Stuck Overnight: Hotels, Vouchers and Sleeping at the Airport

Ask early, ask clearly

Hotel rooms near airports sell out fast on a disruption night. The passengers who ask within the first hour get rooms, and the ones who wait get a floor.

1. Ask specifically: will you provide a hotel and transfer for tonight?
2. If yes, get the voucher or booking confirmation in your hand.
3. If no, ask them to confirm that no accommodation was offered, and book something reasonable yourself.
4. Keep the receipt. Reimbursement claims for reasonable costs are common and often successful.

If you are sleeping in the terminal

• Find out whether your terminal stays open overnight, some close landside areas
• Pick a spot near a power socket and away from cleaning routes
• Use your bag as a pillow with the straps around your arm
• Set two alarms, one on the phone and one on a watch if you have it
• Eye mask, socks and a hoodie make more difference than anything else in your bag

In the morning

Re-check your flight before you move. Overnight rebookings shift often. Then eat something before security, because the queue will be long and airside prices are worse.