Flight Delays? 10 Best Airports for Layovers

Airport layovers have always been the most-dreaded part of airline travel. But recent years have seen a slew of airport-management firms transform their facilities into mega-entertainment complexes featuring everything from golf courses and spas to aquariums and butterfly gardens, making a well-chosen stopover a rare win-win in the world of travel. Here's a list of ten airports that give you reason to slow down during transit—or even hope for a delay. By Adam H. Graham

Airport Code: CDG

Chance of Delay: 33.33%*

What to Do: Don’t fret if you didn’t get a chance to buy edible souvenirs in France. CDG’s food shopping is some of the best, with epicurean shops like Fauchon, Ladurée, La Maison du Chocolat, and Hediard mostly concentrated in the mod T2E which opened in 2007 and is home to the food forward Galerie Parisienne. After you’ve picked up glass jars of orange blossom preserves, beautifully wrapped boxes of coffee macaroons, and tidy tins of foie gras, head to Be Relax Spa in 2E to which not only sells reflexology socks ($15) but offers a variety of massages and express facials like the Emergency Exit (30 minutes, $60) which redensifies jet lag-induced eye shadows.

Insider Tip: Contact Pharmacie Du Voyage with your destination in advance for a free pharmacy consultation. Or just browse the well stocked shelves of destination-specific first aid and survival kits.

* Courtesy Flightstats.com

Airport Code: DWC

Chance of Delay: 29.86%

What to Do: Getting underwater is an excellent antidote to pressurized cabins not to mention a cure-all for jet-lag. Next time you're in this desert oasis, plunge into the Jacuzzi or swim a few laps in the pool at Dubai International's 24/7 G-Force Gym ($8/hour). Cool down at the airport's palm, pine, and fern studded open-air gardens, using the free wifi. Or set off on a shopping spree in the world's largest airport duty free Mecca, with over 58,000 square feet of shelf space devoted to perfumes, liquor, tobacco, and watches, the best sellers and remainders.

Insider Tip: If you're flying Emirates and your transit time is more than three hours, you're entitled to a free meal at the Safar Restaurant in the main concourse.

Chance of Delay: 41.97%

What to Do: It was a close call with Korea’s Incheon, but Changi edged out the competition as Skytrax’s 2010 World’s Best Airport. You could spend time at the free X-box and Play Station 3 game center, or see a free movie at the airports’ three movie theaters. But since you can do that on a plane, instead head for the six sensory-rich nature trails inside the terminals. A live butterfly garden was added in 2010 and features a 27-foot waterfall and 20 different carnivorous and insectivorous pitcher plants from Southeast Asia. A Light Garden is ideal for bucking jet-lag, while a Fragrant Garden features 15 aromatic species, including Frangipani, Gardenia, and Canaga, an essential ingredient in Chanel No. 5 and a good alternative to the botanically stale duty-free perfumes. After your layover hike, cool down in a Balinese-themed rooftop swimming pool ($13).

Insider Tip: If your layover is more than five hours, you are eligible for a free guided two-hour city tour given by airport authorities.

Chance of Delay: 13.93%

What to Do: Check out what’s in the nearby Pacific Ocean at YVR’s 114,000-litre tank in the International Terminal’s aquarium. The tank features 850 species of BC marine-life like rare quillback and vermillion rockfish, fish-eating anemones, and mottled sea stars; upstairs, a smaller cylindrical tank holds more than 100 undulating moon jellyfish. After you see the fish, gobble down a few over a quick lunch at Hanami’s revolving sushi bar or indulge in a Bento Box inside the relaxing Tatami room. Flight delayed? Check out the First Nations heritage in various displays.

Insider Tip: Check with Airport Fabricare Cleaners in the Domestic Terminal for rush-orders to alter or dry clean your clothes.

Airport Code: JFK

Chance of Delay: 30.13%

What to Do: This is no mere layover, but rather one of the sexiest airports on our list. With nine terminals, 90 airlines, and 46-million passengers, almost everyone passes through NYC’s JFK at some point. The facility’s concessions were given an upgrade in 2008, notably T5’s flash newcomers like Revive Wine Bar, Deep Blue Sushi, and Aeronuova, though the Boar’s Head Deli sandwiches and vegan vanilla cupcakes from French Meadow rank highest among users of apps like Gate Guru. In T3 and T8, 10 Minute Manicure offers its namesake service for $15, in addition to 5-minute foot massages for $5, cheaper than a pre-flight Venti Frappuccino. Still waiting to board? Peruse the 40 book stores, take a zip through the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, or admire the mid-century starchitecture like Pan Am’s World Port at T3, before it's demolished in 2013.

