How to survive the longest layover

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dryburn

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#235939 10-May-2018 15:16

I stumbled upon this article about an unlucky Syrian who is stuck in the airport just like in the Tom Hanks Movie "The Terminal"

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12048355

https://www.gofundme.com/help-hassan-fly-to-freedom

What items would make him more comfortable while he is waiting for a possible move to canada?

Looks like he is sleeping on chairs.

So a Pillow, Roll-up sleeping mat and sleeping bag

Decent set of ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones?

jpoc

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#2013562 10-May-2018 19:06

Remember, that movie was based on another similar case. He is by no means alone.

eracode

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#2013594 10-May-2018 20:46

I thought you were referring to our 7 hr 35 min layover in Guangzhou tomorrow night. Ugghhh.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

amiga500

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#2013898 11-May-2018 11:08

eracode: I thought you were referring to our 7 hr 35 min layover in Guangzhou tomorrow night. Ugghhh.

Long layover is better than a tight connection & stressing out on your first flight when the first flight is 40 minutes late leaving.

eracode

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#2014919 12-May-2018 20:12

True - but Guangzhou is pretty much the pits. Sorta average on some things but no free wifi at all and every five minutes (or less) there’s a flight announcement in Chinese and English with the dial turned up way past 10 and distorted to buggery so you can’t actually here what they’re saying. Earsplittingly loud and incredibly aggravating. If you’re on a long layover and trying catch some zzz, it simply isn’t possible.

We only went there (second time in two years) because China Southern are a cheap route to France but this time I’m thinking ‘never again ‘ through Guangzhou. We survived it last night night but got to go back through there on our way home.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Linuxluver

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#2014980 13-May-2018 00:12

dryburn:

I stumbled upon this article about an unlucky Syrian who is stuck in the airport just like in the Tom Hanks Movie "The Terminal"

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12048355

https://www.gofundme.com/help-hassan-fly-to-freedom

What items would make him more comfortable while he is waiting for a possible move to canada?

Looks like he is sleeping on chairs.

So a Pillow, Roll-up sleeping mat and sleeping bag

Decent set of ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones?

There was a guy who lived in the airport in Paris for literally years.

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jarledb

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#2014985 13-May-2018 01:38

amiga500:

Long layover is better than a tight connection & stressing out on your first flight when the first flight is 40 minutes late leaving.

Layovers that are too short can be a pain. But the middle type (4-6 hours) can be horrible too.

When traveling from Norway to New Zealand, we have a 10 hours lay over in Dubai. Have been splurging on the transit hotel that is in the transit area of the airport. Makes it a very nice 10 hours, actually wish we could have some more time at the airport so we could sleep longer and window shop more :D

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#2014999 13-May-2018 08:16

Currently sitting in LAX. 4hrs down, 4 to go.

eracode

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#2015046 13-May-2018 10:45

In Guangzhou, China Southern will give you a free transit hotel room if the layover is 8 hours or more. In the past, ours have been 7-1/2 hours and it’s no dice.

However returning through there next month it will be 8-1/2 hours so we’ll see how it goes. Hopefully the airport announcements won’t be piped in there 😀

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Gurezaemon

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#2015050 13-May-2018 10:55

amiga500:

eracode: I thought you were referring to our 7 hr 35 min layover in Guangzhou tomorrow night. Ugghhh.

Long layover is better than a tight connection & stressing out on your first flight when the first flight is 40 minutes late leaving.

I had an 80 minute layover in Incheon when flying from Sendai to NZ with a 4 year old. And the plane sat on the tarmac at Sendai for 40 minutes :(
I'd readied myself for a 1.5 km run through one of the largest airports in the world, but when I got off the plane, there was a bloke with a sign saying "Auckland" with one of the airport carts, and he put sirens and lights on, and drove us at terrifying speed through the whole terminal scattering pedestrians left and right, so that we didn't hold up the flight. It was great fun.

ech3lon

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#2015056 13-May-2018 11:16

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#2015063 13-May-2018 11:52

Pretty sure I've seen a Doctor Who episode with those pods in it... certainly didn't end well for those who used them!

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eracode

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#2015191 13-May-2018 15:44

@ech3lon

What is the point of posting a photo with no explanation or comment? Or is it meant to be a joke?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

robjg63

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#2015248 13-May-2018 17:18

Gurezaemon:

amiga500:

eracode: I thought you were referring to our 7 hr 35 min layover in Guangzhou tomorrow night. Ugghhh.

Long layover is better than a tight connection & stressing out on your first flight when the first flight is 40 minutes late leaving.

I had an 80 minute layover in Incheon when flying from Sendai to NZ with a 4 year old. And the plane sat on the tarmac at Sendai for 40 minutes :(
I'd readied myself for a 1.5 km run through one of the largest airports in the world, but when I got off the plane, there was a bloke with a sign saying "Auckland" with one of the airport carts, and he put sirens and lights on, and drove us at terrifying speed through the whole terminal scattering pedestrians left and right, so that we didn't hold up the flight. It was great fun.

Used to love flying from NZ to Europe (Rome/Paris) on Korean Air. On the way over as there is no connecting flight on the same day, they put you up in a really nice hotel near the airport. You arrived around 4pm their time. They paid for the transfers and were really well organised with the transfers. They also gave you meal vouchers (for dinner that night and breakfast the next day). There was a huge foodcourt in the hotel with all sorts of restaurants you could choose.

You got a great nights sleep in a real bed - shower/breakfast the next day before heading on to Europe around midday.

Always felt fresh when I arrived.

Got a bit worried about Korea as the North always started beating its chest around August each year (when we used to go to Europe).

Went with Cathay last time - Beds were flatter - so a bit more comfy (confession - we travel business - Korean and Cathay), but the Cathay planes weren't as nice.

Of course Korean dont pay for a stopover on the way back....

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