Things to Do on a Plane Without WiFi (Long-Flight List)

5 min read · Brainrot Test

The best things to do on a plane without WiFi are things you set up before boarding: downloaded shows, offline playlists and games, plus phone-free backups like a book, a journal, puzzles and card games. On a short flight, one downloaded episode and a podcast are enough. On a long-haul flight, rotate between screens, paper, snacks and sleep so the hours don't drag. Here are 40 ideas, sorted by flight length, with a download checklist and a "phone-off hour" challenge.

If being stuck offline for hours sounds genuinely stressful, Brainrot Test shows how much of your attention runs on reflex: Check my brainrot.

What to download before you board

What to download before a flight, done at home on real Wi-Fi (airport Wi-Fi is slow and often runs out):

1. Shows and movies. Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and others let you download episodes on many plans. Check they've actually finished downloading.
2. Playlists. Spotify and Apple Music offline mode. Make one "takeoff" and one "sleep" playlist.
3. Podcasts. Download a few full episodes.
4. Audiobooks. Libby (with a library card) or whichever app you use.
5. Offline games. Many puzzle and word games work without internet. Open each once on Wi-Fi to check.
6. E-books. Grab a few. Not much of a reader? Try our books for people who don't like to read.
7. Offline maps of where you're landing.
8. Your boarding pass saved to your phone wallet.

Pro tip: charge everything, and pack a power bank in your carry-on (airlines usually don't allow them in checked bags).

Ideas for short flights (1-3 hours)

Things to do on a plane when bored, quick-flight edition.

9. Watch one downloaded episode.
10. Listen to a full album front to back, no skipping.
11. Window seat game: spot cities, rivers, cloud shapes.
12. Write a postcard to future you about the trip.
13. Plan your first day at the destination.
14. Do a crossword or sudoku (the in-flight magazine sometimes has one).
15. Read 30 pages of a book.
16. Organize your camera roll. Delete the 400 blurry screenshots.
17. Write a review of the airport snacks. Be dramatic.
18. Nap. Short flights are elite for naps.

Ideas for long-haul flights (what to do on a long flight without WiFi)

Long haul flight tips: plan it in blocks. Hours feel shorter when they have a shape.

More long-flight ideas:

19. Binge a whole season. Pick something light.
20. Journal the trip so far, including the dramas.
21. Learn 20 phrases of the local language from a downloaded app or a notebook.
22. Write a short story set on the plane. Every passenger is a suspect.
23. Draw the view. Clouds, wing, the sunrise.
24. Plan a playlist for the trip.
25. Walk the aisle every couple of hours and stretch.
26. Do a full skincare routine. Cabin air is dry.
27. Rank the in-flight movies with whoever's next to you.
28. Write letters to friends you'll actually post.

Things to do on a plane alone

Flying solo? Journal, read, sleep, and people-watch (politely). Long flights alone are oddly good thinking time when your phone isn't constantly buzzing.

Phone-off ideas (things to do on a plane without electronics)

For when your battery dies, or you choose to go offline.

29. Card games. Pack a deck: Speed, Spit, Gin Rummy, or Solitaire if you're alone.
30. Games to play on a plane without WiFi with whoever's next to you: 20 Questions, Would You Rather, Two Truths and a Lie. More in our games to play with friends without anything list.
31. Paper games: Dots and Boxes, Hangman, MASH.
32. Puzzle book. Sudoku, word searches, logic puzzles.
33. Sketchbook.
34. Friendship bracelets or another small craft (no scissors in carry-on, depending on rules).
35. Make a bucket list for the trip.
36. Read a physical book.

The phone-off hour challenge (winter break edition)

Going home for the holidays or on a winter break trip? Try this: switch your phone off (actually off, not silent) for one full hour mid-flight. Pick a book, a journal or a card game. Notice how many times your hand reaches for your pocket anyway.

That reaching is the interesting bit. Most of us have no idea how automatic it is until there's no Wi-Fi and the feed just won't load.

Counted more phone grabs than you expected? Brainrot Test turns 17 quick taps about what you actually do when you pick up your phone into a 0-100 brainrot score and tier, compared with everyone else. Then a two-minute daily drill (five words from this week's feed, then one real-world phone action with a timer) knocks a point off. Check my brainrot

Sleeping on the plane (how to sleep on a plane)

Sleep is the best way to make a long flight vanish.

37. Neck pillow and eye mask. Non-negotiable on long-haul.
38. Window seat for leaning; aisle if you need to get up.
39. Layers. Hoodie and socks; planes are cold.
40. Sleep playlist or white noise, downloaded in advance, with headphones.

Also: stop scrolling about 30 minutes before you want to sleep, and skip the energy drink at the airport.

Traveling by car next time? Grab some road trip games for teens instead.

Land with your attention in better shape

Things to do on a plane without WiFi are easy once you've packed right. The harder part is how your brain reacts to being offline. Take Brainrot Test before your flight and in about a minute you'll have a brainrot score from 0 to 100 and a tier, then start one two-minute drill a day to bring it down by your return trip.

Check my brainrot

FAQ

What can I do on a plane without WiFi?

Watch downloaded shows, listen to offline playlists and podcasts, read, journal, play card or paper games, and sleep. The key is downloading everything before you leave home.

What do people on Reddit suggest doing on a plane without WiFi?

Common suggestions are downloading shows and podcasts in advance, bringing a physical book or puzzle book, and treating the flight as sleep time. Many people say an offline game or two saves long flights.

What are free things to do on a plane without WiFi?

Window-watching, journaling, drawing, people-watching, paper games and sleeping are all free. Downloaded podcasts and library audiobooks are usually free too.

What games can you play on a plane without WiFi?

Offline mobile games you downloaded and opened beforehand, card games like Speed and Gin Rummy, and talking games like 20 Questions or Would You Rather with whoever you're sitting with.

What should I do on a long flight without electronics?

Bring a physical book, a puzzle book, a sketchbook and a deck of cards. Break the flight into blocks of reading, games, eating and sleep so it doesn't drag.