What can I do to constructively pass the time on long flights?
February 6, 2022 5:45 PM Subscribe
I have to take several very long (12-13 hours) plane flights in the next few months. Besides watching the boring movies on the flight and organizing my photos on my phone and sleeping, what are some projects I can do? I won't have access to internet (but could download whatever i needed before). I am trying to get creative but coming up a bit short.
Seconding knitting. I love watching movies I’ve seen before while knitting. if i do one without the other i can’t focus. If i do both I’m golden.
posted by you'rerightyou'rerightiknowyou'reright at 6:07 PM on February 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by you'rerightyou'rerightiknowyou'reright at 6:07 PM on February 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
I look at longer flights as a golden opportunity to read undisturbed for hours at a time.
posted by COD at 6:08 PM on February 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by COD at 6:08 PM on February 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
On my last trip, I downloaded recommended playlists from my stable of music services and discovered quite a few new artists and tracks. I have a hard time just listening to music in the real world...
posted by jmfitch at 6:11 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by jmfitch at 6:11 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
I read, draw (in a sketchbook or iPad), organize the files on my computer, delete attachments on my devices I don’t want, storyboard or sketch out ideas for projects. The nicest use of my time on planes is doing something without being interrupted by emails/texts/people so I get the biggest value out of activities that require focus or are kind of mindless enough (cleaning up files) that I don’t want to do it when I’m not trapped in an airplane.
posted by Bunglegirl at 6:18 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Bunglegirl at 6:18 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Nthing reading.
Mignt be worth it to invest in a nice Kindle device and a library card, if you don't have these items already. Your local library will probably have Kindle formatted books to download onto your device. Once they're downloaded, you can put your Kindle in Airplane Mode, and happily read while being offline. You *could* read them on your phone with the Kindle app, but for me at least? That's extremely hard on my eyes.)
I personally use the free Libby app on my Android to checkout the digital books from the library, and then download the digital book from the Amazon site to your Kindle device.
posted by spinifex23 at 6:22 PM on February 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Mignt be worth it to invest in a nice Kindle device and a library card, if you don't have these items already. Your local library will probably have Kindle formatted books to download onto your device. Once they're downloaded, you can put your Kindle in Airplane Mode, and happily read while being offline. You *could* read them on your phone with the Kindle app, but for me at least? That's extremely hard on my eyes.)
I personally use the free Libby app on my Android to checkout the digital books from the library, and then download the digital book from the Amazon site to your Kindle device.
posted by spinifex23 at 6:22 PM on February 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Meditation.
posted by aramaic at 6:27 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by aramaic at 6:27 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’ve taken several hella long flights (8 to 12 hours one way), and I find that I can’t concentrate well enough to read. Instead, I binge podcasts or audio books in between trying to sleep. Listening keeps my mind happy, and headphones mask some of the dreadful noise.
posted by ReginaHart at 7:09 PM on February 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by ReginaHart at 7:09 PM on February 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
Audio editing software for phones has really advanced in the last few years. If you have good headphones you could try your hand at editing songs you have to take out bridges you don't like, add more chorus repetitions, remix two songs together, etc. Or edit a podcast to take out the ads.
posted by brainwane at 7:12 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by brainwane at 7:12 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also, I do have to suggest as an ex-long-haul flyer (literally halfway across the world twice a year), that your doctor can prescribe things that will make the trip much more acceptable.
...there are drugs to reduce the twitchy "my legs have not fully extended in 8hrs!! AAAGHH!!!" feeling. There are also drugs that will put you into a pleasant (yet intellectually coherent) twilight realm, and all of them can be reasonably prescribed in limited doses if you talk to your doctor ahead of time, and we're not talking Ambien-I-am-propositioning-my-seat-cushion-now-I-will-remove-my-clothes type drugs. Just, um, "assists" if that makes sense.
