Methods to Sleep in an Airport (2025): Gear and Skilled Recommendation

So that you’ve obtained a protracted layover. Otherwise you tried Airport Idea and missed your flight. Or your airplane was delayed. Otherwise you spent all evening packing since you procrastinated till the final minute and now you may barely hold your eyes open. For no matter cause, you’ve discovered your self needing to sleep in an airport. You’ve come to the suitable place! I’ve consulted consultants, colleagues, household, pals, and the web, in addition to my very own expertise, to assist collect one of the best practices for sleeping in an airport. With the assistance of this information and a bit cautious planning, you’ll be asleep very quickly—even in arguably one of many least sleep-conducive environments.

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Decide a Spot

First off, you’ll want to determine the place you’re going to sleep. There are web sites and sources in all places—you may take a look at the web site Sleeping in Airports, which Sarah Mattina, a former company worker for Southwest and JetBlue, mentioned is the “holy grail” for locating the darkest, quietest spot to sleep within the airport. (Different consultants additionally really helpful this website.) It has devoted guides for “just about each main airport on the planet.” (I checked out the information for O’Hare in Chicago and may affirm that one of the best sleeping spots it lists are certainly the precise greatest sleeping spots from my expertise spending many hours handed out ready for a delayed flight to reach.)

You might additionally attempt the subreddit for the town or airport you’re going to be in. In case your gate is busy, you may scope out different gates in the identical terminal. Discover a chill spot within the nook—you would possibly even be capable to discover a chair or bench with out armrests. Psychologist Leah Kaylor recommends selecting a safe, low-traffic space and says corners close to airport chapels or household lounges could also be a quieter spots than others. Ideally, you wish to decide a spot that has some employees round, corresponding to safety patrols or kiosks, however not a spot so busy with folks that you would be able to’t go to sleep.

Lots of the consultants I consulted really helpful testing airport lounges for those who’re in a position to, for the reason that seating is comfier and the realm is mostly quieter. They identified that some bank cards provide you with entry to varied airport lounges, or take into account buying a day cross for longer layovers. You would possibly even be capable to snag a bathe in an airport lounge (or a drink that can assist you get sleepy, although Andrew E. Colsky, founding father of the Nationwide Sleep Middle, recommends avoiding alcohol because it suppresses REM sleep and acts as a diuretic). Some airports have devoted nap pods or nap rooms, for a payment, however they give you a spot to sleep along with your baggage corralled and no worry of strangers staring you down from the opposite finish of the terminal.

Make Positive You’ve Bought the Proper Gear

{Photograph}: Louryn Strampe

Most airports aren’t conducive to sleep. They’re loud, they’re filled with fluorescent lights, and they could be a bit chilly.