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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

20 year old daughter having to spend night at JFK airport.

285 replies

DaughterStranded · 27/05/2024 21:43

Not an AIBU, but posting for traffic as really worried.
20 year old DD has arrived at JFK airport to find connecting flight to South Carolina cancelled due to signalling issues. The next connecting flight will go 7am tomorrow morning. There are no earlier flights to any nearby airports available.
DD has decided to spend the night at JFK airport. I am worried she will fall asleep and get robbed of her phone/money. Anyone else had this situation to deal with? Any advice or tips anyone?

OP posts:
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9
Invisimamma · 27/05/2024 21:44

Doesn't the airline provide a hotel in these circumstances? Can she book into a hotel/motel, or even a sleep pod in the airport, usually you can get those to pay by the hour.

SeaToSki · 27/05/2024 21:47

Does she (or you)have $200 to spare? If so, that will get her a hotel room for the night right next to the airport, there will probably be a free shuttle from the terminal

Beezknees · 27/05/2024 21:49

Can you transfer her some money to stay in a hotel for the night?

Nomorecoconutboosts · 27/05/2024 21:49

I just looked up the sleep pods $35 for 6 hours which would probably e good for the quietest part of the night
I’ve got a similar age dd so I know it’s a worry however most of them are quite street wise and aware
She’ll need to keep her passport etc near to her body especially if sleeping - maybe lie on top of them!
She should try to be in a coffee shop or similar until they close and again when they open. If finances allow maybe transfer her some money as an encouragement to be around others!

Nomorecoconutboosts · 27/05/2024 21:50

(Or yes, even better if a hotel is do-able)

Aworldofmyown · 27/05/2024 21:51

Is there anyone else else in the same boat she could ask to tag along with? My friend was stuck in JFK overnight with her friend, they noticed a lone teen in the same boat and suggested she sit with them.

SwedishEdith · 27/05/2024 21:52

I'd get a hotel as well. Very long time ago now (so this may be rubbish) but I planned to stay there overnight for an early flight and they wouldn't let you. It shut down. I got a hotel and was so glad I did.

ouch321 · 27/05/2024 21:53

I had to do an overnight at the same age in a European airport once for reasons outside my control. I did have a friend there too to be fair but I think we just read and listened to music. There will be others in the same position and staff milling around.

Usernamewassavedsuccessfully · 27/05/2024 21:54

She just needs to stick her passport/cash/cards down her top then lean on her bags to sleep. As long as everything is hidden she'll be fine.

YorkshireLondonMiss · 27/05/2024 21:55

I had this after my flight back to London got diverted back to jfk and the next one wasn’t until 12 hours later. I booked the airport hotel attached to jfk (so you don’t have to go anywhere) and it was worth it. They let you pay by the hour as well if needed. The TWA hotel if I remember!

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 27/05/2024 21:55

I think it's a busy enough airport that she won't be unsafe, but a pod/hotel would of course be best for comfort.

CassandraProphesying · 27/05/2024 21:55

There are sleep pods and minute suites at JFK I think, maybe better value than a hotel.

ImPunbelievable · 27/05/2024 21:56

Given it's only 5pm at jfk that seems an odd choice. I agree a hotel a better shout, or at least jump on the air train to see some of NY!

Thegreatergoodgerald · 27/05/2024 21:57

She won’t be the only one! the airport is 24hrs, flights are continuous, staff, cleaners, police, passengers… I’ve slept on a bench there…

Bjorkdidit · 27/05/2024 21:58

The sleep pods sound like a good idea, but is there any cover for a cancellation in her travel insurance? Is the airport obliged to help stranded passengers?

But surely if there's a problem at the airport there will be lots of people in the same position so lots of people around and lots of security, it's an airport after all, so unlikely to be people going around robbing other passengers unnoticed.

songaboutjam · 27/05/2024 21:59

When I was 20 I spent the night at Heathrow Airport. My phone and passport were in a small bag. I looped an arm through its strap and slept with my head on it.

I'm guessing it's a bit late for her to find the other people on her delayed flight?

belleissmart · 27/05/2024 22:00

I really would not recommend this - I moved back from NYC a few months ago. I went to collect a friend late once from there and the place was teeming with people with visible mental illnesses. A lot of homeless people try to sleep there. Most US airports don't actually let people sleep overnight. She should get a hotel from the company if they've cancelled her flight.

Changingplace · 27/05/2024 22:01

The airline should be offering to cover accommodation, has she asked about that?

Thegreatergoodgerald · 27/05/2024 22:02

Over the years I have been stranded in various airports, never felt unsafe - at that age I didn’t have money for hotels but have also been in situs where had to stay in airport in case flights did go. She’ll be fine.

ShrubRose · 27/05/2024 22:02

Really not a great idea to sleep in a public place in NYC area, imo.
Sleep pods are outside security, so not sure next day flight will be allowed.
If it were my DD, I would spring for a hotel. The hotels run shuttles to the airport, so she could get there and back.

Thegreatergoodgerald · 27/05/2024 22:03

Is she already through security? There won’t be ransoms hanging around if she is.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 27/05/2024 22:03

Can she get a flight to Atlanta then to SC? If nothing else she can get to Atlanta and there are hotels just off the airport connected by a tram (they are in between the airport and car rental). A little less daunting than spending the night in NYC.

But if she can’t or doesn’t want to… a good dinner find a good spot to hunker down and she’ll be uncomfortable but fine. At 40+ I wouldn’t want to do this but as a 20 yo I slept in a lot of weird places while traveling out of necessity and cheapness.

ETA: It’s spendy but this hotel does have availability tonight. https://be.synxis.com/?_ga=2.82590864.769914216.1716843947-796217281.1716843947&_gl=11i0reyb_gaNzk2MjE3MjgxLjE3MTY4NDM5NDc._ga_8EPSLHVEHK*MTcxNjg0Mzk0Ny4xLjEuMTcxNjg0Mzk1My41NC4wLjA.&adult=1&arrive=2024-05-27&chain=24658&child=0&currency=USD&depart=2024-05-28&hotel=7182&level=hotel&locale=en-US&rooms=1

saraclara · 27/05/2024 22:05

If she booked a through ticket from her home airport to South Carolina, then the airline should be providing accommodation. She should go to the airline's help desk and ask what they're doing.

I ended up with a night in a hotel in Addis Ababa last year for the same reason. The airline had it all under control and got me taken there, fed dinner and breakfast, and picked up again in the morning and taken back to the airport.

TheKeatingFive · 27/05/2024 22:06

I did similar at that age. All valuables hidden in clothes, sleeping on bags. It wasn't too bad, but I was young and hardy 🫠

If a hotel isn't possible that is.

somewhereovertherain · 27/05/2024 22:07

The airline should provide a hotel.

personally wouldn’t see it as a problem sleeping in the airport should be pretty safe my DD was in Ghana at 18/19 ans currently in Malaysia at uni and had plenty of challenges along the way. She’ll be fine

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