Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with layover

Excuse me, which tunnel leads to the secret UFO base?

rokusan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:55:23 -0800

Bad connection might leave me stuck in DIA (DEN) for six hours. Help me find alien autopsies and other weirdness. Unless I can change it on the spot, I probably have a bad connection that looks like it will leave me idling in Denver International Airport for six plus hours next week. I've never done anything more than run between gates there before, so I really haven't spent any quality time there.

I know it's too far from the city to be useful for such a short squat, so I'm looking for ways to kill time within the terminals or very close by.

I understand from urban legend that this particular airport is chock-full of crazy-strange alien-masonic new world order conspiracy zombie camp weirdness in its architecture and art. That sounds fun. I have cameras, a sketchbook, and no fear. Where do I begin?

Any more pedestrian attractions (like exemplary food or shops) would also be welcome. One can only take so much Pizza Uno and Hudson's News, you know?

Any tips or pointers?

I'm going back to cali

kanemano — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:58:15 -0800

On my flight back form Jamaica to Hawaii I have a layover in Los Angeles from 10PM Friday night to 8AM the next morning What can I do with myself for 10 hours. I was thinking of renting a car and driving around, so that I can keep my luggage close, I haven't been in LA since 1993) . what can I do overnight that won't make me miss my flight home.

Amsterdam Layover...at night!

jus7brea7he — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:20:56 -0800

I have an 11-hour layover in Amsterdam on my way home to the states - great! ...'cept it's from 9pm to 8am - yikes?! So I ended up with an interesting itinerary for my trip home from Europe: an 11-hour layover in Amsterdam! I've read some helpful, day-time suggestions for a 9-hour layover here, but I'm afraid some of the 'to-dos' might not apply to me since I'll be arriving 9pm on a Saturday and departing 8am the next morning. I'm definitely interested in venturing out of the airport, as it'll be my first time in Amsterdam, and I'm hoping the hivemind could provide some suggestions as to what a solo, female traveler (in her early 20s) might do during the wee hours of the night! I'm planning to power through and stay up all night, but if this strikes you as a potentially insane/unfruitful endeavor, please tell me! Any/all tips would be much appreciated! :D

Oh, his aching legs!

odayoday — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:37:36 -0800

How can I arrange an overnight layover, and how much will it cost me? My very tall boyfriend and I are planning to visit my dad in Shanghai, and we're hoping to find a way to give his legs a rest between flights. I've tried to book exit row seats in the past, but was told that we would have to use airline miles to do so in advance. We can't afford business class, but I'm hoping there may be a way to arrange our flights so that we have an overnight stopover somewhere in Europe (halfway to China) so that he gets a break from the cramping. Has anyone done something like this, and how would I go about it? Also, will it cost us a lot more this way?

10 hour layover in Miami....What to do?

conifer — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:39:02 -0800

10 hour layover in Miami....What to do? On Friday I have a long layover in Miami - more than ten hours. I arrive at nine thirty in the morning and don't leave until eight at night. Suggestions on ways to pass the time, whether going into the city or doing something else are welcome!

less than 24 hours in Paris...

waylaid — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:22:13 -0800

In September I have a one-day layover in Paris (noon on a Saturday until 8am the next morning) on my way back to the US from the Middle East. Looking for suggestions to make the best of less than 24 hours in a city i've never been to! Because I have such limited time (less than 24 hours), I would love AskMeFi suggestions on the best itinerary for someone that's never been to Paris and doesn't speak French. (just Spanish and some Portuguese)

I will be coming in on the RER from Charles deGaulle, but I haven't picked a place to stay that's central and close to the train that will get me back out to the airport in the morning. Any suggestions on a neigborhood (or cheap hotel/hostel to stay at?)

Aside from the obvious (Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame) Any suggestions on things I should try to squeeze in or see in my brief time there? things of interest include cultural events, museums, architecture, and people watching. I'm not too big on nightlife, especially not for one-night with an early morning departure.

Thanks in advance!

Is there a gym at JFK?

Danila — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:29:59 -0800

Is there a gym at JFK Airport? Asking for a friend: She is flying to Poland from Charlotte and will be having a nine hour layover at JFK on Monday. Is there a gym at the airport or very close by that she can use (i.e. an airport hotel with a shuttle)? She would be willing to pay a fee to use it.

Six hours in Narita: but is it enough?

foulowl — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:19:59 -0800

My sister and I are returning from Seoul in mid-August and have a 6 hour layover in Narita. We're not interested in going to Tokyo, since we won't have enough time, but are very keen on exploring the town of Narita. My question is, given the unpredictability of immigration lines, security checkpoints, etc., is 6 hours enough time? We're allowing ourselves 90 minutes to get out of the airport and 90 minutes to get on the plane, and that leaves three hours to kill. I'd rather not be stuck in the airport for three hours, especially since we'll be there from 1:30pm to 7:30pm - prime eating hours. Local cuisine is a big attraction for us, especially since we both have fond memories of ramen shops and snack machines in Japan.

