How to Kill Time at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport, 15 miles from New York City, houses nine terminals in a central area and a 10th, Tower Air, separately. In this huge airport, note that your airline may leave from one terminal and arrive at another. During flight delays, especially long ones caused by bad weather, numerous shops and dining establishments can help preserve a traveler's sanity.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Travel Clocks
• Comfortable Shoes
• Travel Clothes
• Travel Kits
• Travel Pillows
• Paperback Books
• Travel Magazines
• E-mail Accounts
• Travel Services
• Athletic Gear
• Travel Games
• Telephone Calling Cards

1. Figure out how much free time you will have. Check to see whether your flight is late and in which of the 10 terminals it will arrive.

2. Use free, interterminal buses, which run 24 hours a day, or interterminal taxis. However, you may spend a bit of time in traffic at certain times of the day (see Warnings, below).

3. Consult with the airport's information desks about services, dining or shopping.

4. Decide whether you would like to snack your way through a few eateries, have a sit-down meal or spend your time in a cocktail lounge. Each terminal can suit your needs.

5. Browse through a variety of shops for gifts such as clothing, perfume, art and jewelry. But remember that you may have to check large purchases or have them shipped.

6. Visit the airport chapel on the second floor of Terminal 4 for relaxation and reflection.

Tips & Warnings

• Periodically check the arrival or departure monitors located throughout the airport for any changes pertaining to your flight.
• Always have a good paperback in your carry-on bag to help keep time moving during unavoidable delays in terminals and aboard airplanes.
• Look for the 60,000-square-foot mall in the new international terminal scheduled to open in the near future.
• If you are departing on a flight, you must check in at your gate at least an hour before the flight, longer on international flights. Check with your airline.
• Be aware that interterminal buses may move slowly in afternoon traffic at the airport, even up to an hour between some terminals.
• Keep in mind that many airlines have new carry-on restrictions and that you may have to check in larger purchases or have them shipped.