How to Keep Yourself Occupied in an Airplane

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References Approved

Flying on an airplane can be a really fun and exciting experience! Whether you’re traveling for fun or for work, you get to see and explore a new place. Sometimes, the hardest part can be getting through the flight itself. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself occupied and entertained on the plane. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of options you can choose from to help pass the time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 12:
Read a book, magazine, or newspaper.

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Bring one with you or pick one up at the airport. Flights can actually be a great chance for you to get some uninterrupted reading time. Take advantage of it! Bring a book that you’ve been meaning to get to or grab a magazine or newspaper that will keep you entertained.^{[1]
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- You can also download a book, magazine, or newspaper to your smartphone, tablet, or an e-reader ahead of time so you’re all set for the flight.
- You can also always flip through the Sky Mall magazine! You never know what you’ll find in there.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 12:
Listen to some music.

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Make some new playlists to jam out to on your flight. Pick out some classics that you can listen to over and over again as well as some new tunes you haven’t had a chance to check out. You can also use a streaming app like Spotify or Pandora to create your own playlists or check out some pre-made ones.^{[2]
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- Some apps, like Spotify, have an “Offline” mode that allows you to store music so you can listen to it even when your phone isn’t connected to the internet.

Method 3

Method 3 of 12:
Check out a podcast.

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Learn something new or be entertained the entire flight. Podcasts are a great way to pass the time and there are a ton of different ones out there. Choose one that you’re interested in or in the mood for.^{[3]
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- You can learn something new with educational podcasts such as Stuff You Should Know or Answer Me This. You can also listen to comedy, literary, or news podcasts.
- You can also download a few shows ahead of your flight so if your plane doesn’t have wifi access, you’ll still have hours of entertainment.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 12:
Watch a movie.

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Take advantage of the in-flight entertainment. Most long flights offer some sort of in-flight entertainment. Check out what options are being offered and choose one that you haven’t seen before, or an old classic that will pass the time. Then, just sit back and enjoy!^{[4]
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- You can also download a movie to your smartphone or tablet ahead of time so you can watch whatever you like.

Method 5

Method 5 of 12:
Play sudoku to challenge your mind.

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Pass the time with some challenging puzzles. Bring a book of sudoku puzzles and a pencil (with an eraser for mistakes) with you on to the flight. Break it out whenever you find yourself bored and use it to keep your mind occupied. The best part is you don’t need batteries or wifi—just brainpower!^{[5]
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- You could also bring a book of crossword puzzles if that’s more your thing.
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Method 6

Method 6 of 12:
Get creative with your writing.

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Jot down ideas for a story or just journal your thoughts. Use the uninterrupted time on an airplane to take a crack at that story, poem, or play you’ve always thought about writing. You can also write out your thoughts in a journal or document your travels so you can look back and reminisce in the future.^{[6]
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- Even just getting a rough draft down on paper can give you a jumping off point and may give you the push to work on a creative project.

Method 7

Method 7 of 12:
Take photos out of the window.

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Capture the scenery and any landmarks you pass over. One of the coolest parts about being so high in the air are the bird’s eye views you have. Whip out your camera or your phone and snap some photos of the skyline, clouds, or any famous landmarks you recognize. Save them for later, post them to social media, or share them with your friends and loved ones.^{[7]
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- Photos can be a great way to remember your trip as well. For instance, some scenic snapshots of mountain ranges could be something really nice to save and look back on in the future.
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Method 8

Method 8 of 12:
Talk to someone next to you.

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Try introducing yourself and chatting with someone new. An airplane is full of different people from all walks of life and you never know who you could meet. Try introducing yourself to the person sitting next to you. Ask if they’re traveling for vacation or for work. If they’re interested in chatting, it could really help pass the time.^{[8]
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- For instance, you could say something like, “Hi there, I’m Jack. Are you heading to Denver for vacation?”

Method 9

Method 9 of 12:
Go online if your flight has wifi.

