Blogging on a Plane

How to Rock Blogging on a Plane!

Long flights across the ocean are great opportunities to get massive work done for a blog, even without wifi. Using these strategies and devices I used on my last trans-Atlantic flight, will make blogging on a plane super easy for you.
Blogging on a Plane

1. iPad Air

My laptop is ginormous. I’ve tried blogging on plane flights before with it, but the 17” monitor is ridiculous. Thankfully, I have great website hosting so I could get plenty of work done on the plane even if passengers can literally see my screen better than they can view an in-flight movie. Aside from all the Peeping Toms getting to preview my material, it’s next to impossible to type while my elbows are smashing in to my stomach.

On Saturday’s flight from London to the US, the dude in front of me shoved his seat back all the way and caused my laptop screen to smack me in the face. *Multiple Swear Words*

I gave up and packed it back in to my carry-on luggage.

Luckily, I had my iPad Air. Since I had known my laptop battery wouldn’t last long, I had already planned on the smaller device as a backup. To be honest, I always think that it is a good idea to try and take as many devices as you can with you on these types of trips just in case something happens to any of them.

Genius!

I put this electronic saviour on the ‘Airplane’ setting and went at it. After about 4 hours of non-stop use, I still had 70% of the battery left. For realz!Blogging on a Plane

I wrote several posts in the ‘Notes’ section and copied it in to my WordPress app when I gained wifi access.

But, we all know that a picture is worth more than a thousand words for a blogger, so how did I manage that part?

2. PS Express, Phonto and PicFrame

These are 3 of the many photo editing apps I have on my iPad Air. However, if you are a professional, I would recommend using proper editing software.
Blogging on a Plane
Since I had previously used Dropbox to move my pictures from my laptop to my iPad, I was in serious biznazzzz.

The capabilities of PS Express aren’t nearly as extensive as the version of Photoshop Elements 12 that I have on my laptop. But, because I’m making the sacrifice of blogging while on holiday, I think Sunny in London readers will be a bit forgiving. Don’t you?

Phonto allowed me to easily add text to pictures.
Blogging on a Plane
And PicFrame enabled me to create collages on the go.

3. Apachie Keyboard

The next device that made blogging on a plane easy is the protective leather case I bought for my iPad.
Blogging on a Plane
It came with a keyboard which connects via Bluetooth.  This made typing posts faster than using my two index fingers. And, since the keyboard kept my middle fingers occupied, I was not tempted to make rude hand gestures to the geezer in front of me.

The hashtag on the keyboard is mysterious. Well, basically there isn’t a key for it. I have to press ‘Alt 3’ to use it. #Strange, huh? I thought that was the hottest button on a keyboard these days. 😉

4. Apachie Charger

Of course, without a steady stream of music pumping through my ears, blogging on a plane flight wouldn’t be possible at all.

Since my seat wasn’t fancy enough to have a USB connection to keep my iPhone or iPod juiced for the flight’s duration, you guessed it…. I had a device for that. It’s an Apachie Power Bank.

We all have a love/hate relationship with our iPhones. We love how easy they are to use, but we hate how the battery lasts shorter than a New York minute.

To save myself from the constant ‘My battery is nearly shot’ crisis, I plug the phone in to this portable charger.

A cautionary word to you though- charge this device via a computer.

I made the mistake of charging the Apachie charger through a wall outlet at first. When two iPhone cords stopped working in one week (Yeah, one was Mr. Sunny’s. I still owe him!), I learned I was charging this device the wrong way and overloading it. Oops!

Aside from the charger I have, other bloggers I have asked recommended:
– PowerGen 5200mAh External Battery Pack
– Juice Cube Charger

Both are available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Sunny friends, I accomplished tons during my time travelling across the ocean. Hopefully, you find these strategies for blogging on a plane flight useful too. But, be sure in all your travel excitement you don’t forget the basics.

Before you can make blogging on a plane flight easy:

– Back up your hard drive. Transfer all possible files you might need on your trip to a flash drive and keep it in a separate location from your other devices.
– Transfer all pictures from your camera (if it doesn’t automatically do it via a wifi feature) to your devices before you leave.
– Charge all your devices.
– Pack the cord for each device.
– Remember your passport, luggage and money!

