Sleeping in Airports

Albany Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Albany Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

The cleaning crew comes around at 3 or 4 am — guaranteed to wake you up with their vacuum machines -a traveller

ALB Airport Overview

albany airport guideTo help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Albany International Airport.

What to Expect

The facilities at Albany Airport (code: ALB) consist of a two-level terminal with three interconnected concourses (A, B and C).  Eateries and shops can be found in all three concourses, but landside options are limited. Vending machines are the only option after shops and eateries close for the night. The airport offers free WiFi. While the airport does not host private lounges, a military lounge exists.

Sleeping in Albany Airport

After security checkpoints close for the night, passengers are restricted to the landside and must clear security when the secure zone re-opens in the morning. Travellers report that comfortable seating is easy to find and that there are private nooks suitable for reasonable sleep. While there are comfortable chairs in the ticketing area, it remains brightly lit during the night, and some reviewers found the classical background music annoying. The third-level observation room is carpeted and contains benches, and is described as a viable option. There is also a dimly lit adjacent conference room that has comfortable seating and benches. Whatever option you choose, consider earplugs/noise-cancelling headphones to account for noise, which is deemed the biggest sleep hindrance. For uninterrupted sleep, there are hotels near the airport. See Airport Hotels in the guide below or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Albany Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

airport hotelsAirport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Albany Airport that provide free airport shuttles:

  • Hilton Garden Inn Albany Airport – Located across the street from the terminal. Free airport shuttle is available on request. » Check Rates
  • Tru by Hilton Albany Airport – Free 24-hour airport shuttle.  » Check Rates
  • Baymont by Wyndham Latham Albany Airport – Free airport shuttle operates from 4:00AM – 11:00PM.  » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Albany Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.

airport loungeAirport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

There are no pay-per use airport lounges. See information on the Business Center below.

Military Lounges

Capt. John J. McKenna IV Military Courtesy Room – Location: 3rd Level, to the left of the Observation View. Amenities: A 10’x20’ room featuring comfortable seating, large-screen TV, computer, free WIFI, refrigerator, food & beverages, books, and DVDs. Lounge Access: open to enlisted military and their families.

wifiAirport WiFi / Internet

Free WiFi is available at Albany airport. Connect to the “AirportWiFiFree” network.

airport infoMore Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport

Arts & Culture Program – Check out the exhibitions throughout the airport. An Art Gallery on Observation Level 3 is open 7:00AM – 11:00 PM (daily).

ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Key Bank and Bank of America operate machines. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations:

  • Landside: 1st Floor near Information Desk
  • Airside: Concourse A • Concourse C

Baby Care Facilities – Baby changing tables are available throughout the airport.

Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available in the Baggage Claim area. Rate: US$ 4 with a $.25 refund upon return.

Business Center – Internet workstations, TV lounge, and limited business services are available. Entry into the center is free, but conference room facilities and some services incur a fee. Location: 2nd Level, Concourse C. Hours: Unknown.

Currency Exchange – Travelex provides currency exchange services. Location: Main Terminal, Baggage Claim Area, Landside. Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Daily).

Duty-Free & Shopping – Along with the standard airport newsstands and bookstores (Locations: Concourse A, B and C), there is the DEPARTURE Museum Shop (Location: 1st Floor, Baggage Claim Area. Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM), featuring fine art and gifts.

Food & Drinks – Restaurants can be found in each Concourse and the food court with varying opening times. Dunkin Donuts (Landside) is open 24 hours. Vending machines are available on the first floor in the baggage claim area. Other dining options include:

  • Food Court: McDonald’s • Silks Saratoga Bistro • Starbucks • The Market • Chick-Fil-A • Wolfgang Puck Pizza • Greenleaf
  • Concourse A: Adirondack Lodge
  • Concourse B: Hudson Valley Wine Bar
  • Concourse C: ALB Local

Water bottle refill stations are available for travellers with their own water bottles.  Locations: Concourse A, B5 and C1

Information Desk – Need help? Talk to an agent at the Information Desk. Location: first floor, between the ticket counters and the baggage claim. Hours: 6:00 AM -11:00 PM (Mon-Fri) • 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Sat-Sun). Airport Ambassadors can be found throughout the airport; look for the red blazers.

Luggage Storage & Lockers – Unavailable.

Mobile Charging – At the time of this update, we had no information about mobile charging availability. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.

Observation Deck – Relax and watch planes taking off and landing from the vantage point of the airport’s observation deck. Location: 3rd Level.

Postal Services – Drop off your last-minute postcards to friends and family from the airport’s mailbox. Stamps can be purchased at the information desk. Location: 1st Level, near Information Desk.

Prayer Room – An interfaith prayer room can be found Airside, Concourse C.

Rest Zones – No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Showers – Unavailable.

SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.

Smoking – There are no smoking areas inside the airport. Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the airport.

Travel Agencies – Information not available.

airport hoursAirport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

Keep in mind that TSA, airline check-in, and baggage drop hours vary according to the flight schedule. Check these hours with your airline. If you are in the public area (landside), you will not be able to get through to the secure area (airside) until the morning.

airlinesAirlines

Albany airport is served by the following airlines: Allegiant Airlines • American Airlines • Delta Air Lines • Frontier Airlines • JetBlue Airways • Southwest Airlines • United Airlines.

transportationAirport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Bus and Coach

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) bus network connects Albany Airport to most areas in the city. For information about fares and schedules, visit the CDTA website. Adirondack Trailways offers service to the entire Adirondack region and the New York City corridor up to Montreal, Canada. Tickets are sold online or at the Information Desk in the airport. For information on fares and schedules, visit the Adirondack Trailways website. Premiere Transportation services the three major NYC metropolitan airports: JFK, Newark-Liberty and LaGuardia. For information on fares and schedules, visit the Premiere Transportation website. Vermont Translines offers daily service between the airport and popular Vermont destinations, including Bennington, Manchester, Rutland and Burlington. Visit the Translines website.

Car Rentals

The following car rental agencies are located onsite in the Baggage Claim area: Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Hertz • National/Alamo. Visit our travel partner at Tripadvisor to search for car rental deals.

Hotel Shuttles

Several area hotels provide airport shuttle service:  Albany Marriott   •   Baymont by Wyndham Latham Albany Airport  •   Best Western Albany Airport Inn   •  Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel  •  Hampton Inn Albany – Wolf Road (Airport)   •  Hilton Garden Inn Albany Airport   •     Homewood Suites by Hilton Albany  •   Staybridge Suites Albany Wolf Rd-Colonie Center  •  SureStay Plus Hotel By Best Western Albany Airport  • TownePlace Suites by Marriott Latham Albany Airport  •  Tru by Hilton Albany Airport.

These hotels can be contacted from the airport via direct-line courtesy phone at the Lodging and Transportation Center located in Baggage Claim. The hotel shuttle stop is in the Commercial Lane, directly across from the terminal.

See also Airport Hotels above.

Ridesharing

Lyft and Uber are available. Cars wait for passengers nearby and will arrive in 3-5 minutes once dispatched.

Taxi

Metered taxis are available at the taxi stand in the Commercial Lane across from the terminal. Only Capitaland Taxis are authorized to operate from this taxi stand. Still, with prior arrangements made, passengers may be picked up or dropped off by any taxi service provider of their choice. Capitaland taxis accept cash and credit card.

Last updated: 2024-01-31

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.