Flying – boredom or much needed downtime? I do love flying . I fly domestic for work. I fly for holidays. But, I get bored.

So much energy, so little room to use it.

What to do that’s not going to annoy anyone else?

• I envy those passengers that fall asleep before we’ve taken off; can you let me in on your secret?
• Then there’s those who studiously download the carrier’s app and are quite content watching whatever is on offer.

On domestic flights, I’m nearly always seated near the laptop yielding passenger who acts like their very life depends on madly typing away for the entire trip! Really?

Of course who can’t notice the fiercely loyal-to-tradition passengers who have a physical book or crossword puzzle magazine. They are sadly few and far between but their continued loyalty to the physical page is commendable.

Me, I tend to download a couple of movies or shows from Netflix before getting to the airport but invariably I don’t watch them.

I like people watching instead, and with such a captive audience on a plane, I’m in my element!

I sit in an aisle seat so I can get up when I choose. How many people have eye masks, how many weird hair colours are there, who has discovered the seat headrest turns in on the sides? Who’s patiently waiting for more food with their tray table permanently down. Then there’s always a couple that are arguing about who should have packed the ‘insert-item-here’ .

We are a weird species really, everyone has their little quirks, and we defend those quirks quite aggressively no more so than in the confines of a plane.

At some stage I’ll settle down with my audiobook or my Netflix programs but before that occurs, I’m staving off boredom and (hopefully) not annoying anyone.

News for champions of age over 50. Very South Australian. Empowering creativity and thought.

✈️ 3 Things to Do While in the Air to Stop Boredom

People-Watch with Purpose
Turn the cabin into your own living documentary. Observe passenger quirks, travel routines, fashion choices, or mid-air meltdowns — it’s free entertainment and fuel for storytelling.

Make Peace with Your Playlist
Download that audiobook or show before you leave — even if you only half-listen, it’s a calming backdrop to the hum of the engine and occasional snack trolley chaos.

Claim Your Aisle Seat Advantage
Stretch, stroll, or casually chat with a flight attendant (within reason). Movement keeps boredom at bay and gives you a psychological edge over the poor soul stuck in the middle seat.

🧠 What’s your go-to in-flight habit?
👀 Are you the sleeper, the laptop hustler, or the silent observer?