I’ll always remember arriving at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport after a dream trip to Hawaii ― not as a result of returning to the continental U.S. was so memorable, however as a result of my household needed to spend the evening within the terminal.

Because of a collection of surprising delays, we might solely have about seven hours between our late-night arrival on the airport and morning departure. So, reaching out to native mates or paying for lodge rooms and taxis appeared like a waste of money and time. Nonetheless, the utter exhaustion and horrible again ache all of us felt the following day did have us questioning our selection.

Sleeping on the airport shouldn’t be an unusual state of affairs. Whether or not your night flight was canceled or you decided to economize, many circumstances can result in this uncomfortable expertise.

Sometimes, airways are answerable for issuing lodge vouchers or in any other case arranging lodging for passengers stranded due to flight points, however it may rely on the rationale for the disruption, the phrases of service and the place you’re on the planet.

“If a delay or missed connection is because of climate or different ‘acts of God,’ then you’re by yourself,” mentioned Mark Wolters, the creator of the favored YouTube journey channel Wolters World.

Though sleeping on the airport isn’t preferrred, there are methods to at the least enhance the expertise. Chatting with HuffPost, Wolters and different seasoned vacationers shared their recommendation for making it extra bearable.

“Sleeping on the airport isn’t going to be an opulent expertise, however you’ll be able to put on comfy clothes to make it simpler,” mentioned Phil Dengler, a co-founder of journey info web site The Vacationer. “Convey a pair of your most comfy sweatpants and slippers.”

If you already know you’ll should spend the evening on the terminal, ensure to pack a change of garments and one thing comfortable to sleep in. Placing an additional outfit in your carry-on is at all times one of the best apply, as air journey is filled with surprising disruptions. Even only a spare pair of underwear could make a distinction.

“Whether it is chilly out, think about bringing additional heat layers like a sweater and a sweatshirt,” Dengler added. “It’s best to even think about having gloves and a hat available since some airports can get very chilly at evening.”

There’s nothing worse than being caught on the airport in a single day and gazing these gate seats with fastened armrests that make mendacity down inconceivable. Whereas some folks simply resolve to unfold out onto the ground, others are understandably much less inclined to sleep on such agency and germ-laden surfaces. Nonetheless, extra options could also be accessible.

“Don’t assume all seating is similar or there are not any comfy choices,” Wolters mentioned. “If you’ll be caught in a single day, it’s price it to look the airport for attainable higher seating and laying-down choices. If the airport has a youngsters’s play space, they have a tendency to have benches for fogeys to sit down at with out armrests in between them. Meaning you’ll be able to really lie down and get some relaxation.”

Airports renovated extra not too long ago additionally have a tendency to supply sleep-friendly areas.

“It may be helpful to do analysis forward of time to see if the airport gives any amenities in relation to sleeping,” mentioned journey blogger Sean Lau. “These days, some airports have designed sleeping pods the place vacationers can nod off for a number of hours. You would possibly be capable to discover designed areas for sleeping the place the environment is extra appropriate for catching a fast snooze.”

“Search for gates that aren’t busy, away from the crowds, and make your self comfy,” suggested Jessica van Dop DeJesus, the founder and editor of meals and journey weblog The Eating Traveler.

Much less busy gates are typically quieter, which is helpful if it’s essential sleep throughout the day or in case your next-day flight isn’t till later within the morning. It’s additionally higher from a germ perspective.

“Discover a spot on the finish of the terminal,” Wolters suggested. “The ends of the terminal are inclined to have so much much less foot site visitors and subsequently have much less grime and dirt on the ground and seats. This will make for a barely much less gross time sleeping.”

Nonetheless, be conscious of security when you’re sleeping within the airport by your self. You might really feel extra comfy in a distant spot with a bunch, however solo flyers would possibly wish to keep away from absolutely remoted areas to stop theft or different potential points. That is particularly necessary when you’re in an unfamiliar vacation spot.

“As an alternative, search out an space with different folks,” Dengler mentioned. “If attainable, sleep close to a safety workplace or near cameras.”

“I like to recommend utilizing a baggage lock for all your carry-on baggage,” Dengler mentioned. “This protects you within the occasion somebody makes an attempt to open your bag while you’re sleeping.You also needs to ensure your bag’s zipper is dealing with you or the bottom as a substitute of out.”

Attempt to be sure to’re sleeping with a part of your physique on or touching your baggage.

“Put your backpack or carry-on beneath your head, or hook a strap onto your arm or leg to stop theft,” suggested journey knowledgeable and writer La Carmina.

On the identical time, be sure that you shield your belongings from your self as properly.

“Having to sleep within the airport means utilizing your bag as a pillow,” Wolters mentioned. “Be sure you don’t have your electronics proper the place your head is laying, as they are often damaged. And also you by no means know the way a lot you drool whenever you sleep till you’re sleeping in public on an airport ground.”