Neither of us speak Japanese, but the internet research I've done seems to indicate that there is just enough familiarity with English that we could get by. I've seen Mike Newman's page, and it's very informative, but I can't get a cut and dry answer to my question. Three hours is definitely too little time, twelve hours definitely a lot: but what about the median? Is it worth it?

Get me stranded in London, please.

AthenaPolias — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:12:14 -0800

As a way to visit a friend during my travels in Europe this summer, I'm looking to obtain a days-long layover - ideally at least 2-3 days, but the longer the better. I have no idea how to go about getting such a thing, but I'm relatively sure the possibility exists. What are my best options for getting a layover like this, while still keeping my overall flight cost low? More detail: I'm traveling to Italy as part of a long business trip. I have a limit on my flight budget, so doing a flight to the friend's country (England), then short hop to Italy, then back again etc makes the money add up quickly, and isn't an ideal option. Also, I need to make these arrangements asap (I've been delayed doing so for various reasons and am now in need of my tickets almost immediately). I've thought of calling travel agents, but being as this is a holiday weekend in the States, I won't be able to do so until Tuesday.

Is a travel agent my best (only?) bet for specifying something this particular? Are there ways to get online search engines to produce something like this? And am I really limited to carriers that have hubs in England, or might I be able to swing this on other airlines, thus increasing my chances of getting a low-cost flight?

(Also, if anyone has any ideas of how to finagle Rome - London - not-big-city States airport with little hassle and less money, I'm open. I've done the Easy Jet/Ryan Air route a bunch of times, but find that the hassle of switching from major to secondary or tertiary airports along the way is really inconvenient, and would like to avoid it if possible.)

What do you do with a long layover in Manilla?

Scientifik — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:24:02 -0800

How do I kill 12 hours in Manilla? Next week I'm going to Thailand, Vietnam and Laos for a little over 2 weeks. On my return trip I have a 12 hour layover in Manilla, arriving around 4am and departing about 3:30pm, I figure this gives me about 10 hours of usable time to go exploring. Whats the best way to see and do as much as I can in one city in under 12 hours? Oh and I'll be taking my video camera to document the trip, including the layover.

Johor Bahru layover?

ryanbryan — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:20:59 -0800

Arriving into Singapore at 7:40am, and my connecting flight isn't until 20:35 that evening. Is it possible to go to Johor Bahru in this amount of time, or am I crazy? If so, what is the best way?

Yeah, it's another where to stay in Miami question

toddst — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:57:28 -0800

Looking for a not too expensive (hopefully under $100) place to stay in Miami for one night. I have an overnight layover in Miami coming up. I'm getting in at night and am leaving early the next morning, won't have a car, and am hoping to find a decent/cheap place to stay that is walking distance (or a short cab ride) to places to get some food and drinks. I know that there are already a bunch of where to stay questions in Miami, but none of them seemed to hit what I'm looking for. I'm up for staying in almost any area of Miami since I won't have time to sightsee. All I want to do is get in, get a tasty bite to eat (not at a chain restaurant), have a few drinks, and sleep.

What to do in a 4 hour layover?

gracious floor — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:48:38 -0800

San Francisco, 4 hour layover. What's nearby? What's entertaining? Upcoming 4 hour layover in San Francisco International in mid-April. Previous questions show info for December- I am wondering what two twenty-somethings can do (sights to see) in a couple of hours nearby the airport? Or is the airport enough entertainment? Or even layover tips in general? I can usually be entertained by a good book, but this time I have a younger sister with me who has never been to SF.
Thanks all, in advance!

scheduling a touristy layover for myself

waylaid — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:13:00 -0800

I'm heading from the US to Cairo, Egypt in September. A lot of the flights have a layover opportunity in their respective airline hub (Air France in Paris, British Airways in London, KLM Royal Dutch in Amsterdam, Iberia in Madrid). I've taken long layovers as an opportunity to get out and explore a new place, so I'd appreciate some advice on doing this. The pricing is pretty much the same for all the above flights.

I have been to Amsterdam before (and wouldn't mind going again), so I know that Amsterdam itself is a short hop from the city center on the train.

In any of the other above airports, is there a place where I can store my very small piece of luggage for the 10 hour or so layover that I would schedule for myself? Or any recommendations on where to store it otherwise?

Also, how easy do you find it getting to the city from the airport (and getting through any visa/customs issues?)

