Boredom, monotonous and tedious are words often associated with air travel. For most, the perk that drives us all to want to fly is the destination of the flight, not the experience of being stuck on a plane. The dullness of air travel only mounts when the time comes for a long flight. If you are lucky, you may get an airline that includes in flight movies and even some games. However, these flights can get pricey. And what do you do if none of the movies seem appealing, or worse, if they are featured in a language that you do not understand? Having fun during a long flight is difficult, but also very possible.

The items you place in your carry on bag are essential if you want to ensure a fun filled airborne experience. If all you bring is clothing and toiletries, you will be left staring out the window for the entire flight. What do you do if it is cloudy, or if you are flying over an ocean for most of the flight? It seems doubtful that the airline's magazines will be interesting enough to amuse you. Set aside some space to just pack fun things instead of just clothes. If you are traveling with another person, try putting all of your necessities in one bag, and your entertainment based items in another. This will help you avoid the issue of shuffling constantly through clothing and valuables just to find a small electronic item. The question now pertains to what items you will actually bring with you in your carry on. Electronics are a very popular choice. Bringing a laptop computer can solve so many problems. Many airplanes have outlets near the passenger seats, but be sure to bring an appropriate adaptor if that is the case.

Another issue with your laptop is that it may not have items that will provide you with entertainment. You don't want to be stuck on a plane with no internet and FreeCell as your most alluring option. Instead, do a little research. Find a few older computer games. Many stores will sell more aged games for as little as ten dollars. This low price does not always mean low quality. Go to an electronics store, look around a bit, see what kind of games are available cheap, write the names down, then go home and do some internet research. See which games you may find fun and interesting, which ones may suck you in for hours at a time. There are many games that can do just that within a very tight budget. Then bring the game with you for your flight. If computer gaming is something you just cannot get into, even for a long flight, then bring along your own movies and music along with a pair of headphones. You will probably want headphones no matter what.

If you do not have a laptop, what electronics are left? There's always the option of packing your mp3 player such as an iPod, but this is not the only option. Portable gaming systems are also a popular choice for long flights. The two most popular current systems are the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. These two systems offer very different products, and are a great fit if you can afford them. If they are outside of your budget, but the idea of a portable gaming system is appealing to you, go back a generation to the Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP. If that is still too much then try the Nintendo Gameboy Advance, or Gameboy Color. The major disadvantage of these two systems is that they are not backlit, which means that you will need to have a source of light in order to see the screen. But the farther back you go in technology the less expensive things get. The older games are still good too, especially if they are new to you.

Games, though, are not for everyone. Maybe electronics will not get the job done for you at all. There are always books. Many publishers make “pocket” size editions of classic novels, or anthologies of great writers. Small collections are even put together by topic; such as books filled with love poems, or Greek philosophy, or mysteries. The list goes on. Also, pocket size does not always mean tiny text either. Most editions are easily readable. Decks of cards can also work well if you have other people around. All in all there are many things that can be done to keep you entertained on a long flight. The key is to find items that you enjoy, and pack a variety of things. A bunch of books is great, until you get tired of reading. Games are wonderful, but you will eventually need a break. Bring a little bit of everything and you'll be sure to have an enjoyable flight.