Most of the time, you don’t have to worry about whether your phone will get online, but Wi-Fi remains an unguaranteed option on long-haul flights. Airlines have gotten better at providing connectivity in the air, but it’s often unreliable or expensive, and you still can’t expect to get broadband-level download speeds while traveling.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea to do some prep work on your phone before you board the plane. Whether you plan to spend your time chatting with family, sleeping, or browsing the entertainment system in the headrest in front of you, having so much to do on your phone can make your time fly by in the air.
Select an app
You don’t need to have all the same apps installed on a plane that you normally use. For example, your upcoming trip might be a good opportunity to try out a read-later service like Instapaper, an e-reader app like Kindle, or a magazine app so you can read whenever you want.
Also consider the types of content you might normally skip, like audiobooks, podcasts, etc. Instead of the social media apps you normally scroll through, think about what you’d most enjoy on an airplane and tailor your app library accordingly.
Cache content
Many apps, especially paid apps, allow you to cache content and watch it offline. Before your plane takes off, you can store tons of content locally on your phone so you don’t have to rely on spotty Wi-Fi connections or in-flight entertainment options.
For example, Netflix allows you to save movies and shows that you watch.[My Netflix]Go to[ダウンロード]Selecting this will show you download suggestions or allow you to manually download the title. The same functionality is available in the YouTube app as long as you pay for Premium.[あなた]Tab[ダウンロード]Tap to use it.
Find a game
Even if you don’t normally play games on your phone, you’ll be surprised at what a few hours on an airplane can do to your brain, and how addictive and fun the latest games for Android and iOS can be.
We won’t give specific recommendations here, as a lot will depend on your tastes and preferences, but it’s not hard to find recommended games in the Apple or Google app stores. Look for simpler, less demanding titles that are kind to your battery life while traveling.
Sync your devices
Make the most of those last few minutes of Wi-Fi by having all your go-to apps open before you board the plane, then sync one last time to make sure your apps match up with your data elsewhere or in the cloud.
This applies to entertainment apps like those mentioned above, but also to apps like Gmail and Google Docs if you plan to do any small work or administrative tasks on the plane. Another scenario where eventual syncing can be useful is if you use a Kindle e-reader with the Kindle app or if you listen to podcasts on multiple devices.
Charging the battery
Your phone isn’t much use when its battery runs out, so make sure you have plenty of power left while you travel. You may need to plan to charge your phone overnight if you find an open power socket in the hotel or airport. You can also pack a portable charger in your carry-on luggage. Keep your phone in low power mode or turn on airplane mode (or both) to preserve the available battery life as long as possible.
