JS

Before I collected a large number of Choice Hotel points, I have slept in the airport just to avoid paying for a hotel room where I just needed a place to sleep for the night. Can't beat a "rate" of zero!

I've slept in ONT (twice), and once in SAN, LAS, PIT and BWI. Except for LAS, I slept in baggage claim each time. If I ever get stuck overnight in ATL, hopefully it will be on the inside, because there are some new seats in the airport that don't have armrests (finally! armrests make seats unusable for sleeping).

The latest was the BWI overnight, and not only did I have enough hotel points, but it was actually a business trip and would not have been a problem at all to expense a hotel room. Unfortunately, every hotel with a shuttle was sold out, and after 30 minutes of waiting for a rental car bus, I declared it to be a lost cause to find a place to sleep for the remaining four hours before check-in, and slept in the airport. Luckily I had plenty of practice and slept like a baby. I set my watch alarm clock for 4:30 AM, and I actually needed it or I would have overslept.

wanderlust_jules

While not an airport I got stuck staying over night in a train station somewhere in Britain before. Luckily I was also with my bf at the time as it was a pretty shady experience.

gt_croz

I love this forum! Finally a place for us FT people to toss our sandals on and slum out

I spent a night in London Heathrow. I got stuck on an overnight layover, was at the end of a 3 month budget trip, and I didn't feel like riding into the city and spending money on lodging. I found this children's area that had a demi-wall, and it was closed off to the public. It was nothing but this soft 2" mattress like floor with soft toys everywhere. It's hard to describe but trust me, it was secluded and comfortable. I threw my backpack down next to me, and got 6 solid hours of sleep. More comfortable than some hostels I've slept at.

Check out this website:

http://www.sleepinginairports.com/

mcrt

Here is a link to one of the recent sleeping airports thread with more links within it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464098

I have not overnighted in airports recently, but have found empty gates for naps at LHR when I have a long layover. They have a decorative rail that runs along the walls in many places. It is great to strap your backpack to while sleeping.

civicmon

closest I ever got to sleeping in an airport was at ICN. Had a flight that landed from HKG at like 3 am and they told me to go to the transit hotel.. so I walk up there to the transit lounge and there's like 10 people sleeping.. so I just slid my pack under the couch that someone previously was occupying and fell asleep right there.

Slept till about 7am.. fair amount given that the airport really gets alive at 6am.

Dovster

Please don't forget trains. If you are going to spend a month or so in Europe travelling from city to city get a Eurailpass and take l o n g trips between cities -- giving you a freebie night on the train.

jef7

There are definitely times when aquiring a hotel room for the night, let's say you have a very early flight or let's say you're doing a MRun, is almost a waste of money given the very few hours you will spend on the room (and there are many times when I feel ripped off, and stupid , checking-out at 5 in the morning after checking-in just a few hours prior). Considering to sleep in the airport can indeed be a smart option, but how do you guys ensure your valuables will still be around when you wake up? I always worry that choosing to spend the night at the airport could turn out to be more spendy after realizing my laptop and other stuff have disappeared!

civicmon

Post-security it's usually really safe with just the occasional people such as cleaning crews and airline employees walking around.

before security.. that's iffy but loop your hand around your carryon and if people pull on it.. well.. the alarm went off....

JS

In baggage claim, I lay almost underneath a row of chairs with my stuff under the chairs. I'm assuming no thief is that desperate, and like civicmon said, fiddling with my stuff sets off my "alarm".

jimcfsus

I had the unfortunate circumstance to miss a 1AM connection from UA to US last summer in LAS. As hotels were going to over $200 on a Friday night for a 6 hour stay, the US folks told me about the children's play area in Terminal D which worked out well. It had a nice carpeted floor and benches on the sides that you could set your stuff on or under beside you. A bonus was that there was no speakers for the PA in there, so you didn't get the musack that was playing piped in.

They also brought me down some pillows and blankies from the last flight in and it all worked out until I could get up and b!tch at the UA folks for not doing their jobs.

kdq123

Singapore airport is also a great airport to sleep in. It has leather chaise lounges with timers you can set to wake up in, say, 4 hours. It also has a 24 hour food court and free 2 hour city tours for transit passengers.

Solblanc

Does sleeping in a lounge count?

But there was this one long layover in DXB, and I didn't sleep. I sat. And stared into nothingness for some six-odd hours (this was after exploring the terminal and looking at every nook and cranny)

DeafFlyer

I've done that twice, both in Goteborg, Sweden. There were lots of people the first time and my wife and I took turns sleeping. It didn't feel safe, but nothing happened. I did it alone a couple years later and there wasn't anyone else there.

RBCal

Reviews of nearly all airports and their sleeping "facilities"

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

LapLap

Thank you RBCal, I was just about to suggest this site too.
I've slept in all the London Airports (LTN, STN, LGW, LHR) as LCCs often have very early departures which would be impossible for me to make check in using public transport. Solution? Get there the night before and be first in the queue the next morning.
I also stayed in Manchester airport before getting a Biz class flight to LAS - I toyed with forking out £55 for a hotel, but I came to my senses, cancelled the room and used the cash to pay for a helicopter ride instead.