“Look to see if the airport has a 24/7 lounge,” mentioned Melanie Lieberman, the managing editor for world options at journey web site The Factors Man. “You might need lounge entry by a bank card in your pockets, otherwise you would possibly be capable to pay for a single entry. However spending time on the lounge … [is going to] be extra comfy than attempting to twist up on the gate.”

Certainly, lounges provide nicer seating choices, complimentary drinks and snacks, Wi-Fi and different useful facilities.

“There are apps like LoungeBuddy that may enable you to discover lounges you can additionally pay for,” mentioned journey blogger Esther Susag. “The value is completely price it, particularly if it’s important to keep in a single day. They’ve meals, showers and areas to loosen up and cost your units.”

Many lounges have non-public sections the place you’ll be able to catch some shut-eye, or they could provide designated sleeping areas. In addition they present extra safety and hospitality, in addition to a quieter setting, than the remainder of the terminal.

“As soon as, the employees even put a blanket over me as I used to be dozing off!” La Carmina recalled.

If the airport lacks 24-hour lounges, it’s best to nonetheless think about making use of 1 throughout its open hours.

“If you already know you’ll should sleep on the airport early within the day, go to an airport lounge till they kick you out,” Wolters advisable. “They could be a good strategy to spend a number of hours on the airport, out of the best way of the hustle and bustle. And it’s much more comfy sitting within the lounge till it closes after which sleep on the terminal ground than tenting out on the terminal for 12 hours.”

“Ideally, if you already know upfront that you’ll be spending an evening in an airport, I’d advocate packing some sleeping necessities like a small journey pillow, blanket or evening masks,” mentioned journey blogger Rocky Trifari. “In case your circumstances change unexpectedly, then I’d counsel repurposing a puffer jacket or shirt by rolling it up and utilizing it as a pillow.”

Trifari additionally advisable utilizing a giant clothes merchandise out of your carry-on as a blanket and a smaller garment as a watch masks when you don’t have the real articles.

“All the time have your medicines in your carry-on bag,” Wolters mentioned, noting that airport employees “won’t go discover your [checked] bag for you.”

And “a pack of moist wipes is sweet for a lot of causes,” he added.

Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones can even enable you to sleep higher on the airport. Pack a few snacks and a refillable water bottle as properly.

“Don’t count on many breakfast choices whenever you get up,” Wolters mentioned. “Decide up some snacks for the morning in case they have you ever on an early morning flight to make up to your missed connection. Airports are notorious for having little to no breakfast choices exterior of a Starbucks with a 50-person line.”

“I’d advocate seeing when you can e-book a room at an airport lodge,” Lieberman mentioned. “It is a nice use of factors and miles, if in case you have a stash of these and must e-book a last-minute keep.”

When you can’t swing an in a single day room or in case your layover is throughout the daytime, Lieberman advisable inquiring to see whether or not any close by resorts provide day-use or hourly charges so that you’ve a spot to relaxation and bathe.

“Use apps like HotelTonight to seek out last-minute reasonably priced charges,” van Dop DeJesus suggested. “That is one other reminder to at all times purchase journey insurance coverage or have a bank card that gives it so it may cowl resorts in case you’re caught.”

And the selection isn’t at all times between an off-site lodge room and the onerous terminal ground.

“Verify to see if there are any on-site resorts,” Susag mentioned. “Generally spending a bit of extra cash for consolation is price it, particularly within the case of getting to sleep on the airport. This fashion, you don’t have to fret about watching your baggage or being disrupted by fellow vacationers.”

Even when the airline gained’t cowl the price of a lodge, it could be a superb supply of assist and knowledge.

“Discuss to your airline representatives on the airport about lodging at or close to the lodge, even when they don’t present it,” Wolters mentioned. “Ask them if they’ve pillows, blankets, cots, something that can make your evening within the airport a bit higher.”

He famous that airways generally provide meals vouchers, which you should use for snacks or a meal. Make sure that to examine the positive print to see which distributors settle for the vouchers and if there’s a time restrict.

The extent of distress that you simply really feel in a less-than-ideal state of affairs usually comes all the way down to calibrating your expectations.

“It doesn’t matter what, sleeping on the airport goes to be uncomfortable and never an excessive amount of enjoyable,” Wolters mentioned. “Having the suitable angle going into the expertise could make it a bit extra bearable. So settle for that it’s not going to be a good time, and recover from it. When you dwell on it, it’ll make your evening sleeping within the terminal even worse.”

“Simply ensure when you do plan to go to sleep that you simply keep in mind to set an alarm, and attempt to place your self as near your gate as attainable,” Trifari mentioned.

Given the situations, you would possibly count on a considerably sleepless evening tossing and turning with solely brief durations of relaxation, however don’t assume that can positively be the case.

“I do know somebody who nodded off and missed her flight as a result of she didn’t hear the ultimate boarding name,” La Carmina mentioned.