On every flight, passengers are reminded to enable airplane mode, disable mobile data, and limit internet usage. Some airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi or personal entertainment screens, but these amenities often fall short, especially on long-haul journeys. As time seems to crawl and boredom sets in, many instinctively turn to a familiar activity: opening their phone’s photo app to sort, delete, and organize long-forgotten images.
Many passengers immediately open their photo app to sort images once they board a flight. Photo: @mayren.bello
Interestingly, this habit is so widespread that it’s become an unspoken rule among air travelers. Many admit that despite having Wi-Fi, 4G, and all conveniences at home, they procrastinate on sorting photos. Yet, the moment they settle into their seat, fasten their seatbelt, and the seatbelt sign turns off, they inevitably open their photo album and begin a sorting spree.
Some joke that each flight is an opportunity to free up storage, deleting enough photos to reclaim dozens of gigabytes, leaving them with a sense of relief. Ironically, the absence of internet connectivity becomes a powerful motivator to tackle tasks long postponed in daily life.
Many travelers consider photo sorting the ultimate time-killer during long flights. Photo: @danielvoquoc
A recent social media post went viral with the caption: “POV: The app everyone uses on a plane,” accompanied by an image of the photo app. In the comments, users shared similar experiences, with one noting, “It’s true! Last time I flew, everyone around me was scrolling through their photo albums—it was hilarious,” and another saying, “I spent a 2-hour flight sorting photos and still wasn’t done by the time we landed.”
The post resonated with many for its relatability.
Some passengers admitted to being lazy about sorting photos at home but becoming diligent once airborne. “Normally, I procrastinate sorting photos at home, but on a plane, I’ll clear out 10GB in one go,” one shared. “I deleted 3GB of photos during my last flight,” another added. “Even when there’s no internet or power, I still dive into my photo album,” a third commented.
This photo-sorting habit isn’t limited to flights. Whether during a power outage, low battery, or lost Wi-Fi connection, many instinctively turn to their photo albums to pass the time. This charming and surprising habit is shared by countless individuals, sparking laughter for its universality and familiarity.
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