iPhone Airplane mode – The best 7 apps to use on the plane

As we wrote what airplane mode is all about, you know that there is usually no Internet access or radio communication on the plane. Does this mean that you are destined for spending several hours doing nothing except for reading a book or watching videos that you downloaded to your smartphone in advance? If you install the right software on your phone, you can spend your time on planning, research, and other useful activities. Below you can find several ideas on how to spend that time on board to your advantage. 

And what about using your smartphone abroad without the fear to pay huge roaming charges to your local connectivity provider? Of course, you can use free public WiFi in your hotel room, restaurant or any other place. However, this doesn’t provide you with secure uninterrupted connection wherever you go. 

With 4G LTE Data SIM and portable WiFi hotspot, you can take advantage of the best connectivity solutions in 100+ countries around the world where you travel. So, every time you arrive in a foreign country, you can browse the web, use social media and messaging apps on the go. Moreover, every time you refill your balance, your data will remain valid for the whole year.

7 Best iPhone Apps to Use on the Plane

World Factbook & Atlas - Going abroad? Do not know that country’s currency? Or where the capital is located? The more you know about a place, the more the locals will appreciate you for taking the time to learn a bit about their country. 

So why not use that spare time on the plane to learn a few facts and figures about your travel destination, geography, communications, military, transportation, and more. The service is always up-to-date  and keeps the database updated for free. 

Key features:

• Fast look-ups, snappy user interface, smooth-scrolling screens
• Editable history/bookmarks function
• Multitasking & Retina display support
• Designed specifically for iPhone/iPod touch
• No internet connection required

Travel Phrasebook – If you never traveled overseas you might be disappointed to discover that (unlike how most Hollywood films might portray) not all foreigners speak English perfectly, or at all for that matter. Knowing a few key phrases to get your message across might make the difference between getting back to the airport on time, or missing your flight. Download the appropriate Phrase book and use the spare time to practice your travel destination’s local language.

Key features:

• Many useful foreign phrases & words
• Pronunciation recorded by native speaker
• Voice recording & playback
• No Internet connection required
• Instant search by keywords
• Customizable font size

Evernote – This has to be one of the best apps out there to organize your thoughts. As most flights these days can only be described as a “voluntary mobile prison” (bad food, no communication with the outside world, constant crying in the background, etc.)- you are left with a lot of free time to think. So why not use that time to organize your thoughts/plans in the meantime? Evernote will help you achieve this.

Key features:

• Create notes in a variety of formats, including: text, sketches, photos, screenshots, image files, audio, web clippings, and more
• Make personal checklists to keep your thoughts organized
• Set reminders to keep on top of activities and write to-do lists
• Gather, capture, and store every thought you need to stay productive
• Create agendas, write memos, and craft presentations

The Bible (Any version you prefer) – It does not matter what is your religion (or even if you belong to one) – the Bible makes for a great read. And if your plane is constantly shaking, you can always use it to pray for a safe landing! :-)

Key features:

• Create notes in a variety of formats, including: text, sketches, photos, screenshots, image files, audio, web clippings, and more.
• Make personal checklists to keep your thoughts organized
• Set reminders to keep on top of activities and write to-do lists
• Gather, capture, and store every thought you need to stay productive
• Create agendas, write memos, and craft presentations

Zinio – The Zinio app allows you to read newspapers and magazines on the go. The biggest advantage is that you can download the material to your phone, and use it even if you do not have internet access. You save a lot of physical space with this app, and if you have an iPad, then you will enjoy it even more.

Key features: 

• Offline reading mode 
• Bookmark articles to read later
• Be the first to read the latest issues of your favorite magazines with new issue reminders 
• The app lets you read magazines that come from all the best publishers worldwide, including USA, Canada, Austria, Africa, Asia, and Europe

Triposo - Just in case you didn’t have time to plan your leisure activity in the country where your travel ahead of time, Triposo app will help you catch up while you are on the plane. The application  delivers unique recommendations across 50,000 destinations around the world. It works well in the offline mode, providing you with free access to all the data needed to personalize your trip. This includes lists of the best hotels, sights, activities. restaurants, local trip, personalized suggestions, and more.

Key features:

• Includes offline maps, offline routing, offline city walks and more.
• The app crunches through websites and reviews to provide you with the most comprehensive travel recommendations on hotels, tours, local experiences, bars, restaurants and more.
• Discover highlights and hidden gems in over 50,000 destinations worldwide
• Plan and personalize your trip with suggestions and tips from our experts.
• Book hotels, tours, activities and transportation all in one place seamlessly through our app.

TripIt - This is an extremely useful application that lets you manage your travel stuff without any Internet connection required. The app works by scouting through your emails to look for tickets, hotel reservations and other data to be gathered together in a single place. You can also add some entries to the app manually. The app will alert you when to check-in during your trip, as well as notify you on the availability of better seats on your flight. As soon as your device connects to the Internet, the app will connect to the servers and update the listing for you. 

Key features: 

• Helps you find a better seat
• Monitors for flight refunds
• Reminds you when to check in
• Sends real-time flight status alerts
• Let you know how long the security lines are
• Provides interactive airport and terminal maps
• Sends terminal and gate reminders
• Tells you baggage claim info

And when land on solid ground, enjoy unthrottled 4G LTE data from the best connectivity providers in the place that you visit.