How to Keep Yourself Occupied in an Airplane

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Flying on an airplane can be a really fun and exciting experience! Whether you’re traveling for fun or for work, you get to see and explore a new place. Sometimes, the hardest part can be getting through the flight itself. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself occupied and entertained on the plane. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of options you can choose from to help pass the time.

1

Read a book, magazine, or newspaper.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Bring one with you or pick one up at the airport.
    Flights can actually be a great chance for you to get some uninterrupted reading time. Take advantage of it! Bring a book that you’ve been meaning to get to or grab a magazine or newspaper that will keep you entertained.[1]
    • You can also download a book, magazine, or newspaper to your smartphone, tablet, or an e-reader ahead of time so you’re all set for the flight.
    • You can also always flip through the Sky Mall magazine! You never know what you’ll find in there.
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2

Listen to some music.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Make some new playlists to jam out to on your flight.
    Pick out some classics that you can listen to over and over again as well as some new tunes you haven’t had a chance to check out. You can also use a streaming app like Spotify or Pandora to create your own playlists or check out some pre-made ones.[2]
    • Some apps, like Spotify, have an “Offline” mode that allows you to store music so you can listen to it even when your phone isn’t connected to the internet.
3

Check out a podcast.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Learn something new or be entertained the entire flight.
    Podcasts are a great way to pass the time and there are a ton of different ones out there. Choose one that you’re interested in or in the mood for.[3]
    • You can learn something new with educational podcasts such as Stuff You Should Know or Answer Me This. You can also listen to comedy, literary, or news podcasts.
    • You can also download a few shows ahead of your flight so if your plane doesn’t have wifi access, you’ll still have hours of entertainment.
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4

Watch a movie.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Take advantage of the in-flight entertainment.
    Most long flights offer some sort of in-flight entertainment. Check out what options are being offered and choose one that you haven’t seen before, or an old classic that will pass the time. Then, just sit back and enjoy![4]
    • You can also download a movie to your smartphone or tablet ahead of time so you can watch whatever you like.
5

Play sudoku to challenge your mind.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Pass the time with some challenging puzzles.
    Bring a book of sudoku puzzles and a pencil (with an eraser for mistakes) with you on to the flight. Break it out whenever you find yourself bored and use it to keep your mind occupied. The best part is you don’t need batteries or wifi—just brainpower![5]
    • You could also bring a book of crossword puzzles if that’s more your thing.
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6

Get creative with your writing.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Jot down ideas for a story or just journal your thoughts.
    Use the uninterrupted time on an airplane to take a crack at that story, poem, or play you’ve always thought about writing. You can also write out your thoughts in a journal or document your travels so you can look back and reminisce in the future.[6]
    • Even just getting a rough draft down on paper can give you a jumping off point and may give you the push to work on a creative project.
7

Take photos out of the window.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Capture the scenery and any landmarks you pass over.
    One of the coolest parts about being so high in the air are the bird’s eye views you have. Whip out your camera or your phone and snap some photos of the skyline, clouds, or any famous landmarks you recognize. Save them for later, post them to social media, or share them with your friends and loved ones.[7]
    • Photos can be a great way to remember your trip as well. For instance, some scenic snapshots of mountain ranges could be something really nice to save and look back on in the future.
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8

Talk to someone next to you.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Try introducing yourself and chatting with someone new.
    An airplane is full of different people from all walks of life and you never know who you could meet. Try introducing yourself to the person sitting next to you. Ask if they’re traveling for vacation or for work. If they’re interested in chatting, it could really help pass the time.[8]
    • For instance, you could say something like, “Hi there, I’m Jack. Are you heading to Denver for vacation?”
9

Go online if your flight has wifi.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Check your social media, play on an app, or just surf the web.
    Many flights these days offer free wifi access once the plane has reached a certain altitude. If yours does, simply log in to the wifi and use your phone or tablet to chat with friends and see what people are up to on social media. You can also play a game, explore an app, or just surf around on the web to entertain yourself and pass the time.[9]
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10

Catch up on some work.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Break out your laptop if you have it with you.
    Read and respond to some emails or put in some work on a project while you’re in the air. You’ll land feeling good about staying on top of everything and you’ll pass the time while you’re in the air.[10]
11

