Discovered In Transit

At KLIA: A Jungle in There - Aug 2009

As a T-Shirt in a local mall here in Malaysian Borneo reminded me, airports can be less than pleasant places. With their endless lines, ever-changing rules, and minimally invasive pat-downs, passing through them can feel like you are running a modern day gauntlet. No wonder that some approach airports and extended layovers with the same amount of dread normally reserved for dental clinics and root canals.

While some of the experiences are inconvenient and unavoidable, once you get acclimated to their procedural idiosyncrasies, many airports aren’t all that bad. Indeed, at some, I’ve found time in transit can be made downright enjoyable – if you know where to look.

Take Malaysia's international airport in Kuala Lumpur as one example. There, a section of rainforest has been transplanted in the middle of the satellite building. While most passengers stream past it to and from their gates, there is a door that allows those curious enough to venture outside and be surrounded by towering trees, fresh air, and a faux-waterfall. 

Nearby, in Singapore, Changi Airport offers transit passengers dozens of comfortable lounges, a free cinema, outdoor pool, and a multi-storey spiral slide to keep you entertained. Such perks aren’t limited to Asia either. Hidden gems, like the branch of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport or the free public Ping-Pong table in Milwaukee, can be found scattered in airports all around the world.

My first discovery of such airside amenities took place several years ago at London’s Heathrow Airport, where a set of free showers for transit passengers got me cleaned up and feeling human again in the middle of a trip from the Minnesota to East Africa. It was simple, but incredible.

Since then, I have been on the hunt for transit showers* and other perks anytime I have a long-haul trip to take and make a point of doing a little research about the airports I'm flying through. From recreation to refreshment, it is amazing the little joys that can be found while in transit.

*On the off chance you were wondering, Seoul's Incheon Airport currently has my favorite set. They are off of the transit lounge on the upper level. Clean, spacious, and free with your own towel  or $5+ USD if you want a comfort kit and one of theirs. Seriously, if you are passing through, check 'em out.