Tips On How To Sleep Well When Your Flight Is Delayed

If your flight is delayed for a long time then you may decide that you want to take a nap or have proper sleep. If this is the case, then you may find it difficult to settle down in the airport. If the flight is delayed for days, perhaps due to poor weather then you will really need to get some sleep or else you could end up feeling very out of sorts or even getting ill. It can be tricky though, to sleep in this type of situation. However, there are things that you can do to help you to sleep when you are in the airport.

Book a hotel room

The very best way to get sleep is to book a hotel room. You will only be able to do this if you know for sure that your flight will be delayed for a significant length of time. If you are facing a huge delay, the airline may compensate you by offering a hotel room. But this will depend on the cause of the delay and the area you are flying from and where the airline is based. It is worth checking with them before you book a room.

Use a pillow

A pillow is normally something most people use when they are in bed and so if you are trying to sleep anywhere else, having one can be handy. You could bring one with you, perhaps an inflatable one, to help you sleep. Otherwise you may decide to use your bag or a rolled up piece of clothing as a makeshift pillow. If you can plan in advance, try out different things to see what works best, remembering that you will either be trying to sleep upright in a hard chair or lying on a hard floor.

Stay warm

Most of us will cover up when we go to sleep. This is because our body temperature drops as we are dropping off and therefore it is much more comfortable to be covered up. It could be cool anyway at the airport as the air conditioning may make it cold. This means that it is a good idea to have some spare clothing to cover up with. Either some extra layers to put on, like a sweater or something larger like a light blanket or a coat. As with the pillow, it is wise to test it before you leave home so you are sure that it will work for you.

Eye Mask

Airports are really bright places and so even with your eyes shut, you may still see the brightness. Also you may be tempted to keep opening your eyes to see what is going on. If you put on an eye mask you can block the light better and even if you open your eyes you will not get distracted by anything that is going on around you.

Ear Plugs

Noise can also be very off putting. Many people may not be trying to sleep and could therefore be talking. There will also be announcements and other noises which could disturb you. Putting in ear plugs could block out that noise and make it a lot easier for you to go to sleep. Alternatively you might want to listen to some music using noise cancelling headphones.

Warm drink and some food

To get you prepared for sleep it might be good to have a warm drink and some food. This can depend on what you do before bed at home. If eating and drinking is part of your sleep routine then it could help you to relax and wind down towards sleep if you do it at the airport. Do not have anything too stimulating though such as caffeine or sugar.

Secure luggage

If you have luggage with you then you might be worried about it if you fall asleep. There is always a chance that it could be tampered with or even stolen if you leave it while you are asleep. Unattended luggage can also be reported. It is therefore wise to keep it all very close to you, perhaps even sleeping on it. You could also try putting your hand through the straps or handles or place it under your chair. If you have someone with you then you could take it in turns to sleep while the other looked after the luggage.

Have someone to wake you

Going off to sleep can be very difficult if you are anxious about missing your flight. If it is announced while you are sleeping, there may be a chance you do not hear it, particularly if you have ear plugs in. Therefore find someone that you trust to wake you up if this happens. This could be someone that you are travelling with or you may find that an airline staff member will be happy to help.

Do you have any other tips you think will help travels get a good sleep at the airport? We would love to hear them!

FT&PD

Suz

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