Ways to kill time in an airport

p.pete

I'm looking for suggestions for ways to kill time in an airport. I will be spending 7 or 8 hours waiting overnight in Stansted and all the shops and pubs will be closed. Sleep is hard as its not really designed to help people to sleep.

The obvious ideas that I've had are reading and listening to CDs'.

Does anyone have any sane or crazy ideas?

Imposter

Here's a crazy idea! Buy a return ticket on the stanstead express. That way you get 2 hours sleep and 6 hours in London!
but a hotel nearby would probably be cheaper!

p.pete

Sounds interesting - not sure it would give me 6 hours though because of checkins and all that lark.

How often does this express go (especially what is it's frequency between the hours of 12 and 5 in the morning).

I'm a bit dubious about the merits of going to London for a few hours in the middle of the night on a Thursday. Looking more for sugestions of things to do in the terminal (hopefully without getting arrested:) )

seamus

Go get yourself somewhere to stay.

We landed in Stansted at 11.30pm, had an 8am flight the next day, and we got a local B&B room for the night.

They're usually 24 hour service, and will drive you for free between the Airport and B&B. Was quite expensive(~€120), but it was well worth it to get a shower, some english language telly, some free coffee and biscuits, a couple of hours kip, and have a breakfast waiting outside our door at 6am.

Highly recommend that route

GuanYin

Chat up air hostesses!!

Imposter

Dunno about frequencies although i'm sure the timetable is on the web somewhere. As for time your right you probably don't have enough if it.
As for something to do in the airport bring a pack of cards and play patience. Or after that excitement wears off you could ask everyone that's there if they want to play snap, or some other game of your choosing!

Sauron

I'm faced with that same dilema...6-7 hours in gatwick. but I'll be there during the day. But still I wonder what I could do....Watching planes take off just doesn't give me the same kick anymore:(

p.pete

There isn't even the option of watching planes - as far as I remember there is no views of runways at the main terminal. Can't pass security area till probably 6 whenever checkin is. Don't want to spend on accomodation for an expensive few hours sleep (otherwise wouldn't be travelling this cheap way:D ).

Best suggestion so far is chatting up airhostesses - where will they be at that time of night?

GuanYin

Originally posted by p.pete
There isn't even the option of watching planes - as far as I remember there is no views of runways at the main terminal. Can't pass security area till probably 6 whenever checkin is. Don't want to spend on accomodation for an expensive few hours sleep (otherwise wouldn't be travelling this cheap way:D ).

Best suggestion so far is chatting up airhostesses - where will they be at that time of night?

There was in Logan last time I was there

*grin*

DaithiSurfer

Take your walkman.
Walk to the busiest part of the terminal.
Hold up the wire from your headphones and shout 'allah alahkbar'.
The result of that should kill a few hours for you.

bombidol

jasus, man dont be going into london in the middle of the night! lol
Buy a gameboy and some games, excellent for killing time. Buy some comic books, graphic novels. Marvel do an "essential" series for 17Euros and they are huge.
A good oul wander around it a great way of killing time, especially in Heathrow. its huge , you could walk for hours. bring a watch with an alarm, and curl up for some kip for a while.

GuanYin

Originally posted by DaithiSurfer
Take your walkman.
Walk to the busiest part of the terminal.
Hold up the wire from your headphones and shout 'allah alahkbar'.
The result of that should kill a few hours for you.

LOL....brilliant!

therecklessone

Originally posted by p.pete


Best suggestion so far is chatting up airhostesses - where will they be at that time of night?

In their beds, if they have any sense...:D

Kappar

Four little words.... I have a bomb.:D

p.pete

Originally posted by Kappar
Four little words.... I have a bomb.:D

Ah now! I'd prefer something with a slightly lower risk of getting arrested. I'm a bit of a wus when it gets down to it.

Someone mentioned the beds of airhostesses, that sounded good:D

therecklessone

Originally posted by p.pete
Ah now! I'd prefer something with a slightly lower risk of getting arrested. I'm a bit of a wus when it gets down to it.

Someone mentioned the beds of airhostesses, that sounded good:D

Risk of arrest? Depends on how you intend to get near those hostie beds then, eh???;)

Hobbes

Originally posted by Kappar
Four little words.... I have a bomb.:D

Much too much hassle.

Go into your bathroom and wet your hair to make it look like your sweating. Then stand against a wall clutching your bag to your chest and keep staring people who walk near you. If a security guard comes over start to walk away (dont run).

PH01

8 hours in an airport? Eazy!
What you need:
A sleeping bag;
A flask of tea/coffee or some other hot drink;
A bottle of water;
A book;
A mobile phone;
A blackout mask to help you sleep;
And an air hostess (female)

p.pete

Originally posted by PH01
8 hours in an airport? Eazy!
What you need:
A sleeping bag;
A flask of tea/coffee or some other hot drink;
A bottle of water;
A book;
A mobile phone;
A blackout mask to help you sleep;
And an air hostess (female)

Thats a lot of fluids, the blackout mask won't be much use if I have to keep going to the toilet. I like the idea of both the book and the air hostess - I can read her stories in between pissing and sleeping;)

Beëlzebooze

before you leave buy yourself a superman suit, and wear it in the terminal. Walk up to other travelers and pretent to be scanning their luggage with your x-ray vision. I'm sure the hours will just fly past.

daveg

Originally posted by Kappar
Four little words.... I have a bomb.:D

I bet ther FBI are monioring this thread as we speak... or type.. anyway :rolleyes:

p.pete

Originally posted by daveg
I bet ther FBI are monioring this thread as we speak... or type.. anyway :rolleyes:

Certainly the liberal use of the word "bomb" should be catching their attention. Maybe a few more phrases like "chemical warfare" or "kill the president" and I will be able to play spot the FBI guy when I get to the airport:D

theciscokid

they have a wireless lan there dont they,

if not there'd be a cityscape i-link near by

therecklessone

Originally posted by Beëlzebooze
before you leave buy yourself a superman suit, and wear it in the terminal. Walk up to other travelers and pretent to be scanning their luggage with your x-ray vision. I'm sure the hours will just fly past.

