in business class, i’m not too fussed as long as i’ve packed what i need for the trip since most business class has avod systems and provide noise-cancelling headsets for each passenger.

economy class travel breaks down into several categories.

if it’s an overnight flight with avod in economy, i make sure i’m on the window seat (to lean against) and i just sleep with my noise cancelling headphones on.

if it’s an overnight flight without avod in economy, i do the same as above, but place a book in the seat back pocket

if it’s a day flight, i get the aisle seat with one exception – the new A380s. if i’m flying on the new a380 economy, i book for a window seat in the upper deck as there are good sized storage bins under the windows which also provide extra armrest space.

with daytime economy flights that have avod, i’m not too fussed about bringing my own entertainment as there’s hours of stuff to watch and listen to.

but when i’m flying economy with airlines that don’t provide avods in economy (united…arghhh!!!!), I load up my ipod classic with movies to watch, and also put my notebook computer in the seat-back pocket to get some work done if i really get bored.

I do take a newspaper, but it’s always folded down small to the cryptic crossword. And use a pen, people. Letters only go in the boxes when you’re SURE. And I don’t like disposable books, so I’m more than happy to take a bulky paperback and carry it around with me. I also don’t own an elaborate mp3 player, so I tend to just go with what’s on offer in-flight. And the last thing that’s always within reach, is my Rubik’s Cube. Nerdy, I know. But I can while away hours working on linear fewest move challenges, or maybe learning a few new algorithms. Plus, I’ve won a few snacks off the Virgin attendants when they don’t think it’s possible to solve a cube in under thirty seconds.

What I always have with me or the first thing I unpack when I get to my seat- my noise cancelling headphones. They’re packed in a small string tie pouch that I can easily grab from one of my luggage’s pockets. Small enough to slip into the seat pocket in front of me. My PSP or PMP is in the bum bag I wear, and that goes up in the overhead bin.

If I am flying domestically I usually carry on some food and drink and that goes either on my lap, in the seat pocket or at my feet, in a plastic bag, to keep it clean.

Internationally you need your documentation nearby, but I always leave them in one of the pockets on my luggage, except my passport number and a pen, which I have somewhere on my body.

If it ends up the seat next to mine is free, I usually deposit the cabin luggage in the overhead bin under that spare seat’s leg room.

- Book (can’t stand reading newspapers in a tiny seat)
- iPhone for games and music
- Noise cancelling headphones
- Laptop – stowed overhead and grabbed at some stage during the flight
- Miscellaneous junk (passport, wallet, etc).
- And the most useful one for long haul – Travelcalm. I don’t get sick, but those tablets put me out like a light and they’re available over the counter. Long haul in economy sucks, the more sleep you get the better.

The rest of my carry on luggage is safely tucked away in the overhead locker but I generally don’t need anything from my carry on bag until I reach my destination.