5-6 hour layover
 

I have never really had a layover--is this enough time to really do anything or should we just hang out in the airport with a book? On the way to England, we have 5.5 hours in Charlotte (afternoon) and coming back we have 6 hours in Pittsburgh, also day time. I would like to look around Charlotte but don't really think it is feasible.<BR><BR>How do y'all pass time in the airport?

I read, shop, people watch, watch TV and eat. I don't really think it is enough time to get off the plane, leave the airport, see something and get back in time for the earlier checkins. And with the use it or lose it rules taking place, I wouldn't want to take a chance.

I like to stash my carryons in a locker and just wander around. I find that taking a nice walk through the terminal is very refreshing after sitting on a plane. Then I have a leisurely meal, people watch, get a newspaper to read, and if I am travelling with someone, we play cards.

Sorry, no more locker storage at airports. At least in the US.

Expedia.com<BR>Under traveler tools, click on Airport Information. This will give you some ideas on how to kill time.<BR>I have the book version "Stuck at the Airport". Pretty useful.

I haven't had a long lay over in quite awhile. I didn't realize that the lockers had been taken out. That makes it a little harder to just wander around then doesn't it.

Well take you time, don't rush to get off the plane, walk slowly to the transit lounge. Look out the window and see other planes. <BR><BR>Check out some of the stores if there's any. Find a good magazine stand. Eat a nice meal (since the airline will give you little "school lunch" meals). Use the restroom. And last resort nake a nap.<BR><BR>Trust me if you do all that, your time will go fast. Sometimes plance delay will eat up some of that time.

Those are long waits. You might want to check Charlotte and Pittsburgh airports to see what kind of club lounges they have. With that kind of time on your hands, a short-term pass might be a decent investment. See which airlines have them in those airports and what the clubs have to offer at what cost. It's worth investigating. From time to time, I'll bump into someone on a flight in a situation like yours and take them in as guests.

Quick update: Both of those airports have U.S. Air clubs. You can check into the cost of a 3-month trial membership by contacting them at 1-800-828-8522. Make sure you understand what the club offers and whether or not you can take a guest or two in with you. Then you can decide if it's worth it to you.

One last thing...<BR><BR>If it happens to be where you are flying out of on the way home, etc., you should also be aware that U.S. Air has a club at London Gatwick. With early check-in requirements, etc., that might be another plus in favor, provided a temp membership provides access for you and your guest(s). <BR><BR>Happy Contrails!

The CLT airport has some really comfy rocking chairs between terminals, in the area near the food court. A nice touch, and a pretty good place to people watch or to read a good book. I don't think you'd want to rock for 5.5 hours, but not a bad way to spend an hour.

Pittsburgh has a nice "mall" if you are into that sort of thing. Even if you don't want to buy anything the shops are an interesting way to kill an hour or two.

All the previous posters had good suggestions - I've flown through those 2 particular airports alot - and they are actually really nice airports. In Charlotte, they have rocking chairs lined up around the airport - so worse case, you sit there and watch the world go by. The US Air clubs are a great suggestion - they're nice in both those locations. The other piece of information - you're assuming your flights are on time arriving there. That is not always a valid assumption, and your wait could be dramatically reduced by delays (weather, idiot running through security at other airport, etc).