So, I’ve never been the one who sleeps through a flight no matter how long or short the duration is. Over the years, I have found ways to feel more comfortable and make long flights more bearable but even then I can never fall into a deep slumber.
You can be rest assured that on long haul journeys, the in-flight entertainment system is my best friend. However, most of my travels have been short-hauls and with budget airlines which means your girl has to fend for herself 😉
5 ways to kill time on a flight
Here are my tips and ways on how to avoid boredom, have fun and kill time on a flight when, like me, you don’t sleep well in planes. These exclude the obvious ones like listening to your favourite music, watching movies and shows on the in-flight entertainment system if it’s available or catching up on work (in my case, blogging) if it’s something that can be done offline.
Netflix & Chill
This is probably my most favourite millennial phrase and I might have taken it a bit too seriously 😉 In case you didn’t know, it is possible to download movies/shows on Netflix for offline viewing. Now whenever I am travelling, I download the videos on my phone before-hand, make sure I carry my headphones and also a power bank to charge my phone.
Reading
This one’s quite an obvious one, I know. I also know that it’s not for everyone. I love reading (fiction) and tend to buy Kindle ebooks or paperbacks before travelling. If you are travelling light with only carry-on luggage, ebooks are the way to go. You can also download the Kindle app on your phone and that’s one device less to travel with 🙂
What have you been reading lately?
Audio Books
If you are not a fan of reading books, audio books can be your thing. Narrated by performers who can bring the story to life, audio books can be great at keeping you engaged and help you visualise the story. Another advantage (not quite useful when you’re stuck in a plane, though) is that it allows you to multi-task, for example, when you are doing some house chores or walking your dog.
Amazon are running an amazing offer (details below – valid until 14th Dec’18) on Audible subscriptions for new customers. So, if you’ve been thinking about signing up for Audible, now’s the right time!
Adult Colouring books
Now hear me out before you roll your eyes, or worse even, switch to another page 😉 If you are an anxious traveller, adult colouring books can be quite beneficial. Colour therapy is real and is known to help relax your mind. Available in a variety of topics, from flowers to Harry Potter and even swear words, I’m sure there’s one for you. Why not give it a try?
Strike a conversation
This is not an easy one for introverts like me. Although I mostly travel with my partner, there have been a few long haul flights when I flew solo. Also, some budget airlines do not allocate adjacent seats to passengers travelling together. On one such flight, while returning from the Azores, I ended up talking to the girl next to me for almost 2 hours. She was from the Azores and we had a great time talking about the local Azorean culture and the cross references between India and Portugal. Time well spent!
I hope you enjoyed this post on my favourite ways to kill time on a flight. Do you have any tips to share? Leave me a comment, I’d love to know 🙂
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Cheers,
Ameeta xx