Plan your trip if you haven’t already.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Think about everything you want to do when you land.
    If you’re a bit of a procrastinator, or you’ve just been focused on getting to your destination, you may not have fully planned out everything once you’ve arrived. No problem! Use your time in the air to figure out everything you want to do so once you’re on the ground, you’ve got a gameplan together.[11]
    • For instance, you could look up restaurants you want to visit and any attractions or landmarks you want to see while you’re there.
    • If it helps, you could make a list or jot down some notes in a note-taking app to help organize your trip.
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12

Get some sleep.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Kill some time and catch up on your rest while you’re traveling.
    Taking a nap can make the flight go by much more quickly and you’ll arrive feeling refreshed. Find a comfortable position or use a neck pillow to get some shut-eye.[12]
    • You could also listen to some soothing music or a really boring lecture to help lull yourself to sleep.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    I'm an anxious flyer, how can I calm myself down?
    How.com.vn English: Tracy Carver, PhD
    Tracy Carver, PhD
    Licensed Psychologist
    Dr. Tracy Carver is an award-winning Licensed Psychologist based in Austin, Texas. Dr. Carver specializes in counseling for issues related to self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and psychedelic integration. She holds a BS in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MA in Educational Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Carver also completed an internship in Clinical Psychology through Harvard University Medical School. She was voted one of the Best Mental Health Professionals in Austin for four years in a row by Austin Fit Magazine. Dr. Carver has been featured in Austin Monthly, Austin Woman Magazine, Life in Travis Heights, and KVUE (the Austin affiliate for ABC News).
    How.com.vn English: Tracy Carver, PhD
    Licensed Psychologist
    Expert Answer
    To prepare for a calm flight, practice breathing techniques before boarding to help manage anxiety. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on deep breathing. Acknowledge anxious thoughts without judgment, redirect your focus to your breath, or do a calming visualization. Repeat affirmations and continue practicing until you feel relaxed and ready for the journey ahead.
  • Question
    What if I feel sick on the plane?
    How.com.vn English: Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Chewing gum helps, especially with popping ears which sometimes are the source of discomfort. Drink small sips of water and take deep breaths. If worst comes to worst, there are almost always bags available if you need to throw up. Just be sure to alert the attendance that the bag needs to be disposed of after use.
  • Question
    I regularly take a 15-20 hour flight, and I am unable to sleep with the armrests locked in place. How can I entertain myself and keep from being bored on such a long flight?
    How.com.vn English: Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Read books or magazines or do crossword puzzles to help make your eyes tired, and try not to use any electronic devices prior to trying to fall asleep. If the in-flight movies aren't your thing and you don't have anything to do for work, you could write old-fashioned letters to people or journal entries to pass the time.
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      Tips

      • If your flight doesn’t offer wifi, preload some content onto your devices so you can access them without the internet. You can download movies, podcasts, and music to your smartphone or tablet to keep yourself entertained.[13]
      • Hours and hours of sitting can cause achy, sore muscles and can even lead to more serious issues such as deep vein thrombosis. Every hour or so, take some time to get up and move around the cabin of the airplane. Go use the restroom or just walk around to loosen up. It can help prevent stiffness and give you a mental break.[14]
      • Most flights offer drinks, and some may even be free! Take a look at the menu and choose your favorite beverage to help you unwind and maybe even make the flight more interesting.[15]
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      Warnings

      • Don’t get up and walk around the cabin until the pilot says it’s safe to do so.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about human psychology, check out our in-depth interview with Tracy Carver, PhD.

      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Tracy Carver, PhD
      Co-authored by:
      Licensed Psychologist
      This article was co-authored by Tracy Carver, PhD. Dr. Tracy Carver is an award-winning Licensed Psychologist based in Austin, Texas. Dr. Carver specializes in counseling for issues related to self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and psychedelic integration. She holds a BS in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MA in Educational Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Carver also completed an internship in Clinical Psychology through Harvard University Medical School. She was voted one of the Best Mental Health Professionals in Austin for four years in a row by Austin Fit Magazine. Dr. Carver has been featured in Austin Monthly, Austin Woman Magazine, Life in Travis Heights, and KVUE (the Austin affiliate for ABC News). This article has been viewed 142,596 times.
      1 votes - 100%
      Co-authors: 58
      Updated: April 8, 2024
      Views: 142,596
      Categories: Air Travel
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 142,596 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • How.com.vn English: Cadence Carlos

        Cadence Carlos

        Sep 15, 2016

        "I think this article helped me to bring more stuff with me that can kill boredom, thanks!"
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