You may be on your way to a tropical destination for the next two weeks, but first, you have to bear a long flight in a cramped airplane seat. Sure, an in-flight movie (if it's good) can pass a couple hours of dull flight time, but what are you going to do with the rest? Depending on your interests, and the length of your flight, there are several things you can do to keep yourself busy and stimulated on an airplane. Here are some of our own tried and tested tips for keeping busy on a long flight.
Firstly, it is important to get up and walk around during your flight. Taking a break from your cramped seating position will allow blood to properly flow through your body, reducing tension and relieving pain. You don't want to be that person who gets up every 15 minutes, constantly disturbing those sitting around you, but getting up every so often will make sitting down for long periods of time that much easier. It will also be easier to pass the time if your legs and back don't feel like they are encased in cement.
Once you have given your legs a break, try engaging your mind a bit. If you have anything outstanding for your trip, try and get it done on the plane. Not only will it pass the time, but it will give you a chance to tie up any loose ends that you may have, allowing you to kick your feet up and relax once you get to your destination. You can also bring a book and some fun puzzle games to keep you busy. You may not get through a whole book, or finish all of the puzzles, but it will definitely help keep your mind stimulated as you pass the time.
Another important tip is to try and take breaks between whatever you are doing. If you have been reading for an hour, try and switch to something else for a short period of time. That way, you don't get sick of reading for two hours, and then stop reading altogether. Bring a variety of things to keep you busy, that way you can cycle between “activities”, which will keep your attention span going over a long flight.
Overall, the best way to kill some time on a flight is to get some sleep. With cramped seats and thin blankets, it can be hard to get some decent rest, but if you are able to catch a few zzz's, it will knock a few hours off your travel time. If you have trouble falling asleep on an airplane, try dimming your cabin lights and tiring your eyes out with a good book. This is especially helpful if your destination has a drastic time difference that you need to adjust to.
