Passenger has genius way to deal with delayed flight but people aren’t impressed

A PASSENGER at an airport came up with a genius way to pass the time when their flight was delayed.

However, people weren’t happy and accused her of seeking attention.

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There’s nothing worse than finding out a flight has been held back, especially when it’s for a considerable length of time.

But one clever passenger used a genius trick to make the most of her time in the airport after her journey was delayed.

Instead of sitting in the uncomfortable chairs at the departure lounge, she inflated a lilo she was taking with her on her holiday.

She then proceeded to put soft items on the lilo and used it as an inflatable bed, on which she was able to nap while waiting for her flight.

Her video was shared by the American Transport Security Administration (TSA) on Instagram, where it has been liked more than 8,000 times.

However, not everyone was happy with the passenger’s exploits.

One wrote: “How about we stop treating airports like our living rooms.”

Another said: “That person craves attention.”

A third added: “On behalf of everyone: please never do this.”

However, not everyone was quite so annoyed about it.

One person said: “This would have come in handy in the past when I’ve had 10 hour layovers!”

There could be a reason why airport departure lounge seats aren’t very comfortable.

Most airports have long rows of hard seats, which are not only uncomfortable but make it difficult to have a conversation if you’re with families and friends.

Psychologist Robert Sommer previously suggested that the seats were designed to be “sociofugal” which means they discourage social interaction.

That way, they make people more likely to go to the shops and cafes and spend money instead of sitting down.

Barry Weekes, Head of Design for Heathrow, previously told The Telegraph that they trialed a different kind of seating – but it didn’t work.

He said: “We did a trial at Terminal 3 where we introduced new ‘hub’ seating that featured four chairs clustered around a coffee table.

“What we found, however, was that as soon as one person occupied a single seat on a cluster of four, everyone else would avoid them.

“The more standard set up prevents people creating their own little fiefdom – or moving two chairs together to create a bed.”

There are other methods airports use to get people to try and spend more money instead of sitting down as well.

The layout of shopping areas is very specific – shops and restaurants are generally clustered together for example, to mimic the high street.

To maximise floor space, they’re also curved in such a way that passengers have to walk longer distances through the retail areas to get to their boarding gate.

In fact, serpentine shopping areas, such as the one found at Gatwick Airport, can see as much as 60 per cent more sales according to InterVistas.

But even the direction of the curve is important – since most customers are right handed, having a walkway that curves to the left will get people to see more of the products on show as they’re subconsciously looking right while wandering left.

Kenneth Currie, chief commercial officer at Intervistas told Telegraph Travel: “People are disposed to look more often to the right and veer to the left when they are comfortable.”

Meanwhile, Sun Online Travel previously revealed how the colour of the floor in an airport can help move passengers along.

And here are 10 items you should never buy at the airport.

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