How to Survive Long Lay-overs

Let's face the facts- In order to avoid bankruptcy, airlines have had to take drastic measures. One of these measures is to cut flights from their schedule. With a shortage of flights for an itinerary, the flights will be full, and the price will inevitably rise.

Fallout from this situation includes much more difficulty in booking "sweet" connections with layovers between 1.5 to 3 hrs. These connections allow for a slight delay in the early flight, and don't make your trip last all day.

This posting deals with long layovers. You don't have to sit in the airport and go crazy. Your luggage is checked through. If only there was a safe and economical way to leave the airport to spend your layover in the real world. Well there are safe options, and Harriet Baskas recently shared them with us in her USA Today web column. www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/baskas/2008-09-09-airport-side-trips

Stuck in Laguardia? Just grab the Q48 bus to the Louis Armstrong museum.

Stalled in San Francisco SFO? Bay Area Rapid Transit BART will get you downtown and back for $5.50.

Lingering in LAX? Take Shutle C to the C PArking lot, where you can access transit to reach the nearby free Flight Path Learning Center.

Mad in Miami? Grab a shuttle from the departure level of Concourse 3 to the Dolphin Mall.

Parked in Philly? SEPTA will get you to the Liberty Bell, etc. in just 15 minutes.

Going Ape in Amsterdam? Right in the airport is a museum of the Dutch Masters. I forget just where it is, but it is very well marked, and will kill quite a bit of time.

Antsy in Atlanta? Take MARTA (Near the ground transportation services) for $ 1.75, and spend an hour or 2 in the Georgia Aquarium.

Mired in Minneapolis? Take the 11 minute ride on the Hiawatha line to the Mall of America.

Bogged down in Boston? You can get right downtown to the museums and markets by taking the free Massport #66 bus to Logan Dock to catch the the $20 r/t water taxi

Other Lay-over Information:

Remember to go directly to the furthest point in your plan, and work your way back. The airline will be glad to give your seat to another passenger if you're late.

Cruise passengers with a long layover BEFORE their return flight will have a problem with baggage. We recommend that they take the morning tours offered by the cruise line. You have fun, your baggage goes on the bus with you, and they deliver you to the airport in time for your flight.

If your layover is unplanned, stay close to the gate in case they solve the problem and leave you on your tour. This is one of the most frustrating parts of air travel. Airlines often lie about their delays so you don't go to another carrier. I have waited through 6 consecutive 1-hour extensions of delay, just to find the flight cancelled at 11PM. The agents were proud to offer me meal tickets for the restaurants that had just closed, and would not open until a after I got a new flight out the next morning. Watch out for the much discussed Airline Passenger's Bill of Rights (www.strandedpassengers.blogspot.com). It's sorely needed.

Finally, feel free to append your favorite layover routine to share tricks that Harriet and I have not brought up.