By Dave Johnson
With a little planning and a handful of simple tools, you can turn your next flight from a magazine-filled time-waster into a productive work session.
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
Fly with Power to Spare
Sure, you can always bring along a spare laptop battery, but it's smarter to pick a flight with AC power so you don't have to worry about your laptop running out of juice enroute. Be sure to check out SeatGuru to see if your flight has power, and if so, you'll also want to know both if your row is equipped and what kind of power adapter you'll need.
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
But Don't Get Caught Short of Power
Even if you think you'll have power on your flight and you carry a power adapter, it's not a bad idea to plan for the worst. That means equipping your laptop with an extended battery. With the right one, you can get through most continental flights even if an unexpected change of plans robs you of a way to plug in the laptop.
Like the battery that came with your laptop, extended batteries are custom designed for your particular model of laptop, so check your model's accessory list on the vendor's Web site. You can generally get one for under $100, making it a smart investment.
Price: $50-100
Photo courtesy Flickr user Roger Schultz, CC 2.0
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
Use the Right Laptop
When it comes to getting the most work done in the air, don't discount the laptop itself. I like to travel light, but I also want my portable to use electricity sparingly. That adds up to a netbook, where battery runtimes can easily reach half a day on a single charge. My current favorite: The Asus Eee PC 1015PN.
Price: $399
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
Block Out the Drone and Distractions
Sure, the Bose QuietComfort is egregiously expensive and its ubiquity in magazines and at the airport give it something of a weird, scam-like vibe. But the truth is that this is the gold standard by which all other noise cancelling headsets are judged. It works great, and if you fly a lot you absolutely should have a pair. It will make you significantly more productive, no matter what you need to do on the flight.
Price: $349
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
Stay Connected with Earth
Fly a carrier that has in-flight Wi-Fi. You can find out if your flight has wireless before you leave home via SeatGuru or HasWifi, and you can often get a deal on cheaper in-flight Wi-Fi with just a modicum of pre-planning.
Photo courtesy zoomr user jeremy, CC 2.0
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
Plan for Wireless — But Store Documents Locally
You might want to tap into the plane's Wi-Fi service, but — just like with the AC — plan for the worst.
Use a service like DropBox to store your essential files. That way they're available in the cloud, but stored locally on your laptop in case the cloud fails you when you're actually, you know, in the clouds.
Price: Free
Photo courtesy Flickr user And all that Malarkey, CC 2.0
6 Essentials to Work More Effectively on Your Next Flight
Your Best Tips for Working Inflight
What did I miss? Use the comments to share the tools and tips you consider essential when you fly.