Avoid Airport Stress: Use Our Top Tips

Stress, strain and a queue longer than the Great Wall of China – you must be trying to catch another flight in the airport.

Indeed, there are few greater stresses than heading to Gatwick, Stansted or the thousands of other flight hubs around the world. These are the places where you’ll see gruff men break into floods of tears while businesspeople tear their hair out and parents allow children to run wild because, really, who cares?

The airport is considered to be more nerve-shredding than moving house by some, but don’t reach for your Pepto Bismol quite yet.

If you take a look around the airport, you’ll see a few calms amidst the storm. Some people sit in departure lounges like they were the very concept of Zen itself. What’s their secret?

Preparation – it’s the key to a great trip. With that in mind we’ve come up with a few top tips to help you chill out when you’ve got to head to the airport.

Parking woes be gone

Parking at an airport is a bit like trying to speak to Vernon Kay – no matter how you approach it, you’re not going to have a good time.

You’ll drive around and around, desperately searching for a spot. Other drivers will speed straight into a place only a few feet away from you. Eventually you’ll abandon your car outside your terminal and hope it’s not been towed by the authorities until your return.

Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but finding a parking spot at an airport is undoubtedly irritating before you’ve even entered the terminal.

To alleviate your woes, some airports allow third-parties to help. Edinburgh airport parking, for instance, has been made a lot easier thanks to expert valets on hand. Give them a look and you’ll be able to reach your terminal without farting around in airport car parks.

Pastimes to pass the time

We’ve all got hobbies. Some people like to collect stamps, others are satisfied with a metal detector and a wide, open field. But will your hobbies serve you well while you’re waiting in a departure lounge?

If the answer is yes, then you’re set. If no, then here’s our tip: bring as many hobbies, books and films with you as possible.

But if you’re still not satisfied, you could always vie for an upgrade. Many airports feature VIP departure lounges, the features of which include