When you travel there can be many tasks to keep you occupied. However, when an unexpected delay occurs, you may have to read the same magazine repeatedly to kill the time. Here are some ideas to stay busy on a long flight.
Take reading material along. Newspapers are light and easy to carry, but can leave black ink print all over your fingertips. Choose "clean" reading materials, such as a book you want to read. Buy magazines with interesting stories and features.
Bring along a compact DVD player and a selection of DVDs to watch.
Write. Start a novel or collection of short stories by making up stories about the people sitting around you. Describe the person. Describe where you think they are going and what they are doing. Let your imagination take flight. Use the time to write letters and notes.
Sleep. Take a favorite pillow and throw blanket. Purchase a face mask to keep the light out of your eyes. Buy noise reduction head phones or simple ear plugs to keep from hearing the travelers around you.
Bring along a little work to keep you occupied. Don't bring the biggest proposal of your life, but find something that needs to get done. Choose work that can be overlooked in case you find someone on the plane to chat with.