Delayed flights suck. A lot of people are experiencing more of them now because everyone is flying out of town or out of the country for vacation. You can count yourself blessed if your flight is delayed by only an hour, but what are you supposed to do when it’s delayed for several hours? Most of the time, we don’t bring things to distract us because our itineraries are packed with tours, food trips, and sightseeing. Don’t worry, fam. We got you.
Your smartphone is an endless source of entertainment if you know what to do. Below are 7 ways you can have fun and be more productive online on a delayed flight. Don’t worry, none of our suggestions involve infinite scrolling on Facebook:
7. Work, work, work, work, work
While working may not be under the category of “fun,” it pays to stay ahead of what’s happening in the office. Completely going off the grid while you’re touring Mt. Fuji or Kawasan Falls is fun, but it isn’t fun to return to work with a pile of unfinished tasks. You can always catch up with what’s happening by staying online during a delayed flight, so the only thing you have to worry about on Monday is how to make chismis about your trip without making too much noise.
6. Catch up on email
Emails are kind of like the Hydra in Hercules. Unlike the mythical creature, emails multiply when left unattended too long. If you’re working for a large company, go on a week-long vacation and you can expect to return with dozens of emails, some of which may not even be addressed to you. Solve this problem by reading your emails. You don’t have to act on them, but it helps by familiarizing yourself with the content so you don’t have to spend your first day back at the office reading everything. You can always reply “Got this,” or use one of the greatest inventions: vacation responders.
5. Start your writing career
Whenever I tell people I write for a living, many respond that they’ve always wanted to be one, or used to write stories when they were younger. Practicality clipped their creative wings, so now they’re doing something else. I always say that they can balance their day jobs with their writing career, and airports are a goldmine for inspiration! Simply observe the people around you and you’ll see and hear different stories unfold. Share your thoughts by creating a blog!
4. Play League of Legends
Playing games on your smartphone is an obvious choice, but if there’s one game we recommend, it’s League of Legends. This highly-addictive Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game lets you become a summoner that controls a champion with unique powers to defeat other champions or teams. The game mixes fantasy, steampunk, and folklore, which makes for an addicting game. A flight delay is the perfect time to level up!
3. Listen to obscure playlists
When it comes to music, many of us stick to what’s familiar: we choose our favorite songs, our favorite artists, and our favorite albums. But discovering new music can be fun, too! Get the Spinnr app and go down a rabbit hole of great tunes. If you’re in a good mood, we recommend the Summer Party playlist, which has music from Jessie J, Alesso, Zedd, and Avicii, but if you’re itching to fly, there’s the Travel category, which has playlists perfect for vacations.
2. Watch the latest flicks and TV shows
A delayed flight is the perfect chance to catch up on your movies and TV shows. iFlix is home to Korean shows (The Legend of the Blue Sea, anyone?), Cinemalaya and other indie movies, and the most popular movies and TV shows from Hollywood. There are movies for every mood, so you can take your pick from hundreds of titles in the app. You can even do a marathon if the delay is really long!
1. Go on a photo walk
A delayed flight doesn’t mean you have to sit on your butt the whole day. Get moving and go on a photo walk! Airports are beautiful places with incredible lighting, so take advantage of that to get a new profile picture or snap a plane taking off. With permission, you can even take photos of interesting people! It’s a great way to pass the time and practice your ~phoneography~ skills. Get ready to be flooded with likes on Facebook and Instagram!
Smart Wifi is rolling out to more areas and now in airports in key cities nationwide. Users can connect for free for a limited time and have fun and be productive online. They are also available in select food parks and restaurants. Not only can you enjoy super speed Smart Wifi while waiting for your flight, but you can surf all you want!