Best suggestion of the thread.

Good stuff out of you.

p.pete

Originally posted by Beëlzebooze
before you leave buy yourself a superman suit, and wear it in the terminal. Walk up to other travelers and pretent to be scanning their luggage with your x-ray vision. I'm sure the hours will just fly past.

I'm not so sure, those suits always make my bum look big;) besides, where am I getting the x-ray vision from?

Blue Duck

Is there not a pub there??? What else would you need???

You could always just talk to people, im sure you wont be the only one waiting.
And you never know what will happen!

p.pete

There is a pub in Stansted but I think it closes at 11. Could maybe just about make it for last orders - do they take your drink away from you over there at closing time?

GuanYin

Originally posted by Blue Duck

And you never know what will happen!

Regarding London, this phrase has a slightly ominous tone to it.

Sarky

I managed to book some tickets to fly to Germany not half an hour ago. Yay me. Thing is, I have to go up to Dublin the day before the flight to collect them, and the next day's flight leaves at half six in the morning. Best idea so far was to collect the tickets and wait about the airport overnight. I'll have an awful lot of time to kill. Grr. Oh well. There'll be German beer at the end of it, at least...

Mythago

Try and blag yer way into the business lounge! Big comfy chairs in there...... No wait.... probably none in Stan(low cost central)sted, Oh well:rolleyes:

p.pete

Leider nicht, a) it's Stansted (crap airport like you pointed out) and b) the lounges are usually after the security checks and I'm gonna be waiting in the main terminal pre-security.

Sarky: If you have the money get your tickets early in the day and then go into town drinking, go to a nightclub that will be open till 4 or 5 (spirit or switch or somewhere like that) and then get a taxi to the airport when your good and ready.
Of course if your travelling on a Tuesday, wed or thursday maybe it will be hard to find somewhere open late enough.

Zaltais

Originally posted by p.pete
Sarky: If you have the money get your tickets early in the day and then go into town drinking, go to a nightclub that will be open till 4 or 5 (spirit or switch or somewhere like that) and then get a taxi to the airport when your good and ready.
Of course if your travelling on a Tuesday, wed or thursday maybe it will be hard to find somewhere open late enough.

If you collect your tickets within 18 hours of your outbound flight you should be able to check in there and then (so you get your boarding pass and can get rid of your luggage!)

Ring the airline and ask them what's the earliest possible time for you to check in ... might be as much as 24 hours depending on the airline...

Corega

Have a ****.

p.pete

Damn Ryanair, can't check in until they are good and ready.

Maybe I could go round all the people in the terminal taking bets on what time they will start check-ins. £5 a guess, nearest guess gets the pot (minus my cut:) )

Sarky

Best idea so far. Security might get suspicious about spending so long in the bathrooms though, and I can just (unfortunately) imagine them breaking down the cubicle door expecting a young bearded man assembling a bomb of some sort. Ah crap, it'll take a chisel to remove that image from my brain now!:eek:

p.pete

Originally posted by Corega
Have a ****.

Ah!, contingency plan if there is no air hostesses about, it'll be good for a few minutes anyway.

PH01

Originally posted by p.pete
Ah!, contingency plan if there is no air hostesses about, it'll be good for a few minutes anyway.

Have one every half hour then!

p.pete

Originally posted by PH01
Have one every half hour then!

Do you mean a **** or an air hostess? Hope it's the former or I'd be knackered:D

John2002

Originally posted by Blue Duck
Is there not a pub there??? What else would you need???

You could always just talk to people, im sure you wont be the only one waiting.
And you never know what will happen!

Exactly my sentiment.

Gordon

Stanstead is one of the worst for spending an overnight in. If you haven't gone yet make sure you bring ear plugs. Some feckin floor cleaner comes round every 20 minutes with a really loud machine that disables you from falling asleep. Also it is very very bright in the airport in the middle of the night so I suggest sleep goggles or something to cover your eyes.

I find airport snooping a great thing to do though. When I was on an overnight in Gatwick I think it was I snooped around and peeked into some BA office. The chalkboard had written "Current oversized baggage total - £xxxx, Target oversized baggage total £xxxxx" Kinda shocked me that they actually rely on oversized baggage as an earner not just as a recoup of fuel expenditure.

growler

word of warning , do not rely on the stanstead "express" to have you anywhere at any time , it's very unreliable , doesnt run on sundays and i think the first one to the airport leavrs london about 5.15

best thing you can do is try and locate a b& b somewhere near the airport and get a cab back there in the morning


all the cheapo airlines have their base at stanstead and therefore have the ugliest hostesses allowed under international aviation laws.

p.pete

Originally posted by growler
all the cheapo airlines have their base at stanstead and therefore have the ugliest hostesses allowed under international aviation laws.

Your depressing me now:mad:

Sarky

Someone stepped in front of a train in Germany and now I have to wait till 8:45 to get another plane. I´m rather upset by this. Grr.