Pro-tip, express an irritation/sense of failure about "resorting" to chemicals and do NOT express any thought about what a solution might be, just ask if there's anything that can be done -- they'll be more likely to prescribe a limited quantity, and you don't care about that quantity being limited, because you're not doing this recreationally.
posted by aramaic at 7:28 PM on February 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
...there are drugs to reduce the twitchy "my legs have not fully extended in 8hrs!! AAAGHH!!!" feeling. There are also drugs that will put you into a pleasant (yet intellectually coherent) twilight realm, and all of them can be reasonably prescribed in limited doses if you talk to your doctor ahead of time, and we're not talking Ambien-I-am-propositioning-my-seat-cushion-now-I-will-remove-my-clothes type drugs. Just, um, "assists" if that makes sense.
Pro-tip, express an irritation/sense of failure about "resorting" to chemicals and do NOT express any thought about what a solution might be, just ask if there's anything that can be done -- they'll be more likely to prescribe a limited quantity, and you don't care about that quantity being limited, because you're not doing this recreationally.
posted by aramaic at 7:28 PM on February 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
For starters, bring your own movies.
But as far as productivity goes, a lot depends on you. I enjoy creating short essays and poetry but it is a long arduous task and one that I am always easily distracted from. Being stuck in a seat for 12 hours gives me a chance to, well, buckle down.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:24 PM on February 6, 2022
But as far as productivity goes, a lot depends on you. I enjoy creating short essays and poetry but it is a long arduous task and one that I am always easily distracted from. Being stuck in a seat for 12 hours gives me a chance to, well, buckle down.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:24 PM on February 6, 2022
Oh my goodness, I LOVE long flights. Do you do anything crafty? I bring knitting (A+++ favorite plane activity in combination with rando plane movies), my kindle with several books ranging from trashy to just-my-style to aspirational reading. Also magazines, tiny tasty treat-snacks, crossword puzzles, small physical puzzles (like a super hard mini puzzle or a small 3D thing). Download stupid games to play on your phone. Cross stitch or drawing is portable and fun. What is your very favorite thing to do? Bring a small version and do WHATEVER YOU WANT for 8-13 hours and no one can bother you no matter what.
posted by zibra at 8:59 PM on February 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by zibra at 8:59 PM on February 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Video games! I played two great games on my laptop on my last transatlantic flights: Her Story and The Return of the Obra Dinn. If you can get your hands on a switch you will be able to easily entertain yourself the whole time.
posted by pazazygeek at 9:19 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by pazazygeek at 9:19 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Audio books, and a Steam Deck, if you can get your hands on one. :) And podcasts, of course.
Spare time could be used sketching ideas, random bouts of creativity.
posted by kschang at 11:41 PM on February 6, 2022
Spare time could be used sketching ideas, random bouts of creativity.
posted by kschang at 11:41 PM on February 6, 2022
I'm another routine long-hauler--before the pandemic I was flying internationally 5-10 times per year, and traveling within the US for about 50% of the year.
I'll second meditation. When the Headspace app arrived I found it to be a long flight blessing. I also listen to guided meditations (and audiobooks, interviews, etc) from people like Jack Kornfield.
I kind of lump therapy in with meditation. I'll often download audiobooks, podcasts, blogs, articles by people like Dr. Steven Hayes (who's one of the people who developed ACT, the flavor of therapy I find most useful). It's difficult to find routine time on the ground when I can deeply dig into this stuff, and long flights are perfect for it--there's time to read, listen, reflect, write a little... I've come to think of it as quality time with myself.
A comfy pair of noise cancelling over-ear headphones is a luxury, but I tell people that if you're in airplanes all the time it's a necessary luxury. Even if I'm not actively listneing to anything, putting these on and turning on the noise reduction function is a blessing. It helps me truly unclench to have a bit of a refuge from the nonstop sound bath you get in an airplane.
What I don't do is work. My professional has too tight a hold on the hours of my day as is, and I've let go of the compulsion to work while actively en route somewhere. I want to pay attention to the route and my travel on it (and I'm saying this after years of trying to understand why doing so much travelling for work was leaving me feeling dsiconnected from home, unmoored even when away).
