The dreaded stop over is often the bane of a traveller’s existence, but these 8 airports have stepped up their game with these awesome entertainment offerings.
My last trip featured a flight from Zurich Airport with two stop overs on the way back to my home in Sydney.
Unfortunately my plane was delayed in Abu Dhabi which required me to stay in Perth Airport for 12 hours, I was travelling alone and the boredom was mind numbing. There was only so much book reading and eating that I could do, patience is a virtue that I just don’t possess. Surely there was a better way to pass the time instead of the usual people watching.
Thankfully, around the world, airports seem to have caught onto our need for layover entertainment.
Narita International Airport, Japan
Want to get a caffeine free high or perhaps you just want to combat the effects of flying with low oxygen? You have to check out the JUKO Oxygen Lounge at Narita Airport. In this minimalist space, guests hook themselves up to self-serve tanks that pump exotically flavored oxygen, from eucalyptus menthol to cinnamon. There’s been claims that increased oxygen eases headaches, induces alertness, and even reduces the effects of jet lag – give it a go and let us know if it worked.
Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
What better way to pass the time than to watch a great film? Maybe if you were watching it on a 5-storey high super-sized screen measuring 64 feet by 44 feet. What’s more is you can watch the film in 4D where you can experience different kinds of sensory stimuli synchronized to the drama of the movie unfolding before them like snowfall, wind, water spray, bubble, fog and all kinds of smell (be careful what you watch, perhaps stay away from films like the Human Centipede). Hong Kong International Airport offers the full 4D experience at the 358-seat UA IMAX Theatre located on the 6th floor of Sky Plaza, Terminal 2.
Zurich Airport, Switzerland
After a long haul flight, perhaps sitting around watching more movies isn’t really on top of your priority lists. Why not get some fresh air, you know, at a natural conservation area. Between runways 16/34 and 14/32 exists “Klotener Riet”, 34 hectares of low moorlands along with the other nature conservation areas adjacent to the airport “Altläufe der Glatt“, “Bachenbülacher Allmend“, “Rütner Allmend“ and “Goldentor“ makes 74 hectares of flora and fauna, including some extremely rare species. You can event rent some gear to explore the conservation area from the airport itself.
Dubai International Airport, UAE
In Dubai International Airport, you can sign up for a raffle. Doesn’t really sound all that exciting, unless of course you could win luxury cars like a Bentley, Audi R8, McLaren or an Aston Martin. Yup, and there’s only 2,300 coupons issued per car so your chances are a lot better than the lottery. The catch? It’s $139USD per ticket, which is still not too bad considering you could potentially telling your mates that you got a new luxury car for less than the price of a nice dinner out with your significant other. Other things on offer that could top that? How about a cool $1 million dollars.
Munich International Airport, Germany
One thing that we share with the Germans is our love for beer, so much so that Munich International Airport features its own brewery, Airbräu. There’s pilseners, dry ales, weissbier, double bock, festbier and krampus for you to try. They don’t mess around on the food department either, you can fill up on some good old fashioned German meals. After you’ve refuelled, make sure to check out the brewery tour to see “where the magic happens”.
Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom
Whilst we’re on the subject of culinary delights, London’s Heathrow Airport has turned it up a notch with Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food. Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure he won’t be there to berate you whilst you wait for your food, which would be the last thing you need after a long flight. They’re open from breakfast to dinner, and if you’re short on time, there’s an ‘express menu’. There’s also an option to take an in-flight picnic with you on board, you know to avoid jokes from comedians from the 90’s about airline food.
Changi Airport, Singapore
Singapore doesn’t believe in the ordinary, it seems they like to exist in the exceptional with an onslaught of fun entertainment at their Changi Airport. You can enjoy the relaxing ambience of the Balinese-themed rooftop swimming pool or have Garra Rufa fish nibble away the callouses on your feet during a 30-minute aqua foot therapy session at Fish Spa & Reflexology. Afterwards, perhaps continue your relaxation by taking a stroll through the Butterfly Garden, a two-storey enclosed garden with 6m waterfall and more than 1000 butterflies.
When was the last time you took a ride on a slide? -Y http://t.co/O1FeoIqSsc #throwbackthursday #ChangiAirport pic.twitter.com/tK9zuECjWz
— Changi Airport (@FansofChangi) May 22, 2014
Perhaps you’re after something more exciting, why not brave The Slide@T3, the world’s tallest airport slide. It’s four-storeys high and riders can reach speeds of up to six metres per second. There’s also a multimedia gaming centre where you can make friend, or more likely enemies trying to dominate strangers on console and PC LAN games.
JFK Airport (JetBlue’s Terminal 5), USA
Number one on my list, because of sheer star power and price is the Live From T5 concerts on JetBlue’s Terminal 5 in New York’s JFK Airport. It’s a completely free concert for those in possession of a boarding pass. When I say star power, I really mean STAR POWER, These surprise shows have featured performances by an array of artists across musical genres including The Wanted, Phillip Phillips, Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding, Lady Antebellum, Emeli Sande, Kany Garcia, Jason Derulo, Sarah McLachlan, Daughtry and more.
“JetBlue’s Live From T5 concerts brings our customers something special and unexpected,”
Lisa Borromeo, JetBlue’s director of brand management and advertising