Airport Time Is a Welcome State of Uncertainty
For many, the airport is a place filled with frustration and anxiety. But for others, the airport is a peaceful place where you are not – nobody exists – and I love that. You can do absolutely nothing, and sometimes this is exactly what the soul of a tired traveler needs.
Recently, the New York Times had an excellent article by Sasha Chapin on airport stops . In it, Chapin praised the stop, calling it a “health-improving occupation,” and I could not agree with that. Long journeys really drain you, and stopping can be a welcome respite, even if it sometimes seems like a hindrance to your adventure. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that any time spent at the airport can be such a refuge – it doesn’t have to be a stopover.
My time at the airport is usually filled with the same routine. I’m looking for a couple of bars and comparing Bloody Mary recipes. I buy a salty snack at the kiosk, put on the noise canceling headphones, and sit down for people to watch. I finally opened the book I had packed and vowed to end the trip, but gave up a few pages later to dip into my phone instead. Sometimes I find a quiet corner and take a nap. All this is a waste of time. But that’s the point, that’s what an airport is for. I am already where I need to be. It’s just a matter of time – my time.
I am deliberately arriving at the airport early in order to reach this intermediate state, this uncertainty. Before traveling, this time allows you to relax and shift gears to travel mode. I gradually finish some work to let it go, stop thinking about all my affairs, and then get rid of any other stressors. Basically, I forget who I was and prepare to reboot as a fresh version of myself elsewhere. Staying early also ensures that I’m ready to hit the road. I can’t wait to fly today? No problem, I’ll drink ( do your take ) Did I forget my book? It’s okay, I’ll do a little look in the bookstore and see what’s new. Oh no, the battery in my phone is about to run out … Oh, here’s a power outlet under this seat.
But when the adventure or the arduous trip is over, I still leave for the airport early before returning home. Of course, arriving at the airport a few hours ahead of schedule has logistical advantages, but I arrived eight or nine hours before departure when I was returning home from an international trip. Why? Because the journey is exhausting . During this time, I could squeeze into a couple more tourist spots, take a few more photos, buy a few more knickknacks. But would I really like it in such a drained state of mind? Probably no. Maybe I’ll come back later? Yes, I’ll be back later.
I think I’d rather spend this time grabbing a snack, recuperating, and sitting in a coin-operated massage chair, contemplating the ups and downs of my journey. I would rather find myself in the sweet emptiness of uncertainty, turned into nothing. The airport is a kind of metaphorical hyperbaric chamber, allowing you to relax and slowly prepare for your return to the slippery surface of the real world. This period of decompression, this uncertainty, is an admittedly idle time. Use it well, traveler.