Pass Time on a Plane

10 ways to make that trip fly by

I love going on holiday and get really excited the night before as I’m packing my suitcase and planning what I’m going to do on the trip. But what I hate is the long, boring plane journey in between.

These days many of us are travelling further and further afield and although it’s great we can see the world, it does mean very long journeys. If you’re anything like me you’ll start to get restless and grumpy if you’re sat in your seat for longer than about two hours, so here’s some tips to help keep you occupied.

1. Sleep! It sounds obvious, but if you get some rest on the plane you’ll feel much better when you reach your destination. Buy one of those neck pillows if you find it hard to get comfy.

2. Take advantage of in-flight entertainment. Larger planes going on long-haul flights will usually have screens built into the seats so you can take your pick from a whole host of TV shows, films and music.

3. Read. Take some books and magazines to read during the flight as this will keep you entertained as well as (hopefully) help you to nod off.

4. Get up and have a walk around. Admittedly there isn’t really that much room for a stroll on a plane, but if you get up and have a little walk to the area next to where the cabin crew sit you’ll feel so much better for stretching your legs.

5. Play games. This is especially good if you’re travelling with children and you can play games like hangman, noughts and crosses, puzzle books or cards to pass the time.

6. Learn a foreign language. OK, so you’re obviously not going to master the entire Spanish language on your flight, but you can learn some key phrases to get you through your trip.

7. Plan your holiday. Get a guide book and use the time to have a good look through it, working out what you want to do and when.

8. Listen to music. Take your iPod or mp3 player with you and listen to some tunes. Just like reading this will hopefully help you relax and nod off.

9. Hobbies. Do you like drawing, knitting or sewing? Take a small project with you to do on the plane.

10. Chat to your neighbour. Chances are you’ll be travelling with friends or family, but if you’re on your own and really stuck for something to do, try striking up conversation with the person sitting next to you. They might even be from the place you’re flying to and have loads of helpful tips.