canceled outright, but may go through a series of delays before hitting the scrap pile. You may need to spend a lot of time jostling other disgruntled passengers on line at the ticketing desk. Don’t take your frustration out on the messenger. She is the same person who can potentially get you on the next flight out.
Build your bed
Find an abandoned desk. Prop up your bag. Pull over a chair. Throw an extra shirt over your face. There are hostels worse than this, so don’t complain. The bathroom is probably better than most third world country squatholes.
See what other blogs are saying about sleeping in airports:
“Airport sleeping is no longer just for the cheap young backpacker. Nowadays, early morning flights, long layovers, flight cancellations, snow storms and erupting volcanoes are just a few reasons why you’ll see travellers from all walks of life stretched out on airport floors around the world.”
–Sleeping in Airports
