‘Longest 14 hours of my life’: Woman stranded at Delhi airport after plans to explore city foiled; Here’s why | Today’s news
A lengthy layover can seem like a blessing in disguise, allowing passengers to explore the city instead of spending hours waiting at the airport. For one passenger passing through Delhi, a 14-hour layover seemed like the perfect opportunity for a quick tour of the capital. However, her plans hit an unexpected snag when she realized she needed a visa to leave the airport, forcing her to find other ways to pass the long wait.
The woman, identified by her Instagram profile as Brooke, was recently traveling from Hong Kong to London when she booked a flight with a 14-hour layover in Delhi. She supposed she could use the time between flights to explore the city. However, she ended up spending the extended layover inside the airport.
In a video shared on social media via the ‘Followmytrackz’ account, Brooke, a travel creator, said: “I booked a flight from Hong Kong to London with a 14-hour layover in Delhi because I thought it would be so cool to see it all day.” She added: “What I didn’t know until I got on my flight this morning is that even if you’re going to be out of the airport for a day on a layover, you still need a visa.”
What was supposed to be a day of exploring Delhi turned into a long wait at the airport instead. “Now I’ve been stuck at Delhi airport for 14 hours and I think I’m going to kill some time,” she continued.
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Rather than spend the entire time waiting for her next flight, Brooke decided to make the most of the facilities available at the airport. After discovering a massage parlor, she decided to get some relaxation, saying she needed it after spending the previous night sleeping on the floor of the Hong Kong airport.
She later shared details of the experience and how much it cost, describing the foot massage as “unreal”. She revealed that she paid £32 (approx ₹4,000) for a combination of foot and calf and back, shoulder and hip massages.
Next on her itinerary was shopping. With about six hours until her connecting flight, the traveler decided to browse the shops before taking a nap and grabbing something to eat.
The experience even made her wonder if booking another flight for a few hundred pounds would be a better option than spending so many hours at the airport.
Social media users react
Social media users were quick to offer suggestions and comments on how Brooke spent her time at the airport. One user suggested she pay for lounge access, while another praised her for making good use of the long wait. A third user commented: “I can kill 13 hours in Delhi.”
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Another person shared a similar experience and said: “The same thing happened to me. You can actually get a transit visa at the airport but the people there are so clueless and unhelpful that I gave up and booked a hotel at the airport and slept.”
Another user commented: “The domestic terminal in Delhi is actually better than the international terminal with the renovation. I was stuck for 14 hours too.”
Brooke’s experience offers international travelers an important reminder: a long layover does not automatically allow passengers to leave the airport. Those planning to explore the city during a layover should check the visa and transit requirements of the destination country before booking their itinerary.
