The Special Waiting Time Known as the Airport Lounge
On the morning of a business trip, for some reason, I always wake up earlier than usual. Even though I would normally want to sleep until the very last minute, things are different when it comes to traveling by plane. Especially on days when I go to Haneda Airport, I finish getting ready unusually early and leave the house with plenty of time to spare. Of course, I intend to act by calculating the travel time to the airport in reverse, but even so, it is too early. However, there is a reason for this. I love the time I spend in the lounge.
This space, provided for airline frequent flyers, is filled with a unique tranquility and a high-quality atmosphere. The hustle and bustle of people and the terminal announcements sound so soft that they seem like events happening far away, and when I lean back into the chair, it feels as if I am in another world. That calm tempo, which is the polar opposite of the rhythm of my busy daily life, is more comfortable than anything else.
When I enter the lounge, I first pick up a hot coffee. Then, I sit in a window seat and cast my gaze toward the runway. The sight of aircraft parked quietly, illuminated by the morning glow, is even somewhat poetic. For the brief time before departure, just sitting there, I fall under the illusion that my own time has stopped.
Sometimes I feel tired of flying around for work. However, this moment in the lounge softens that just a little. Whether I am clearing emails or reviewing documents, doing it here instead of at home or the office strangely gives me a sense of ease. Or rather, there is an atmosphere where it feels acceptable to do nothing at all.
Occasionally, when the boarding time is announced throughout the lounge, I reluctantly get up and head to the gate. Even though I feel a sense of lingering attachment, that step feels somewhat fulfilling. It is not just a waiting time; it might be a 'time to reset' for me.
As long as I have this small ritual, business trips are not so bad either. The airport lounge is like a quiet accompaniment that stays with me at the beginning of my journey, and for me, it is an important place that gently connects the boundary between the 'extraordinary' and the 'ordinary'.
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