Airport layovers can transition from inconvenience to opportunity. Discover our top productivity tips for working in airports.
From designated quiet zones to high-tech meeting rooms, modern business class facilities make working in airports more convenient than ever. With the right approach, each airport layover becomes a valuable opportunity to optimise productivity while recharging for the next flight. Whether you have one hour to spare or a full day, here are a few tips to improve remote work productivity during a business trip layover.
An airport layover is when you need to change planes in the airport to continue your journey. Business travel itineraries commonly include layovers, particularly for routes without a direct flight option.
For example, if you’re flying from Atlanta to Amsterdam, you might have a layover in London. That would require taking one flight from Atlanta to London, then transferring to a second flight from London to Amsterdam. Layover lengths will vary between roughly one hour and one day but should always be long enough for you to make your connecting flight.
When comparing business flights, it’s important to consider this layover time. With an SME travel platform like Booking.com for Business, you’ll be able to filter through various itineraries to find a layover length, route and time that’s suitable for your business needs, ensuring you arrive at your destination restored and refreshed.
You might see referrals to ‘layovers’ as well as ‘connecting flights’ on your business travel itinerary.
When your journey requires a change of plane, the next flight in your itinerary is a connecting flight. A layover refers to the time spent in the airport while waiting for your connecting flight.
The noisy bustle of a terminal can make working in the airport a stressful experience, particularly at boarding gates. For business travellers, airport business lounges provide a quiet space to focus and maximise productivity during a layover.
Airport business class lounges are designed with productivity in mind. Typical business class facilities will include high-speed Wi-Fi, quiet work desks, and charging stations.
Some will include dedicated airport meeting rooms, along with office equipment such as printers, phones and desktop computers.
Benefits and amenities will vary by airline, but many also include the following perks:
If you’re flying on an economy or premium economy fare, you can still take advantage of these quiet spaces in airport lounges through other means, such as day passes, airline loyalty programme memberships, and premium rewards credit cards like Mastercard and Amex Gold.
It’s worth checking your company’s travel policy to find out whether day passes or memberships are included as allowable business travel expenses. For frequent business flyers, an airport lounge membership through programmes like LoungeKey or Priority Pass often pays off in productivity.
Even when you only have an hour or two between flights, you can maximise your productivity during short layovers. Here are a few tips to help you step onto your next flight feeling physically and mentally refreshed, while staying on top of your work.
International airports are often sprawling. For example, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia is a staggering 300 square miles in size, while the USA’s Denver International Airport is 53 square miles.
To avoid getting lost during your layover, use navigation apps to view airport layouts and status updates before landing. Most airlines have free apps where you can digitally store your boarding pass. These will also automatically book you onto the next flight in case of delay, saving time at the customer service desk, and will include terminal maps for smoother navigation.
Time will be limited during a short airport layover. Once you’ve found a quiet working spot, dedicate yourself to a fixed work session. Whether you have 30 minutes or 2 hours to spare, set a timer to stay on task. Use this focus session to work on projects, practice a presentation or sales pitch, or clear through your emails.
Save time and stress at your destination by using your layover to charge batteries. While you’ll find abundant charging stations in airport business lounges, there will also be wall outlets throughout the terminal, particularly in food courts and public seating areas. Carry a power bank, adapters, and work-related devices in your carry-on luggage for easy access during waiting times.
In addition to charging your work devices, use this time to replenish your own energy stores. Stretch your legs, find a nutritious snack, and maintain hydration. Take advantage of airport amenities, from gyms to meditation rooms, to relax before your next flight.
If your layover lasts more than four hours, it’s more important than ever to plan your time to stay productive. Longer business layovers come with great potential, as you’ll have the time to tackle intensive projects, schedule meetings, or even go offsite for a few hours. Yet there’s also the potential for procrastination, so follow these tips to keep on task.
Airports like London’s Heathrow and Singapore’s Changi offer meeting rooms to rival any conference space in the city. Whether you’re looking for a quiet space to catch up on emails or a setting to hold a seminar with your travelling team, take advantage of airport meeting rooms during a longer stay. Speak to your travel coordinator about reserving a room for your use upon arrival. You may also be able to arrange catering and audio-visual equipment.
Use the airport business lounge to create your own temporary office. With a fully equipped workspace, you’ll be able to turn your longer airport layover into a productive workday. Use noise-cancelling headphones to touch base with clients and colleagues from the airport, keeping different time zones in mind.
With several hours to kill in an airport, there’s perhaps no better time to focus on high-intensity tasks, or ‘deep work’. Before departing, determine a key goal or prioritised task that you’d like to complete during your layover. As this work requires concentration, you’ll need to find a quiet working space.
Break your larger task down into defined segments, building short breaks in between each segment’s completion. A time management tool like the Pomodoro method is helpful here, with 25 minutes of deep working, and five minutes of rest in between. Completing a high-focus, high-priority task in between flights gives a sense of satisfaction and allows you to continue your journey knowing you’ve optimised your work time.
Longer layovers give the opportunity to do more than simply stretch your legs as you walk from gate to business class lounge. Larger airports often provide fitness facilities. Singapore’s Changi Airport boasts a gym with cross-training machines, free weights and more in its Ambassador Transit Lounge, while the Fairmont Hotel Health Club at Vancouver Airport features Peloton bikes and a resistance swimming pool.
Physical exercise not only boosts energy levels to combat work travel fatigue, but it also potentially improves productivity long after. According to a Harvard Business Review study, physical activity provides a host of work-related benefits including improved sleep quality and ability to focus on tasks. So, those short bursts of airport activity could help you fight jet lag and stay focused for a more productive business trip.
While long airport layovers give time and space to power through work tasks, they also give you time to relax. Business travel is tiring, and you’ll perform better at your destination if you’re well-rested. In addition to gyms, airports provide relaxation and wellness zones with spas, saunas, and sleeping pods.
For example, at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport business travellers will find a new wellness space with herbal teas, neck warmers, and free access to the Calm meditation app for deep breathing exercises. Seoul’s Incheon Airport features Rest & Relax zones with plush recliners, while its Transit Hotel offers sleek sleeping pods for longer layovers.
Business class lounges and in-airport services have plenty to offer during longer stays. However, if you have an all-day or overnight layover, there may also be the option to go offsite. Apart from taking a city tour or spending the night in a nearby business hotel, you could use this time to meet with clients and network in the stopover city.
Whether or not you can leave the airport depends on local visa requirements, which is something to check with your company’s travel coordinator or research before departure. Some countries offer transit visas, issued for a period between 24 and 72 hours. In terms of time management, you’ll also need to factor in the time spent on public transport and in security to get back to the airport in time for your connecting flight.
Time is limited and distractions abound during an airport layover. One strategy to stay on task is pre-loading your smartphone with productivity apps before departure. These sync across work devices, ensuring you’ll be able to log in for a seamless working experience during your layover.
Working while travelling can be a challenge, which is why it’s so important to use your time wisely. Look at airport layovers as the ideal occasion to power through your to-do list, brainstorm new ideas, and replenish depleted energy stores.
Consider these opportunities during the booking process to prepare and make the most of airport resources. With Booking.com for Business, you can select the ideal business flight itinerary while earning valuable loyalty rewards, with over 420 airlines to choose from. Business travellers can take advantage of exclusive corporate rates and flexible cancellation policies. This business travel management solution ensures a seamless booking process for flights, hotels, and car rental, ensuring a hassle-free journey from start to finish.
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