Maybe I’m just really unlucky, or I’m secretly being filmed for the reality TV show version of The Terminal, but in any case I’ve found myself unexpectedly grounded now one too many times. If this happens to you, don’t panic. You’ll likely be rebooked to the next available flight and, if the next flight is the next day, given hotel accommodation for the night. (Short delays are often given meal vouchers.) Sometimes you even get lucky and the time till the next flight is long enough to explore the city!
If you find yourself with an unexpected layover in Istanbul, Turkey or perhaps Nairobi, Kenya, or even Lisbon, Portugal, check out my tips on how to maximise your time there.
Packing Essentials
One thing I’ve learned is whether you have a short layover to a connecting flight, or simply a single leg flight, you should always come prepared with enough to get you through one to two nights packed in your carry-on.
Pack small versions (100ml or less) of your liquid toiletries. In general always have a small toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, and mouthwash to keep your dentist happy. If you wear contacts, make sure to have solution and a contact case. Usually, hotels provided in case of a flight delay or cancellation will provide you with soap, body wash and shampoo. Sometimes conditioner. But you can pack your own mini versions to play it safe. Personally, the silicone travel bottles work the best for me – you can reuse them, they’re light and you can squeeze everything out of them.
Throw in spare underwear and socks. Maybe even a second pair to play it safe. It’s small, light, and can make all the difference.
Prepare for a change of climate. You might have a flight booked from Cape Town to Berlin in April when it’s roughly the same temperature in both places, and think you’re set. But if you find yourself with a layover, in say Istanbul or Dubai, be prepared for extreme heat. Pack layers or loose clothing that works in any climate.
Pajamas! You normally wouldn’t think of needing these because it’s unlikely you’re going to don your nightgown before you go to sleep at 3000 feet, but you will really want at least a comfy t-shirt you can sleep in just in case you find yourself in a hotel bed rather than crammed into an airplane seat.
Bring essential medicine. You might especially want to have headache tablets on you because you tend to get dehydrated waiting in queues to rebook your flight and get hotel vouchers. With all that stress it might be several hours before you realise you need water as the headache kicks in.
Keep your valuables in your hand luggage. I like to keep my more expensive electronics, jewellery and irreplaceable items with me in case my luggage gets left unattended in the airport for hours or overnight. Normally, your things should be safe, but incidences do happen, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Visas
For flights with layovers, check if you need a visa to depart the airport at your layover destination. Oftentimes, airlines will provide you with a hotel that is outside the terminal building. This might require that you pass through immigration if you are flying internationally. Ideally, your layover is somewhere that is visa-free for you, but sometimes you might require a visa.
If you are required to apply for a visa in advance, it doesn’t hurt to do so, especially if it is free. (For example, South Africans need a visa to go to Turkey, but can apply up to a few hours in advance for a free visa.)
Avoid the Situation
Try to book tickets with an airline that has multiple flights leaving from a given departure point (such as United from JFK, Lufthansa from Frankfurt, Emirates from Dubai). This maximises the chance that if your flight is cancelled, you might still catch a flight out on the same day.
Otherwise, check that your airline is with some sort of alliance. Star Alliance, for example, has 27 airline members. When my evening flight to Frankfurt with Singapore Airlines was cancelled, they were able to rebook me for the next day on a direct flight with Lufthansa.
Know Your Rights
Under the EU regulation 261/2004, any passenger who experiences delays or cancelled flights, overbooking or denied boarding on a long haul flight departing from an airport located in the EU or to an airport in the EU with an EU air carrier, may be entitled to monetary compensation. Flight delay is based on the scheduled arrival time, or the time when the doors are opened on the plane. For a 2 hour delay, passengers are entitled to €250. For a 3 hour delay, the airline owes passengers €400. For flights delayed more than 4 hours, the compensation increases to €600. You do not need to accept a travel voucher. You are entitled to cash, a cheque or a bank transfer. Passengers are also entitled to meals, refreshments, 2 telephone calls or emails, hotel accommodation, and transfers to and from the airport depending on the severity of the delay.
