It certainly wasn’t a business-as-usual trip. I packed a small carry-on bag, my laptop, and headed to our airport in Columbus, Ohio. Over the next seven days, I traveled from Columbus to Boston to Miami to Chicago to Minneapolis to Seattle to San Diego – without ever leaving the airport.
I soaked in nearly 10,000 minutes of airport observations at all four corners of the United States. My observations, reflections and experiences along that journey became the book “Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport.”
One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive about this journey is, “Where did you sleep?” Well, for those of you who are intrigued (or slightly frightened that I chose to spend seven days this way), here are some highlights from my airport sleeping experiences.
Most Creative Spot: Boston
After curling up in the corner of a dirty baggage claim floor for about forty five minutes, I knew I could do better. I roamed the corridors of Boston’s Logan International Airport, taking note of each potential chair, bench or horizontal space that my body could occupy. Finally, the words “Airport Chapel” spoke to me. At 2 a.m., a chapel pew became the perfect spot for a two hour respite.
Worst Sleep: Miami
My 90 minutes in the middle of the night lying on the floor in the Miami International Airport was definitely my worst sleeping experience, but most entertaining. Dozens of professional cleaners riding floor-waxing machines that looked like bumper cars zoomed throughout the ticketing area. The night shift never looked so fun.
Best Sleep: Minneapolis
The upper level overlooking the ticketing stations was ideal. Unlike many other traditional airport spots, I found soft benches that were not bolted to the floor. I pushed two of the benches together to form the most comfortable bed I would experience the whole week. Even the sounds from the cleaning crews couldn’t keep me from enjoying this airport slumber!
Next time you travel, keep your eyes open for those hidden “beds” that may be perfect for your cat nap!
Jason Barger is author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
What interests me more than where you slept is, Where did you shower???
Re: Minneapolis. I had to overnight there once, after missing my connector and finding that my usual savior in such circumstances was not in town. The hustle and bustle was just like you described in Miami. So, being very familiar with the airport at the time, I headed for the observation deck that was actually dark as well as quiet. Despite a cleaner’s cart blocking the staircase, I went up. I knew no one would bother me, when I found the cleaner sound asleep across one set of chairs. I took the other, and they were very comfortable.
Why did it take 7 days to get 10,000 miles? I’ve done that in 2 days (even getting 12,000 in 2 days domestically!). I just routed coast to coast and one one of the routings took a puddle jumper to get the 500 mile minimum and then a 2500 cross country flight, then did the same in return on the next flight back. That actually cost me about $350 daily which paid off with a good bonus at the time. Got to sleep (and shower) at home as well.
Though this doesn’t make for as good a story as published in your newsletter.