Some people love to chit-chat with the person in the seat next to them on a flight. Others love to read, sleep, or look out the window. If your love is technology-based, you used to be pretty out of luck when you flew, other than downloaded games and a Kindle. Today, tech fun is available to you via several avenues while on your flight. All you need is a smartphone and a few services. Here are a few things you can do.
Stream Movies
In-flight movies are nothing new, but having movie options certainly is. On older planes, a few screens come down from the ceiling every few rows to display the same movie to the entire cabin, which you can watch or not at your leisure. Newer planes, though, have screens in each headrest and allow you to choose from a list of movies.
If your flight isn’t going to have movie options, you can still watch those flicks. Via Netflix and a few other streaming services, you can download some of the content to your device. That way, if the movies on the plane stink (or aren’t available), you’ve still got entertainment.
Surf the Internet
Some planes offer free in-flight Wi-Fi and some ask you to pay for it. Either way, the ability to surf the web while you’re on a plane is really cool. Whether you use that time to read news articles, play fun games, or check your work email, you’re still connected even at 35,000 feet. Just remember that in-flight Wi-Fi is slower than the Wi-Fi you’re used to; the technology is still developing, and basically the entire plane is using the connection.
Text Friends
Airlines have been offering in-flight Wi-Fi, whether paid or free, for years at this point. But the in-flight Wi-Fi has its limitations, including slow speeds. Plus, though you could open up an internet chat with your family or friends, you couldn’t use the text feature on your phone.
New technologies have emerged that allow you to text your family and friends from the air, such as Gogo Inflight from T-Mobile. This service from the speedy Uncarrier is available for free for an entire hour while you’re on your flight. All you need is your T-Mobile phone number and Wi-Fi calling to get it to activate. Take advantage of unlimited texting, which includes picture messaging, while you’re in the air. Catalogue your journey for your family and friends, including the dude next to you who just fell asleep on your shoulder.
Charge Your Devices
You may have noticed outlets on some of the planes you’ve been on lately. Mostly, they don’t seem to work. If you’re in business class on certain airlines, however, those outlets are for you to charge your devices. You no longer have to crowd around the available charging stations in the airport. If your laptop or smartphone is low on juice, relax. You get priority boarding and access to that sweet electricity, so you’ll be all charged up by the time you deplane.
Take Pictures
Portable cameras have allowed us to take photographs from plane windows for decades. Depending on your camera, the picture quality may not have turned out very well. Recently, some airlines servicing certain routes between destinations have banned all electronics bigger than smartphones from coming into plane cabins. Those electronics, such as laptops, tablets, and cameras, need to be checked with your other luggage.
While you knew you could take pictures on flights, you may not have realized how lucky you are to be able to do so. Start snapping those smartphone photos out of plane windows, just in case. In the future, airlines might create other rules and regulations that make it more difficult to get those spectacular in-the-air shots.
Whether you love or hate flying, technology makes these journeys easier. Business people who travel a lot for work love in-flight Wi-Fi that allows them to get work done, while parents adore any services that help them keep the kids entertained. So charge up that smartphone, connect to the services you desire, and enjoy that in-flight technology.
Photo by: Hideyuki Kamon