Insider Tip: Save with free wifi in T5.

Chance of Delay: 26.14%

What to Do: Pay close attention to the yodeling flip-book style movie on the airport train tunnel’s walls, which not only welcomes you to Switzerland, but sets the high bar for creativity at this über-cultured airport. An even bigger and artier airport outpost called the Circle is estimated to open in 2016. Head to the world’s longest bar at the Swiss Air Lounge, bag some single-estate Sprungli chocolates at Confiserie Sprüngli, or snag a discount bottle of Appenzeller Alpenbitter. Non-EU Switzerland, is one of the few remaining countries in Europe where European passengers can still buy duty free, so sales are priced competitively.

Insider Tip: If you spend up to CHF250 at a duty-free outlet, you’re entitled to pass through the security “Fast Track” lane by getting a stamp on your boarding pass.

Airport Code: SFO

Chance of Delay: 23.74%

What do Do: Sure, you could stock up on Gucci, Tumi, and Coach, or take advantage of the Google-sponsored free wifi, but your Bay Area inner voice tells you to go local instead. Listen to it. Start off with some Duty Free bottles of Sonoma chard and Central Coast syrah at San Francisco Wine Gourmet in the International Terminal and settle into lunch at one of several locally owned restaurants. T3’s Anchor Brewing Company has a satisfying California BLTA sandwich and panoramic views of the jets on the tarmac.

Finish off with some chocolates from Napa at T3’s Marilla, or other sweets from Ghirardelli, See’s Candy, or Embarcadero Treats. Once full, snag a Richard Diebenkorn magnet set at the SFMOMA Store located in the main hall.

Insider Tip: Get a flu shot at T3’s Harmony Pharmacy inside SFO for $30.

Airport Code: LHR

Chance of Delay: 32.97%

What to Do: With the disadvantageous Sterling exchange, you might not be able to afford shopping in the UK, but a spree at London’s Heathrow is bound to turn up a few affordable bargains. Heathrow just won the Skytrax Best Airport Shopping award and while flagship T5 is the favorite with luxury shops like Burberry, Gucci, and a dazzling 11,000 square foot Harrods, terminals 4 and 1 both scored high marks among shoppers too, particularly specialized duty-free shops like T1’s World of Whiskey and Cocoon skin care, though neither are as cheap as the airport’s eight World Duty Free shops. If your wallet needs a break, pick up a complimentary copy of Alain De Botton’s A Week At The Airport, which recounts the author’s week long stint as Heathrow’s writer-in-residence. And for some rest, you can check into Yotel's pod-like rooms in T4 by the hour.

Insider Tip: Heathrow’s website lists regularly updated special shopping offers, like tailored Thomas Pink shirts for $127.

Airport Code: MIA

Chance of Delay: 39.63%

What to Do: As a gateway for routes south, it’s no surprise that Miami is stocked with amazing Latino site-specific art projects like the massive and colorful Carybé Murals, while the mobile Andan Volando by Emilio Adan Martinez dangles from the ceiling of the North Terminal. But the Latino food refuses to be upstaged: guava pastelitos from Café La Carreta and café cortaditos and ham and cheese empanadas from Café Versailles are as good as anything you’ll find below the equator.

Insider Tip: At this writing, a massive renovation is scheduled to be complete in October 2011, but the brand new skytrain is already transporting passengers throughout Concourse D.

Airport Code: HKG

Chance of Delay: 18.81%

What to Do: Trade your carry-on for a nine iron and tee up at Hong Kong’s Sky City Nine Eagles Golf Course in T2. Nestled on a flood-lit island on an fake lake, the nine-hole course is not free but is open to all passengers 24/7, making night play quite popular. Virtual gamers can detour to the Play Station Gateway, a free gaming area offering the latest PS3 and PSP games. A 4D extreme cinema featuring second run releases like Saw 3D and Happy Feet has added multi-sensory special effects in case your flight didn’t deliver its required amount of fear and weird smells.

Insider Tip: Redeem 7,000 Asia Miles to buy a "Terminal 2 Fun Pass" to enjoy access to theaters, the sky deck, 4D motion rides, and more.