No Bed, No Problem
A woman from California is catching attention online after sharing her experience of spending the night sleeping on the floor at San Francisco International Airport instead of getting a hotel room.
Santeon Brown, who is 29, took a last-minute $20 flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Upon arriving late at night, she opted to sleep at the airport to avoid hotel expenses.
In a TikTok video posted on Oct. 15, she chronicled her night in the airport.
“I just stayed here overnight,” Brown stated in her video, filmed inside the airport. “I didn’t get stuck; I planned it, and it turned out to be a good decision and a good time.”
Brown, who works as an actor and nanny in Los Angeles, emphasized that saving money influenced her choice, especially since she only needed a place to crash for a few hours.
“We arrived at night, so paying for a hotel just to sleep didn’t really make sense,” she clarified in her video.
She added that staying in the airport felt safer than wandering into a new city late at night, particularly after having already gone through security.
“Everyone’s been vetted, so you know no one has any weapons or anything crazy,” she remarked.
Brown expressed surprise at the reaction to her video, which has garnered 725,000 views. “Some viewers thought it was bizarre or unclean, but others seemed really excited about it, saying things like, ‘Oh, I never thought of that,’” she told another outlet.
Having stayed in airports multiple times, Brown, who enjoys camping, came prepared with a sleeping pad, a sheet, and her bonnet to ensure a comfortable night.
“I feel like people sleep in airports all the time. What’s wild is I actually planned for it,” she shared. “I was totally ready with my pad, sheet, and bonnet.”
She even mentioned that sleeping in the airport could feel preferable to staying in her car or on public land.
Despite not having access to a shower, Brown uses airport restrooms to brush her teeth, wash her face, and freshen up with baby wipes.
Her tip for anyone considering an airport sleepover is to travel light and bring along personal bedtime comfort items. “Think about your bedtime routine,” she advised. “I like to be cozy, so I made sure to bring a warm sheet.”
Interestingly, airport sleeping is becoming more comfortable in some places. In July, TikTok users noted that several international airports, like those in Perth and Singapore, have introduced sleeping pods for weary travelers. Additionally, Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport was named North America’s most sleep-friendly airport for 2024, offering various amenities like massage chairs, lounges, and 24-hour food options to enhance comfort for overnight travelers.
