by James Richardson

Created on: January 29, 2009

Being stuffed (often three abreast) in a narrow metal tube for hours on end tends not to be a pleasant experience. But as a regular jet-setter, I have discovered there are some ways to make the most of time spent flying the "friendly" skies.

Time is money, and so learning to use your flight time productively is a good investment. While you may be able to pass the time by striking up a conversation with surrounding passengers, your best bet is to plan on entertaining yourself for the flight's duration.

GET EMPOWERED - "You may now use your electronic devices"

Small electronic gadgets are a great way to keep busy. These can range from a portable DVD player, a laptop computer, MP3/video player, etc. Whether you watch some favorite films, listen to music, or get some office work done on the computer, these are a good way to keep your mind off of the otherwise boring flight.

For overseas and longer flights, these devices will need a battery change, so make sure you have plenty of extras. Or even better yet: buy an airline power adapter. Like automakers, aircraft manufacturers decided to build in power outlets, but had to make them different from standard household plug-ins. Thankfully, inexpensive aircraft-receptacle adapters are available. Most newer aircraft have the power plugs at each seat; contact your airline or visit their website to be sure your aircraft is equipped.

One final note: make sure you have headphones for the abovementioned devices. Most airlines do not allow you to watch a movie with the speakers blaring (not that you'll be able to hear above the roar of the jet engines anyway!).

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - Just have your credit card ready

Gone are the days where in-flight entertainment meant a boring, one-feature-for-all movie. Many airlines now offer a buffet of on-demand options. Choose from new-release movies, satellite radio, TV stations, and video games. This is all brought to you via your personal in-seat console. Some of the offerings are free, but to really enjoy the good stuff, make sure you've got a major credit card handy. Expect to pay around $5.00 per movie/service. This may or may not be worth it to you, but if you find your carry-on lacking in things to do, the extra cost may be worth it to fill the time.

Also, consider an airline headphone adapter. Many aircraft require a special adapter for the in-seat headphone ports to work. These can be found from electronic retailers for fairly cheap. Other aircraft will take a standard-sized headphone

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