I just stare at the (hardly) moving map on my personal screen 15.5 hours from Newark to Hong Kong.

Well, besides some of the stuff already mentioned, I like to take pictures from the plane. Here are photos I've taken during plane trips:

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/f203632379/

On longer flights, if I have an individual monitor, I love watching one movie after another. Never have a chance to do this at home.

I've also gotten into Sudoku like abram. It can be quite addictive!

Ray: Great photos as usual. I don't know how you manage to get those shots through the glass windows. Pretty amazing! I also like the interior shot of the Atlanta airport -- the mirror image design of the lights and floor tiles give an interesting perspective.

Oh, PLEEEEEZE...I am still back on the "hhoking up with the stewardess" (stewardess???and the "free drink" joke.

I like to listen to music and usually end up dozing at least a little. I don't do a lot of paperwork on the plane, plenty of that when I get to where I'm going.

I don't chat up my neighbors much, but will exchange pleasantries at the beginning and end of the flight.

I'm an aisle guy although I rarely get out of my seat during a flight. That may have to change now that it is unsafe to use the restroom in the airport. Never know when a senator will be in the next stall.

I ALWAYS bring a book to ward off anyone speaking to me or being to "chatty" throughout the flight. A hello, and "light" conversation is fine but to much of a good thing can ruin my flight! Short or long I bring a book to read. I can never sleep on a plane and how I envy those you who can!! All the way home from Hawaii to PHL I couldn't sleep!!

If its a domestic flight across country I sometimes set there and wish I was driving. That way I could see something. On occasions a three or four hour flight seems to take longer than a two or three day driving road trip.

My last flight was aboard a Song jet with video screens at each seat. They have a trivia game in which you compete with other passengers. Got to be quite competitive--even at the end of a red-eye (btw--I won!);-)

I have no idea what I do aboard.

Before boarding: 3 martinis and a valium.

Just before take off: I pop an ambien.

No "fake naps" for me.

i buy 2 or 3 gossip mags like people and us. it is pretty much the only time i take the time to read them.

iamq~ you are my kind of guy! and would obviously make a great seatmate on a flight (nobody likes a chatty-kathy).

Yodel

put my carry-on tote in the overhead bin, then stand on my seat & take it in & out, up & down, rumble around in it looking for stuff, about 1/2 dozen times during the flight...

I think I have sat in the middle of you two.

Get drunk and eat a lot of garlic. You would be surprised how quiet it is around you.

First and foremost: I drink. I'm not a pill-taker, and wine takes the edge off my unreasonable fear of flying. I also read (bring my own) and do crossword puzzles. I'm a much happier camper in first class - I wish we could always afford it.

I get sick quite easy. I am very motion sensitive (can't even sit in the rocking recliner). So most of the time when I fly I am praying that I don't get sick. Has not always worked though.

Oh, also, I never sleep and I puff a lot.

cmc - what is so bad about doing a bit of a manicure on the plane? Is there something offensive about cuticle cream, cuticle pushers, or hand cream? I could see your point if someone was snipping off pieces of fingernail (one could land on you or stick in your eye) or putting on nail polish (fumes), but other than that, I don't see what what the issue would be.

manicure on the flight? for me the smell of nail polish remover gives me a headache. also, any kind of perfume bothers my sensitive nose.

I sleep as much as humanly possible. I'm still trying to figure out the ideal number of Tylenol PMs, but for my usual LA to Chicago flight, I take one prior to boarding and two once on the plane. That gives me about 2-3 hours of iffy sleep. Sometimes I combine it with a glass of white wine. (Yes, I realize this isn't the healthiest combination - suggestions welcome.)

j_correa, no problem with a rubbing a bit of unscented hand lotion. It is attending to a manicure, clipping nails, etc or using any kind of polish, heavily scented creams which I find off putting. It may be simply a personal preference, but I think those kinds of things are best saved to be done in private not the close quarters of an airplane.

i agree, it's just plain gross (to tend to personal hygiene on an airplane - yes including lotioning, filing nails, and pushing back cuticles). YUCK

Manicures as I do it doesn't seem to be a problem then - as I said, I don't clip my nails, use any polish (or polish remover). I don't use heavily scented creams either or creams with any scent - they give me migraines too and make my skin itch so it is unscented, hypoalergenic all the way for me.

I could see the point if the manicure created strong fumes or refuse though.

What about other things that people usually do in private like applying make-up? Is there an issue with someone putting make up on in her (or his, I suppose) seat before landing?