# 10 Phone Tasks to Do the Night Before a Long-Haul Flight > The best way to prepare your phone for a long-haul flight is to spend the night before on home Wi-Fi: check in on the airline app, download maps, shows and languages, install a travel eSIM, then charge everything. Do the downloads and installs at home, because airports and planes are the worst places to discover that something needs a signal. - Canonical: https://fresim.com/lists/phone-tasks-the-night-before-a-long-haul-flight - Published: 2026-10-27 - Updated: 2026-10-27 - Author: Fresim - Section: Travel lists ## Intro This list is for anyone flying a long way who wants their phone to work the moment they land, and to behave itself on the plane. Start with the airline app check-in, because it can change your seat, your boarding pass and what you need to download. ## Items ### 1. Check in on the airline app Checking in early gets your boarding pass on your phone and shows any gate, seat or flight changes before you are standing in a queue. It also tells you whether the app needs an update or a login you have forgotten. **How:** Open your airline's official app, sign in, find your booking and complete check-in as soon as it opens. Then tap the option to add the boarding pass to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. **Tip:** Take a screenshot of the boarding pass as a backup in case the app is slow at the gate. ### 2. Update your phone and apps on Wi-Fi Big system and app updates can stall on a weak airport connection or start downloading just as you need your phone. Doing them at home means nothing restarts or changes right before you board. **How:** Connect to home Wi-Fi, open Settings, run the software update, then open the App Store or Google Play and update all apps. Restart the phone afterwards so you know it comes back up cleanly. **Tip:** Update the airline app, your maps app and your wallet app first if you are short on time. ### 3. Download films, shows and podcasts Seat-back screens can be broken, limited or missing, and onboard Wi-Fi is often slow or costly. Offline downloads give you something to watch or listen to for the entire flight. **How:** In your streaming apps, tap the download button on episodes or films, and in your podcast or music app download a few playlists or episodes. Check the Downloads tab to confirm they finished. **Tip:** Download more than you think you need, since delays and long layovers eat into battery and patience. ### 4. Save offline maps for your destination On arrival you may have no data yet, and offline maps still show your position and the route to your hotel or station. They also save you hunting for airport Wi-Fi. **How:** In Google Maps, search for your destination city, tap its name, choose Download and select the area. Apple Maps and other map apps have similar offline options in their settings. **Tip:** Star or pin your hotel, the airport exit and the nearest station so they are easy to find offline. ### 5. Download an offline translation pack Signs, menus and conversations with a taxi driver are much easier when your phone can translate without a signal. Language packs work even when you are in airplane mode. **How:** Open Google Translate or Apple's Translate app, choose the language you will need and download it for offline use. Try one phrase in airplane mode to confirm it works. **Tip:** Download the camera translation option too if your app offers it, for reading menus and signs. ### 6. Install your travel eSIM Installing at home on Wi-Fi means you can switch on data as soon as you land, with no kiosk queue and no hunting for a SIM shop. Fresim creator stores sell travel eSIMs delivered by email, and the email has one-tap install buttons. **How:** Open the delivery email on your phone and tap Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) or Install on Android (Android 10+), then follow the prompts. You can also scan the QR code from another screen, which is handy for sharing the eSIM with a travel partner. **Tip:** Keep your home line as the main line for calls and texts, and leave the travel eSIM's data switched off until you land. ### 7. Set up your ride and transit apps Having the local ride-hailing or transit app ready means you can get from the airport to your bed without fiddling with sign-ups while tired. Payment problems are much easier to sort out at home. **How:** Download the main ride or transit app used in your destination, create or sign in to your account, verify your phone number and add a payment method. Check that the app lets you set your pickup point from an address you have saved. **Tip:** Verification codes can be tricky when you switch lines, so finish sign-up before you leave. ### 8. Save key documents offline Hotel confirmations, visa or entry approvals, insurance details and onward tickets are often asked for at immigration or check-in, and a weak signal makes finding them stressful. Offline copies save you. **How:** Open each email or booking, save it as a PDF or screenshot, and keep them together in one album or a Files folder named for the trip. Add your passport photo page and emergency contacts to the same folder. **Tip:** Keep a second copy in cloud storage so it survives a lost or broken phone. ### 9. Back up your phone and turn on Find My Phones are lost or damaged most easily when you are tired and moving between airports. A recent backup and a tracking feature turn a disaster into an inconvenience. **How:** On iPhone, run an iCloud Backup and check that Find My iPhone is on. On Android, back up with Google One or your phone maker's backup option and confirm Find My Device is enabled. **Tip:** Write down or save a second contact number for your accounts, in case you lose your phone and need to log in elsewhere. ### 10. Charge everything and pack your power A long journey, a delay or a late arrival can drain your phone just when you need maps and ride apps. Starting full with a cable and power bank at hand gives you margin. **How:** Plug in your phone, power bank, earbuds and any other devices overnight, and put the cable and adapter in your carry-on. Power banks belong in carry-on bags, not checked luggage, so check your airline's rules. **Tip:** Turn on Low Power Mode or Battery Saver once on the plane, and use airplane mode to stretch the charge. ## Connectivity note Once you land, open your phone settings, switch your travel eSIM line on for mobile data and make sure data roaming is enabled for it. If you installed with the one-tap Install on iPhone or Install on Android button from the delivery email, there is nothing more to set up. The QR code in the same email is the second option, useful for installing from another screen or sharing with a travel companion. ## Checklist - Check in and save boarding pass - Update phone and apps on Wi-Fi - Download maps, shows and languages - Install your travel eSIM - Back up and charge everything ## Frequently asked questions ### What should I do with my phone the night before a long flight? Check in on the airline app, update your phone, and download offline maps, translations and entertainment while you are on Wi-Fi. Install your travel eSIM, back up your phone and charge all your devices. ### Should I install my eSIM before I fly? Yes, install it at home on Wi-Fi so it is ready when you land. Fresim creator stores deliver travel eSIMs by email with Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) and Install on Android (Android 10+) buttons, and you can keep the eSIM's data off until you arrive. ### Can I check in for a flight on my phone? Most airlines let you check in through their official app or website once check-in opens, and then add the boarding pass to your phone wallet. Opening times and rules vary by airline, so check your booking details. ### Do offline maps work without data or signal? Yes, a downloaded offline map area still shows your location and lets you search and navigate within that area. Download the whole city or region ahead of time, and check it works in airplane mode. ### Should I use airplane mode on a long-haul flight? Yes, switch to airplane mode, or whatever flight mode your airline requires, once on board. It also saves battery, and you can still use downloaded content and, where allowed, onboard Wi-Fi or Bluetooth headphones. ## Sources - Airline mobile app and online check-in help pages — Your airline - iPhone User Guide: eSIM, Wallet, backup and Find My — Apple Support - Android Help: eSIM, backup and Find My Device — Google Support - Download offline maps and Translate language packs — Google Maps Help and Google Translate Help --- Markdown version of https://fresim.com/lists/phone-tasks-the-night-before-a-long-haul-flight. Fresim lets travel creators open their own branded eSIM store: https://fresim.com/partners