By Elizabeth Millard

Remember when airplane travel used to be fabulous, during the era when movie stars and captains of industry jetted off to exotic destinations like Havana and Reno, and enjoyed their juicy in-flight steaks and brisk cocktails while en route? Nah, we don't remember that either.

These days, travel can feel like more grind than glamour. But it doesn't have to be a seemingly endless struggle to kill time while you shuttle from one destination to the next—believe it or not, flying can be fun again. It just depends on how you keep yourself occupied.

Here are some ways to spice it up on your next trip to the friendly skies when your book grows lackluster and you've mindlessly flipped through the in-flight magazine one too many times:

Make friends through poker
Anyone can make small talk, but how many people can bluff their way through a New York to Los Angeles flight? It's possible, and even probable, that a seatmate might not jump at the offer for some Blackjack or Texas Hold 'Em, but how do you know until you ask? Have a deck of cards handy, and if the stranger beside you hesitates over the thought of gambling, you can always play for lower stakes, like beverage cart and snack box money.

Watch childhood movies
Equipped with a laptop, it's possible to watch a wide range of films, from the gangster flick of the month to the latest Adam Sandler project. These will occupy time and may even be mildly intriguing or amusing. But to really kick boredom to the curb, rent a few old favorites from back in the day. The plots of some early movies can be goofy, the sci-fi "innovations" are laughable—hello, giant home supercomputers—and the jokes might be outdated, but all of that is part of the zesty trip into your kid years. Consider, for example, the entire Dean Jones oeuvre like "The Shaggy D.A." (the only political candidate with a law degree and a canine pedigree!) and the VW-centric "The Love Bug."

Learn Origami
Every day you spend hours honing business and personal skills that lend themselves well to executive life, but when was the last time you embarked on a completely non-relevant course of knowledge? Independent of work, unique talents can be hugely enjoyable, simply because they provide a break from the everyday list of to-do's. One particularly notable hobby is Origami, the ancient art of paper folding. The confined space of most airplanes and the small tray tables that barely hold a purchased snack box, lends itself as the perfect setting for creating tiny cranes, rabbits and other creatures. Buy an Origami paper kit or book before departing, and you'll have a menagerie by arrival time.

Write letters
Remember letters? A refresher course: thoughts poured out on paper, by hand, and mailed to a fortunate recipient. They traditionally don't contain shorthand (LOL), smiley faces, multiple revisions or seamless transitions between thoughts, but what they can provide is a stellar, stream-of-consciousness example of someone's memories, feelings, or jokes. With the advent of email, some people who have been friends for years never know each other's handwriting. Spouses may no longer be able to pull out a packet of letters to traipse down memory lane but have to dig through their electronic storage instead. So take a moment while hurtling through the air to revisit this lost art, and give this personal memento to your children, spouse, pals, parents or anyone who might appreciate a glimpse into your mind and heart—not to mention a rare look at your messy handwriting.