Going on long-haul flights can be downright boring. Yes, there may be entertainment options provided for you by the airline, but even the movies, music and games get dry after a while. You don’t always get something you actually like. And if you’re a frequent traveller on business, you’ve probably seen it, heard it, and played it. Think about making your flights more interesting by getting corporate travel specialists like FCm Travel Solutions to plan things for your group, including making requests for all your flight preferences. In the meantime, why not go back to basics when it comes to entertaining yourself?
1. Read
When was the last time you read a good book? For some, there’s nothing like purchasing a crisp new book before a trip. Make sure the book is about something that interests you, or is by an author whose work you’ve enjoyed in the past – you don’t want to discover it’s a yawn-fest. If you prefer, take a book that you’ve already started and can’t wait to read more. If one book isn’t enough, an e-reader is for you! You can switch from one novel to another when you need a break. If you fully charge it, you’ll get 8,000 page turns out of it, so you can read to your heart’s content! If you’re a lighter reader, you can always grab some magazines from the airport newsagent – at least you can pick and choose what you read from each magazine.
2. Listen to Music, Podcasts or Audiobooks
Music is ideal for when you need to drown out that distracting chatter around you, or the screams of unruly kids! There may be some music as part of the inflight entertainment, but it may not be what you like. Come prepared. Load up your iPod with your favourites, maybe some new music too, pop on your noise-cancelling headphones, and relax (or dance in your seat depending on what you’re listening to!). Consider downloading some podcasts before your trip too. Many of them are free. You may want to listen to podcasts featuring guides for where you’re going, or podcasts that teach a language –you can brush up on the languages of your destination. If you prefer to rest your eyes, an audiobook is a great alternative to actually reading a book!
3. Games
Firstly, electronic. Nintendo DS and PSP are the obvious portable choices. Games designed for a few hours play are great. The hours will disappear. Make sure your consoles are fully charged. But when you don’t want to worry about charging your gaming devices, there’s something to be said about playing good ol’ fashioned games. Card decks don’t take up much room in your luggage, and it’s fun to play card games with your companions. Some games are available in travel-size, like Scrabble, Cluedo and Monopoly – all fun classics, and some even come with magnetic boards with storage compartments. No losing pieces!
Now you’re all set to pass the time away on your next long-haul flight! In the age of digital inflight entertainment, it’s easy to forget the activities that used to keep travellers occupied. What’s great are the classic options that have evolved to suit our modern lifestyles. There are still plenty of other ways to entertain yourself on a flight. Can you think of anything else?