Lastly, i'd like to schedule a flight with layover (on one of these airlines), and return on another (with layover). other than fiddling with Kayak endlessly, I haven't really been able to find a way to do it other than randomly getting a result, or booking two 1-way trips (of course, very expensive)

Six hour layover in Chicago

PenguinBukkake — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:36:39 -0800

Six hour layover in Chicago. Is it feasible to take the train to O'Hare, get to the Art Institute for a quick visit (I really want to see one painting) and then get back to O'Hare and not miss the plane? This would happen on a Friday, 3PM-9PM. And, if it's not doable, what's the yummiest food at O'Hare? (I'll just have a big dinner and a nap if I have to stay inside the airport). Thanks!

Six hours in Vancouver airport

Artw — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:07:45 -0800

My brother is taking a cheap flight from England to visit us in Seattle, which has a stop in Vancouver (YVR) for six hours. Is there anything taht can be done within that time that's worth doing? Would it actually be possible to get out of the airport? Or should I just tell him to bring a book?

Help me help my baby.

unclejeffy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:23:28 -0800

My wife's stuck in the Atlanta airport due to a missed flight (weather-related) and now the airport's closed (weather-related). Looks like she won't get a flight here to Tampa until 7:00 am. I hate that she's going to have such a miserable night. What can I do to make her more comfortable? We've been texting, and I've given her some information about available lounges, etc., but what else can I do? Delta is apparently not being very helpful and doesn't seem to care about her or her fellow passengers. Thanks for your ideas.

What to do at FRA?

pearlybob — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:24:21 -0800

What to do during a layover in Frankfurt? My brother will have a 6 hour layover at Frankfurt International later today. Is there anything worth doing in that time frame? I remember going through FRA in 1989 and the security was crazy then (maybe that was Munich). Anyway, can you suggest anything or should he just grab a book and sit tight? Thanks in advance!!

Amsterdam Layover

ecab — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:56:46 -0800

Longish layover in Amsterdam. Will I have time to do anything? My brother and I are going to have a 9hr layover in Amsterdam-Sciphol in late May (from about 11:30AM to 8:45PM). I want to know if it would be feasible during that time to actually get into the city for a bit as neither of us have ever been.

Any tips or recommendations?

5 Hours in Phoenix

rmless — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:44:44 -0800

What to do in Phoenix for 5 hours? I have a 5 hour layover in Phoenix, AZ on Monday from 5 pm to 10 pm.

Is this enough time/worth it to leave the airport and do something in town?

What should I see that is open after 5?

About how much would a taxi cost from the airport into the city?

Is there anything to do in the airport itself?

Nothing like missing a flight for a Taipei whisky

OrangeDrink — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:36:01 -0800

7 hour layover in Taipei. Should I even leave the airport? Don't speak a lick and I doubt my ability to get back to the airport on time to leave. Is there anything worth doing nearby, or should I morosely shuffle about the terminals?

SFO layover & dinner

ClaudiaCenter — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:35:32 -0800

Friend with three-hour layover in SF -- help me with dinner logistics. Hi, a friend of mine has a three-hour layover tomorrow night at SFO. I'm going to drive out to the airport and the plan is to have dinner. So -- do we just hang out at the airport? Sounds boring. But driving back to the City for dinner seems like a big rush rush. Any suggestions?

(I live in San Francisco so I should know the answer but I don't.)

Layover fun

yellowbkpk — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:22:57 -0800

What can I do today that is within walking distance of King station in Seattle? I'm arriving at King Station in Seattle in about half an hour on an Amtrak train and have a layover of several hours while I wait for my next train. What can I walk to to entertain myself in that time span?

Thanks!

SFO, quick!

cabingirl — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:41:29 -0800

I have a 6-hour layover in San Francisco on Saturday night (7PM - 1AM). I want to get out of the airport and do some Christmas shopping and grab something to eat for a few hours, say 8-10PM. Where should I go? I know Union Square has high-end chains that are open until at least 9PM, but I can visit those anywhere. I was hoping for something different where I could pick up some interesting gifts. I've been Googling the kinds of stores I might want to visit (quirky gift shops, yarn shops) but many of them seem to close at 6 or 7PM.

I have been to SF before, and I've done the touristy sightseeing stuff. I'm fine with a targeted approach, I just don't know where I should be headed.

Oh, and if you have a quick food recommendation (taqueria?) I'll take it.

Very short visit / Very long layover in Honolulu

hyperfascinated — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 19:50:14 -0800

Suggestions and tips for an 11-hour layover in Honolulu (HNL), coming from Japan, heading to Portland? Mr. Fascinated and I will be traveling home to Portland, Oregon from Osaka, Japan tomorrow. We land in Honolulu at 11AM; the HNL-PDX flight takes off at 10PM.

What is there to do in Honolulu considering our schedule? Our time in Japan has been grueling, so "relaxing" would be preferable over more sightseeing. I'd love to go to the beach, but which one? And how do we get there from the airport?

How can we avoid carrying our big suitcases with us? Will it be possible to re-check them immediately, so long before the flight out?

Anything else I should know?