Mobile Computing: Computing in Coach Class, Part 2

By James A. Martin, PCWorld May 26, 2005 1:00 AM

Feature: Tips for Computing in Coach, Part 2

Last week, I offered info on why this summer is expected to be a long, hot one for notebook users flying coach. And I had tips on finding a coach seat with adequate legroom, which translates into more work space.

This week, I have more tips for notebook users on how to avoid being stuck in a cramped airline seat--and how to make the most of it if you are.

Before You Leave

Book an Aisle Seat. As a rule, aisle seats don't offer a larger seat pitch than any other seat. (Seat pitch is the distance from one point on a seat to the same point on the seat in front.) Still, they can give you more elbow room on a crowded flight--and notebook users need all the elbow room they can get.

Also, an aisle seat gives you more mobility, which translates into more legroom. For instance, you can store your notebook in the overhead compartment instead of the space under the seat in front of you. Whenever you're ready to start working, just pop up and retrieve the notebook, provided it's okay for passengers to move around at that point in the flight. It's far easier to get your notebook from an overhead compartment than from under a seat. Just don't drop it on your neighbors when fumbling about.

But Not Near the Restrooms. On long-haul flights, there's usually a run on the rear-cabin restrooms after the movie has ended and after the attendants have stopped wheeling food and beverage carts through the aisles. When the mad dash begins, passengers in the aisle seats nearest the restrooms will soon find people standing right next to them. Claustrophobia ensues, and paranoia--more often than not, folks standing in the aisle will take an interest in what's on your notebook screen. (See "Protect Your Privacy" in the next section for advice on handling that situation.)

Pack a Printout. When you travel by plane, you have to be prepared for the unexpected. In a worst-case scenario, you may be so cramped that it's just not feasible to type on your notebook for any length of time, particularly if it has a large screen. Should that happen, having a printout of your work stored in a carry-on bag may help you continue to be productive, even in claustrophobic conditions.

Bring Headphones and Soft Music. The more crowded a flight, the more ambient noise you're likely to endure--everything from chatty neighbors to screaming infants. And the more noise, the harder it is to concentrate. For this reason alone, I keep several hours worth of New Age music on my notebook, and I pack a pair of lightweight headphones.

Eat Before Boarding. You can use your tray table for typing on your notebook or for eating a meal, but not both. And the more crowded the flight, the longer the remains of your meal must sit on the tray table, waiting for an attendant to collect them. If you eat before the flight, however, you can continue working during the meal service.

When You're Stuck

Ask Questions and Look Around. In a crowded coach cabin, an adjacent empty seat is heaven, allowing you more room to work comfortably. To increase your chances of being seated next to absolutely no one, ask a gate attendant before boarding if the plane will be full. If the answer is no and the attendant isn't busy, ask where any empty seats might be located and find out if you can be reassigned to a seat next to one. (Of course, springing for a first-class upgrade is even better, but most of us are on a tight travel budget these days.)

If that doesn't work out, once you and at least most other passengers have been seated, look around the cabin. If you see empty seats together, note their location and gather your things, if possible. Right after the plane's door closes, but before the jet begins to taxi, you may have an opportunity to quickly move to one of those empty seats. Above all, be considerate of others, ask permission wherever possible, and don't simply "go for it."

Protect Your Privacy. In a crowded coach cabin, wandering eyes will inevitably wander to your notebook screen. If you're working on confidential reports, or just don't want others to see what you're doing, consider using a privacy filter on your screen. Privacy filters allow only the user who sits directly in front of the screen to view its contents. These filters start at about $50 and are available from several vendors, including 3M.

Put Your Laptop on Your Lap. Often, when the seat in front is fully reclined and your tray table doesn't slide forward, the only way to get a decently comfortable position is to put your notebook on your lap. Notebooks generate heat, however, which can become uncomfortable. And ergonomically speaking, typing in this position is a disaster. Still, if you gotta work, you gotta work. Should your lap grow too warm, place the in-flight magazine underneath your notebook. Or consider bringing along a "notebook cooler," which helps dissipate the heat generated. For more tips, read "Overheated Notebooks."

Talk to the Person in Front of You. I'll bet that just as you're ready to start working on your notebook, the passenger in front fully reclines the seat--making it much more difficult for you to work comfortably. My editor suggests politely asking the passenger in front to raise the seat a little so you can work. More often than not, he says, the person will raise the seat back to its upright position. At any rate, as my mother always says: It never hurts to ask--nicely--for what you need.