If you fancy a drink, consider bringing a drinks kit. I love an in-flight bloody mary. I'll sometimes fill a small sealable container with olives, pickles, cornichons, pepperoncini, pearl onions, and celery so I can tart up the basic one I can get on board.
I also have a couple of very welcome toiletries. A small bottle of nasal saline for when the air makes my nose all dry and painful, a little sachet of super gentle wet wipes (not antibacterial or soapy wipes, just damp rags to run over my face and neck and armpits after the hours wear on and I feel greasy and gross). And, of course, a comfortable N95. I tend to wear a comfortable cloth mask on top of my N95, with a flexible mask strap extender to save my ears, and I will never stop using masks on flights after all this. I'm a traveling epidemiologist and I have no idea why I wasn't already doing this as a routine pre-pandemic.
Happy travels.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:43 AM on February 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
I'll second meditation. When the Headspace app arrived I found it to be a long flight blessing. I also listen to guided meditations (and audiobooks, interviews, etc) from people like Jack Kornfield.
I kind of lump therapy in with meditation. I'll often download audiobooks, podcasts, blogs, articles by people like Dr. Steven Hayes (who's one of the people who developed ACT, the flavor of therapy I find most useful). It's difficult to find routine time on the ground when I can deeply dig into this stuff, and long flights are perfect for it--there's time to read, listen, reflect, write a little... I've come to think of it as quality time with myself.
A comfy pair of noise cancelling over-ear headphones is a luxury, but I tell people that if you're in airplanes all the time it's a necessary luxury. Even if I'm not actively listneing to anything, putting these on and turning on the noise reduction function is a blessing. It helps me truly unclench to have a bit of a refuge from the nonstop sound bath you get in an airplane.
What I don't do is work. My professional has too tight a hold on the hours of my day as is, and I've let go of the compulsion to work while actively en route somewhere. I want to pay attention to the route and my travel on it (and I'm saying this after years of trying to understand why doing so much travelling for work was leaving me feeling dsiconnected from home, unmoored even when away).
If you fancy a drink, consider bringing a drinks kit. I love an in-flight bloody mary. I'll sometimes fill a small sealable container with olives, pickles, cornichons, pepperoncini, pearl onions, and celery so I can tart up the basic one I can get on board.
I also have a couple of very welcome toiletries. A small bottle of nasal saline for when the air makes my nose all dry and painful, a little sachet of super gentle wet wipes (not antibacterial or soapy wipes, just damp rags to run over my face and neck and armpits after the hours wear on and I feel greasy and gross). And, of course, a comfortable N95. I tend to wear a comfortable cloth mask on top of my N95, with a flexible mask strap extender to save my ears, and I will never stop using masks on flights after all this. I'm a traveling epidemiologist and I have no idea why I wasn't already doing this as a routine pre-pandemic.
Happy travels.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:43 AM on February 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
I learned almost everything I know about python programming on planes. (Having a project in mind and having spent an hour getting documents and installing packages leaving is probably required.) Lately, I've mostly given up on being productive and just listen to audio books and count it as recreational time.
posted by eotvos at 5:05 AM on February 7, 2022
posted by eotvos at 5:05 AM on February 7, 2022
2nding zoning out and sleeping for ultra long flights. I listen to podcasts to fall asleep at night so download as many as possible. Whatever the BBC has as well, those calm, measured tones are very soothing.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:14 AM on February 7, 2022
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:14 AM on February 7, 2022
I try to sleep as much as I can (and I pack sleep aids for timezone crossing trips anyway to help with jetlag, so go ahead and get started on the plane). I try to aim to get through meal service and then zonk out. Beyond that, I like to save up a bunch of anticipated podcast episodes or audiobooks, download some movies I actually want to watch (foreign subtitled movies are great because for once I'm not distracted), and a bunch of downloaded library books. If I have the space in my carry-on, sometimes I also bring my Switch to play games. I look at it as a great time to finally dig into my to-read/watch/listen list, because I know distractions and interruptions will be minimal.
