Sleeping on the floor during delays at airports?

The answer is a qualified yes. Sometimes there is no problem with the passengers sleeping on the floor. SOme will also bring a cot and blankets for the displaced passengers.

Do airports allow sleeping on the floor? The answer is a qualified yes. Many airports are comfortable with passengers catching a few Zs in the terminal, and some even provide a cot and blanket for displaced passengers. Other airports close for the night and you have to leave. (The best way to find out if you can sleep there is to ask at the information booth or check the airport website. Sometimes this is prohibited.)

Of course, no one should spend the night in an airport terminal. Sometimes. Airlines should provide hotel rooms to passengers in case of long delays. Under their transportation contract – the legal agreement between them and their customers – they are sometimes required to provide overnight accommodations if your flight is canceled or delayed.

But even if you can sleep on the floor, should you? Etiquette consultant Jodi RR Smith says it’s OK to sit on the floor and even sleep on the floor at the airport. She recommends dressing in layers and bringing a hat so you don’t have to come in contact with the ground. Also, talk to your fellow travelers who are stranded overnight to deal with the difficult situation.

“Be courteous to airport and airline employees and kind to others,” she says.

Here are strategies to avoid long airport delays

We can debate the issue of sleeping on airport floors, and I guess that’s what the comments section is for. But what if it’s 11 pm and your flight to Tokyo has been cancelled?

Find a better spot off the floor

After all, you won’t have to sleep on the floor. Meghan Mahoney was recently returning home from Paris when her flight was delayed. “No one knew how long it would take,” recalls Mahoney, who works for a medical evacuation services company. She paid for a bed, desk and chair, and a sleeping pod with a noise cancellation system. “It was completely private, so I could take a nap or work in comfort. And since I was still at the airport, I could regularly check flight status,” she adds.

Here’s what you need to pack in your overnight bag

The trick to avoiding long delays is to have everything you need on hand. If there is a significant delay, your airline may not be able to access your checked bags. Joe Bassett, a wilderness survival instructor, always brings an ultralight backpacking mattress that compresses to the size of a small bottle. Shannon Wilburn has a short list of things she always packs in her overnight bag. This includes all of her toiletries and prescription medications (never check them), as well as her headset and computer. He also has a small blanket, pillow and charger. “I’ve slept on airport floors,” says Wilburn, who runs a franchising company in Jenks, Okla. “But I try my best to prevent that from happening.”

Consult your airline for help

Don’t let your airline get frustrated with long delays. “Ask for lounge passes and free vouchers for food and beverages,” says Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, a claims management company for airline travelers. “I have seen most passengers being careless about their rights as a passenger and waiting without taking any action.” Lounges can be excellent places to sleep. The best international airlines even have rooms where their customers can get a few hours of sleep before their flight.

Engel, a consultant who has slept on several airport floors, says airport bunking gets easier with practice. Her favorite trick: Skip the bulky travel pillow and use your carry-on as a pillow.

“If you’re sleeping with your head in your carry-on, you don’t have to worry about someone stealing it,” he says.

Elliot’s secrets for avoiding spending a night at the airport

Have I ever spent the night at an airport? Absolutely. Years ago, my evening flight from Munich to Amsterdam was delayed overnight. I didn’t feel like finding a hotel, so I tried sleeping on a metal bench. Ouch! Don’t do this.

• Book an early flight. The chances of you being stuck at the airport overnight are very slim. If you have a late afternoon flight and it gets canceled – not so.
• Avoid stopping. A nonstop flight reduces (but doesn’t eliminate) your chances of getting stuck in an airport overnight.
• Find a great travel advisor. The best ones will never leave you sleeping on the airport floor. Their reputation is at stake, although they may not be available 24/7. Here’s how to find the best travel advisor.

Also read:
Mobility-Friendly Travel Guide from the National Council on Aging
How to Avoid These Stupid Travel Mistakes (and Keep Your Dignity)