What strategies for blogging would you recommend for a long plane flight? What devices make your life as a blogger easier?

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12 Comments

  1. Great advice! I don’t use my iPad as much anymore now that I have a MacBook Air. It’s so lightweight and easy to carry/use. I think my biggest frustration with the iPad was the lack of keyboard. But clearly you’ve got that sorted!

    I love the suggestions on apps. I’m definitely going to check those out.

    x
    V @ Life+1

    1. Thank you for reading! I have a feeling a MacBook Air will be my next investment. I keep popping in the Apple Store on Regent Street to look at them. Is it something you would recommend?

  2. I have a nice 10 hour flight ahead of me in the near future and will definitely get some blogging done during the flight. I might have to pick up one of the portable chargers. Sometimes long haul flights have a good selection of music on them and sometimes they don’t but I’ll see!

    Rachael at broomfie.blogspot.com

    1. Hi Rachael! Thank you for reading and commenting. The portable chargers are an absolute MUST for an iPhone. I always bring mine to events in London, just in case. Hope you have a safe, productive flight. 🙂

  3. Great tip! I’ve always been so behind the times so still haven’t got a tablet but I keep hearing from so many bloggers how much easier it makes their lives so I’ll have to invest in one as I think plane journeys are a great time to begin blogging! In fact, that’s just where my blog began – on a peice of paper with an old fashioned pen though!!

    1. Thanks for sharing the scoop on how your blog began. That’s very exciting! Whether it’s paper or electronic devices, focussing on blogging while in the air sure does pass the time by quickly!

  4. Hi there!
    I came to your blog tonight because I read that you’re from Florida and I traveled there for the first time with my children, we got back a couple of days ago. Just me… and my 2 chillins! Florida… omg. Amazing… Like I could move to the Florida Keys this very second, it is absolutely gorgeous!! We stayed in Fort Lauderdale and took a road trip to the keys… all of the keys… to mile mark 0! I wanted to tell you how gorgeous your State is but happened upon this great post as well… so this was me… 2 days ago with this briliant idea that I was going to blog my heart out and get all of this great writing done and maybe even catch up on a few blogs that I like to read… ya right. Every time I get on a plane I swear it’s turbulence city and I freak out… I’m not necessarily scared, but I am “Uneasy”, Like I cant relax and I want to pop a xanax and drink a glass of wine! So the whole catching up thing, didn’t come through for me. However, I do have to tell you, that though I decided to go with the Samsung Galaxy 10″ tablet instead of the Ipad, I also bought the keyboard and it’s awesome, it’s a bit hard to get used to at first because I have a ginormous laptop like you, but once you get used to a smaller keyboard it’s pretty cool… I have also done a bit of blogging using the Blogger app… not easy to do on a phone… anyway, I am going to check out a couple of the apps that you have here that I haven’t tried… I use “A beautiful Mess” app when I want to photo edit on my phone or my tablet. So I’ll have to have a go at the ones you suggested. Now I am totally waffling on, I will shut up now! Thanks for these tips! I will do my best to get some blogging done when I cross the Atlantic next week!
    Tammy x

    1. Hi Tammy. Glad you enjoyed Florida so much. The Keys and Lauderdale are truly gorgeous. I hope you enjoy some of the app suggestions and find them useful. I agree it’s tough to get settled on a plane, especially if you’re seat is in Economy (which mine generally is!). Blogging passes the time and makes being trapped for so long worth it. 🙂

    1. Thank you for reading and commenting, Michela. There are quite a few chargers available, but I’ve had great success with this one. (Once I figured out how to properly charge it via my laptop.) If you find any others you’d recommend, please share them with us.

  5. I have never blogged on a plane, but have had the intention to! I get too distracted with all the movies and the food lol. I had 24 hours back in April on the plane to Australia, actually 48 if you count the flight home and I was such a lazy shit and did nothing!!

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