We’re all familiar with that sinking feeling after boarding a commercial plane and realizing that there are absolutely zero entertainment options available for the 14-hour flight. Unless you’re in the mood to drink wine and peruse the shopping and tourism catalogs during the whole journey, the whole experience can quickly turn into a pretty dreary affair indeed.

Karolina Grabowska/pexels. Netflix and chill is the perfect way to kill time during traveling

Before you turn to your fellow seatmate and decide to strike up a conversation that you hope would last the whole journey, this genius Netflix hack will save both you and your neighboring passenger a whole lot of awkwardness. After all, what’s worse than trying to chat up a fellow traveler who is seemingly in no mood for any reciprocation because they’re too busy enjoying their favorite television show themselves?

Youtube Downloading Feature

For instances like these, YouTube has a very useful feature that allows users to download their favorite videos on their android/iOS tablet or cellular device. This means that during those periods when you face an internet blackout or during an outdoor camping trip, you can always resort to watching these YouTube videos offline.

Mentatdgt/pexels. Without entertainment, a long journey can quickly turn into a dreary affair

Netflix On the Go

If you’re a Netflix user and really need to stream your favorite TV show or film without an internet connection, you’re in luck. This is because similar to YouTube, Netflix now also offers a similar feature that allows you to watch your favorite media content from virtually anywhere as long as you have enough juice to power up your mobile device.

Netflix Smart Downloads Feature

The ‘Smart Downloads’ feature allows you to stream your favorite media content on Netflix offline and without an internet connection. This can come in handy when traveling or even going out for your early morning run. The handy-dandy option automatically deletes all of the downloaded media once you’re done watching it and even automatically downloads new content that is suited to your preferences.

Tumisu/pixabay. The ‘Smart Downloads’ feature allows you to stream your favorite media content on Netflix offline

The Netflix download feature was first introduced in 2016 for its members on the go. The only problem was, if your mobile device was low on local storage, it could quickly clog up your memory with the plethora of downloaded content.

This changed in 2019 when Netflix introduced the smart download feature which not only allowed for the automatic deletion of media content after it had already been viewed but also automatically downloaded the next episode of the saga without the user needing to lift so much as a finger. Although the feature was exclusive to android devices at the beginning, it also was introduced on the iOS platform later on in 2019.