by Jennifer E. Brown

Created on: June 15, 2009   Last Updated: November 18, 2010

The day has come for the long three hour flight across the country. Whether or not  you have a layover, the routine is usually the same. First, you arrive about 90 minutes early to check in. The bags go onto the plane and you only have your carry-on luggage to worry about now. Still, for 90 minutes, this may seem exhausting in an airport of busy people. You start wandering the different shops. Each airport has unique shops that are unique to the area depending on theme parks and other attractions. Then, there are the other general shops such as bookstores and coffee cafes.

Your mind starts to wander back to the flight and the cramped seats you're going to be in for the next 3+ hours. You're going to need something to occupy you, or the hours are going to be endless boredom. If you're looking for ideas to keep your attention on a long flight, then here is my best stash of ideas. Most of these are tried and true and have worked in the past. I hope they work for you on your next vacation.

First, consider music: Ipods are a great electronic device to take on the plane. They're fun to put tunes onto before vacations and catch up on the latest music. The newest artists that just came out with their new albums can be heard through your Ipod while you're 30,000 feet in the air. You can also have electronic radios, such as XM radios, that play without commercials. If you're looking to sleep on this flight, then plug some classical music into your Ipod and tune everyone else out. As long as it's not playing while the plane is taking off or landing, you should be fine.

Next, consider reading material. Think of what you like to read best-nonfiction, sci-fi, mystery, comics? If you plan on carrying a small bag or a book bag onto the plane, put some of these books into your bag. If you're scared of flying, the reading material will distract you from what's going on. It's a great way to pass the time on a busy flight. There's usually a lot of bookstores in airports, so choose a book that looks interesting. You may find that you're more than a 3rd or half way done by the time you land at your destination and your fear of flying would have been eliminated.

Another way to pass the time is to do puzzle books: Unless you know how to do every type of puzzle in the variety puzzle books, then they really aren't worth the money. I usually prefer Sudoku books to take on the plane. I'm very good at these puzzles, and if I get bored at them then I go onto my fill-ins book. If I

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