Cool Gadgets for Frequent Flyers

When you're a frequent flyer who spends substantial amounts of time, checking in luggage, shuffling through TSA security checkpoints, and crammed into a coach class seat at 35000 feet, it's easy to justify a few luxuries to make the experience more bearable.

Here are some of my favorite gadgets that have eased the travel burden of my nine to five work week.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Until I tried a set, I deemed noise-cancelling headphones a waste of money. Once you have actually heard the in-flight movie free of static and crackle, you will change your mind. Engine noise is also reduced to a mere background hum, making sleep on those long haul or red-eye flights seem possible. This is the gadget that separates frequent flyers from the in-frequent flyers

My favorite, mostly for its compactness is the Sennheiser PXC 250 Active Noise Canceling Headphones. They run on two AAA batteries, folds into a small pouch for storage, and sells for between $70 and $140 depending on the retailer.

In an informal poll of fellow travelers (those sitting next to me over many flights) other popular models include:

Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones. These come in over-ear or on-ear models and retail between $200 and $400 depending on model and retailer.

Sony produces a number of noise cancelling headphone models retailing from $50 to $350 that are popular among frequent flyers.

Slingbox

Watch live TV or recorded shows from your DVR, on your laptop, from anywhere you have an internet connection. You don't have to worry about your hotel's cable channel line-up or the local schedule because you will be watching and controlling your TV, DVR and cable or satellite box at home.

There are two Slingbox models retailing between $150 and $300.

And if you don't have a laptop? For an extra $30 you can download Slingplayer mobile software for your phone.

Dual time watch

If you travel across time zones, keep your home and away time on your wrist with a dual time wristwatch. Watches retail from $20 to thousands.

Unlocked GSM Cell Phone

An unlocked GSM cell phone is gold for the international frequent flyer. Most cell phones sold by US carriers are locked to their networks, which means you need to activate global roaming with that carrier to make phone calls overseas. Global roaming rates are expensive. For the frequent international traveler, it may be prudent to purchase an unlocked handset and use a local SIM at your destination, avoiding global roaming charges altogether.

The advantage is clear-cheaper calls-many international countries charge only for calls you make, not incoming calls, but there is also one big disadvantage. Your phone number will change.

Most cell phones these days are also MP3 players providing entertainment value as well.

Netbook or wifi enabled cell phone.

In the close confines of the coach cabin, you will want a small laptop if you intend to work on your flight. if you're concerned about prying eyes invest in a privacy screen. Even if you chose not to work on your flight, nothing passes time more quickly at 35000 feet than your own entertainment options.

It is inevitable that eventually every frequent flyer will see the word "Delayed" flash in red against their flight on the flight status board. Unless you have a way to pass the time, it's enough to make you cry.

Any one of the items above will make a frequent flyers life more pleasant, but it's when you put them all together with a 30-hour flight delay that you see the real value in the price tags.

So next time the dreaded "canceled" or "delayed" flashes against your flight number, take your noise cancelling headphones, plug them into your laptop or wifi enabled cell phone, add a wifi connection and access your Slingbox. Then watch the delayed hours pass quickly by (in two time zones) while catching up on your favorite TV shows and movies.