Is it ok if I crash at an airport?

I'm going to the JFK airport, and gonna land at 3 this morning. I'm not going to be in any shape to drive, and don't want to risk it, because I never fall asleep on planes. Is it ok if I crash for a bit before picking up my car?

Homeless people do it all the time, but be sure not to let the guard see you there for too long.

Yes, you see lots of people sleeping at airports. They don't know if you are just waiting for your next flight versus getting some sleep before leaving.

That shouldn't be a problem - just make sure you keep your ticket handy; police and security regularly check sleeping people at airports to see if they're legitimate passengers or vagrants. The worst that can happen is that they ask you to leave - in which case you could sleep in your car.

A few airports have lounge chairs. Some people are members of airport lounges, or you can purchase a one day entry. You are allowed to remain at JFK as a 24 hour airport, but most seating is uncomfortable for sleeping.

Bringing a travel mat is suggested to find a carpeted place out of the way to sleep on the floor.
The 20 minute nap pods at terminal 5 Jetblue are rated a failure

Maybe.
If you are coming in on an international flight, then the only place for you to crash is outside security.
If you are coming in on a domestic flight, you could crash inside security, but then your checked luggage (if you have any) will either end up in the baggage office or with someone else.
If you leave security, there aren't a whole lot of options where you can crash and if you do find a place, you are more likely to get woken up by the cops or airport employees.

If you look round at any large airport there are people sleeping all over the place. No-one will take any notice if you get your head down for 3 or 4 hours.

If you are arriving on a Domestic Flight then you don't have to leave the terminal and can find a chair/corner to "crash" in for a few hours. No one will really bother you, just be sure you keep your valuables very close to you so they don't get taken while you nap. Also, if you checked bags, the baggage claim is outside of the "secured" area so you will not be able to pick them up and return to the secured areas of the terminal. This will increase the risk of your bags being taken.

If you are arriving Internationally, then unfortunately you don't really have a choice you will need to go through Immigrations/Customs and then you will be again outside the secured area where there are minimal places to "crash" and the likelihood of you being harassed by law enforcement is greater. As long as you have proof you were arriving you should be fine though for a couple of hours.

If by "picking up" your car you mean it is your car and you are just returning from a trip. If you find yourself pre-security you may want to just go back to your car and sleep there for a bit before you go on. This won't be an option if you are renting a car.

Yes, it certainly is.

People sleep in airports all of the time.

Lots of people will sleep at the terminal while they wait for the next day's flight. You can definitely do the same thing.

Add Comment