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Check your social media, play on an app, or just surf the web. Many flights these days offer free wifi access once the plane has reached a certain altitude. If yours does, simply log in to the wifi and use your phone or tablet to chat with friends and see what people are up to on social media. You can also play a game, explore an app, or just surf around on the web to entertain yourself and pass the time.^{[9]
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Method 10

Method 10 of 12:
Catch up on some work.

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Break out your laptop if you have it with you. Read and respond to some emails or put in some work on a project while you’re in the air. You’ll land feeling good about staying on top of everything and you’ll pass the time while you’re in the air.^{[10]
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Method 11

Method 11 of 12:
Plan your trip if you haven’t already.

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Think about everything you want to do when you land. If you’re a bit of a procrastinator, or you’ve just been focused on getting to your destination, you may not have fully planned out everything once you’ve arrived. No problem! Use your time in the air to figure out everything you want to do so once you’re on the ground, you’ve got a gameplan together.^{[11]
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- For instance, you could look up restaurants you want to visit and any attractions or landmarks you want to see while you’re there.
- If it helps, you could make a list or jot down some notes in a note-taking app to help organize your trip.
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Method 12

Method 12 of 12:
Get some sleep.

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Kill some time and catch up on your rest while you’re traveling. Taking a nap can make the flight go by much more quickly and you’ll arrive feeling refreshed. Find a comfortable position or use a neck pillow to get some shut-eye.^{[12]
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- You could also listen to some soothing music or a really boring lecture to help lull yourself to sleep.

Community Q&A

Question

What if I feel sick on the plane?

Community Answer

Chewing gum helps, especially with popping ears which sometimes are the source of discomfort. Drink small sips of water and take deep breaths. If worst comes to worst, there are almost always bags available if you need to throw up. Just be sure to alert the attendance that the bag needs to be disposed of after use.
Question

I regularly take a 15-20 hour flight, and I am unable to sleep with the armrests locked in place. How can I entertain myself and keep from being bored on such a long flight?

Community Answer

Read books or magazines or do crossword puzzles to help make your eyes tired, and try not to use any electronic devices prior to trying to fall asleep. If the in-flight movies aren't your thing and you don't have anything to do for work, you could write old-fashioned letters to people or journal entries to pass the time.
Question

What can I do to help my ears when the plane is landing?

Community Answer

Try yawning and gulping repeatedly. Chewing gum also works.
Question

What to can I do on the plane when I am really bored and everyone else is sleeping?

Community Answer

Make up a language in your head and write it down on paper, watch a movie, play a game or watch what the flight attendants are doing. You might even get up and talk to a flight attendant during the quiet shift, telling them you're bored.
Question

What should I do if I don't have wifi?

Community Answer

Try to prepare for it beforehand by bringing something non-electronic to entertain you, such as a book, pencils and drawing paper, a coloring book, or a puzzle book.
Question

Can I download movies and watch them on planes without wifi?

Community Answer

Yes. You can download movies onto your phone or tablet to watch on your plane trip.
Question

I have to do something non-electronic and easily hand-made on the plane (such as word searches - although I need more suggestions). What else could I do?

Community Answer

Then again paper origami that can be bought at stores is good because it doesn't require sharp objects I also suggest monopoly card games it can be fun during flights, I hope this works!
Question

What can I do to keep myself busy on a lonely train journey?

Community Answer

You can do the same things on a train that you would on a plane. If the train has WiFi, you can chat with friends on Messenger, play a game, etc. You can also chat with the people around you. Also, trains are bigger than planes, so you have the added benefit of being able to get up and walk around more comfortably.
Question

I am traveling alone. What can I do to stay occupied?

Community Answer

Many of the suggestions offered in this article are relevant. You could also people watch, coming up with reasons for your fellow traveler's journeys. If you feel lonely, strike up a conversation with the people next to you and ask them why they're flying today and find out other things about them from there.
Question

Should I try to sleep on a plane?

Community Answer

If you want to, for sure. It may be difficult due to noise and the seating position but if you can, it's a great way to pass time during flying.