I like to have a variety of formats/mediums, so if my eyes get tired or I get bored, I can switch. Also make sure to get up every hour or so even just to stretch your legs. Staying on top of that helps by the time you hit hour 11 and are ready to jump out the emergency exit.
posted by bowtiesarecool at 5:22 AM on February 7, 2022
I like to have a variety of formats/mediums, so if my eyes get tired or I get bored, I can switch. Also make sure to get up every hour or so even just to stretch your legs. Staying on top of that helps by the time you hit hour 11 and are ready to jump out the emergency exit.
posted by bowtiesarecool at 5:22 AM on February 7, 2022
The reading light is perfect for needlework—multiple people have mentioned knitting, but I’ve also done mending, hemming, and embroidery tasks on planes with an audiobook playing and it really helps the time pass. Basically anything where you can get into your “flow state”.
posted by zem at 11:16 AM on February 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by zem at 11:16 AM on February 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm neither crafty nor read-y so on long flights I like to make a fancy grooming schedule. This has the bonus of making you get up from your seat often, to use the bathrooms.
Bathroom break 1 (right after seatbelt sign is off): I start by tying my hair up into a loose twist. Then, I wash off any makeup or moisturizer, and usually put on a sheet mask. (Do I look ridiculous? I do.)
Bathroom break 2: Remove the sheet mask. After patting in all of the face mask goo, I go back to my seat and take a nap.
Bathroom break 3: Post nap, blot any shine off of my face, and add sunscreen.
You can also build in time at your seat for drinking water (very important regardless! Planes are dry), putting lotion or cuticle oil on dry hands, etc. Keep it all unscented, for the sake of your fellow passengers, of course. Don't do any clipping, filing, or plucking at your seat OBVIOUSLY, but a little hand lotion is not liable to revolt anyone. MOAR NAPS.
Bathroom break 4: An hour before landing, I do another face blot and put on as much makeup as I would like to, based on wherever I'm headed.
At my seat: Just before/when they turn the seatbelt sign on, I pull my hair out of the twist -- keeping it up means it doesn't get too frizzy or greasy, and has a bit of volume.
Walk off the plane looking and feeling like one million bucks.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:44 PM on February 7, 2022
Bathroom break 1 (right after seatbelt sign is off): I start by tying my hair up into a loose twist. Then, I wash off any makeup or moisturizer, and usually put on a sheet mask. (Do I look ridiculous? I do.)
Bathroom break 2: Remove the sheet mask. After patting in all of the face mask goo, I go back to my seat and take a nap.
Bathroom break 3: Post nap, blot any shine off of my face, and add sunscreen.
You can also build in time at your seat for drinking water (very important regardless! Planes are dry), putting lotion or cuticle oil on dry hands, etc. Keep it all unscented, for the sake of your fellow passengers, of course. Don't do any clipping, filing, or plucking at your seat OBVIOUSLY, but a little hand lotion is not liable to revolt anyone. MOAR NAPS.
Bathroom break 4: An hour before landing, I do another face blot and put on as much makeup as I would like to, based on wherever I'm headed.
At my seat: Just before/when they turn the seatbelt sign on, I pull my hair out of the twist -- keeping it up means it doesn't get too frizzy or greasy, and has a bit of volume.
Walk off the plane looking and feeling like one million bucks.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:44 PM on February 7, 2022
Duolingo on headphones - just disable the "speaking" portion.
Bring a bunch of your hopelessly tangled necklace chains to untangle, and a piece of cardboard to wrap them around when you're done.
Bring some tarnished silver jewelry you might want to wear on your trip, and go to town with one of those polishing cloths. Time-consuming but very satisfying.
posted by egeanin at 9:50 AM on February 8, 2022
Bring a bunch of your hopelessly tangled necklace chains to untangle, and a piece of cardboard to wrap them around when you're done.
Bring some tarnished silver jewelry you might want to wear on your trip, and go to town with one of those polishing cloths. Time-consuming but very satisfying.
posted by egeanin at 9:50 AM on February 8, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by urbanlenny at 5:53 PM on February 6, 2022 [8 favorites]