How do I listen to music on a plane?!

[NetflixWithoutFriendsIsWrong]

Explain this to an old dinosaur will you?! At home I just flick on YouTube and type in whatever song I want to listen to! I only have the radio in the car.

I don't know anything about downloading or Spotify etc etc. It's a 9 hour flight, I don’t really want to rely on in-flight entertainment. Just want to kick back and close my eyes with a couple of MJ and Bowie albums at my own choice.

HOW? 🙈 I only have a basic smart phone and some ear pods that connect via blue tooth. I could just about set that up!

Bring back the Walkman. I don't belong here. I'm only 41!

Important to note that your Netflix sub will not allow you to download films - you have to purchase them first. Spotify free is the same principle - the licence is to stream not download. And that films take up a shit ton of memory so a basic smart phone won’t be anywhere near enough (and might struggle with enough storage for music too). And as others have said - your battery will drain in no time.

That's not true. There may be limits on how much you can download but you can download them without paying extra

Surely you don’t need it explaining? You just click the download button 🫣

Im 61, have had Spotify for years! It's not an age thing I don't think

How can you use Netflix etc but not understand how apps work in general?

At 41 you’re not a dinosaur! Because if you are I’m not sure what that makes me at 44.

As others have said, get Spotify. Make playlists and download them at home when you have WiFi and they’ll be there on your phone.
Download more than you need in case you fancy listening to something else as you won’t be able to stream music when you have your phone on airplane mode.

Rather than posting emojis, read my whole post.

I did read it. Once it's downloaded, you just listen via the app on your phone.

I never said I don't know how to use apps I just wanted opinions on the best one and just a bit of you know... sharing? This shark den never ceases to amaze me. I came on here full of friendliness and positivity simply asking for a heads up. I understand a lot of things but I simply didn't understand how it's possible to use technology or make sure I'm not overusing my own phone data 20,000 miles in the sky as I do on the Internet at home or in my car because I didn't want to be paying for airline WiFi not knowing if every other person pays for it too... and because I don't usually fly long haul I'm just not very confident. It was JUST a question. I only wanted a little bit of reassurance. I'm sure millions of people already know the answer. I'm not thick or unsavvy, this is simply an area I've never had to think about before because it's not something I need to navigate my life.

If someone on here ever asks for advice on how to drive a car, ride a bike, travel to another country or live alone? I pray I won't be as arrogant and cold and some of you.

Peace x

And if you re read the original post properly I've SAID that I'm "only 41" I'm not knocking anyone in their 40s. I was simply referring to myself as being a fucking dinosaur 🦕

Honestly I thought this thread would be educational and productive but I feel drained as fuck!

To repeat - if I go onto BBC Sounds, for example, it doesn't tell me anything right there on the screen about how to download the podcast so I can listen foc on a plane

OP - I hear you. This is MN in action - a simple question becomes a whole drama from posters who simply can't bring themselves to give a simple, straight answer.

Mate! It's depressing as fuck! 9 year olds behave with more humanity. Fuck me

Yes, and I answered that ages ago saying that no it doesn't have step by step instructions but if you don't understand the word "download" that appears under every episode then you are really starting from a place very far behind the average app user.

If you haven't got anything downloaded but go to Downloads, which is easily found by clicking in a couple of places it does tell you the purpose of it.

It's really not hidden information or particularly difficult to work out. It doesn't tell you how to play an episode either. The play button isn't even labelled, it's just the standard triangle shape that indicates play and is familiar to anyone who has ever used any tech at all.

Who are you flying with ? Check their website, most long haul flights will have music as well as films/ tv you can select from the entertainment screen. They even list what they have on the website.

Well, of course a website isn't going to give you instructions like that.

But if you are really incapable of knowing that a "download" button means "press this to download the podcast so you can listen to it whenever you like" then I'm not really sure what anyone else on here is supposed to say.

I think people just find it quite shocking that a capable, literate adult in their 40's can't figure these things out, to be honest.

I'm not responding to your post, I'm responding to @vanillalattes earlier post - she and I have been bouncing backwards and forwards for a while now.

Fortunately there have been enough helpful comments and tips on here for the OP.

People? You mean some posters. I don't see why it should shock anyone - it's a perfectly reasonable question and one that was perfectly answerable in a helpful and productive manner without resorting to childish 'OMG 🤣' type responses.

But mine were both just as valid responses to your specific point about step-by-step instructions.

Haven’t read all the replies so apologies if I’m repeating. You can check the in flight entertainment menu ahead of time (same month as flight usually) and it will tell you the music options available. Pretty easy to navigate on the airline’s website (in-flight service, in-flight entertainment etc).
I’ve never listened to my own music and have flown long haul more times than I can count. Have always managed to find a few albums to listen to. Had one awkward moment when I’d forgotten that a particular album contained the song I used for alarm clock and was jolted awake somewhere over India 🤣

Snd yet other posters who have been more helpful have managed to explain it perfectly - so credit and thanks to the more constructive posts.

If you can create an account on MN and use the site to post threads and reply to people etc, you can 100% work out how to use an app to download a podcast or a film, or google how to do that.

If this conversation was in person then there might be some logic to it but going on about how you can’t fathom out BBC Sounds while you’re posting on a website forum is madness. It’s not writing code, it’s very basic technological functioning.

Well, I do find it quite shocking (as in, surprising) that a capable, literate adult in their 40's with access to the internet is unable to figure out basic things like downloading music, yes.

I'm only 4 years younger than OP and have been using the internet daily for well over 30 years. I was downloading music and movies back in the early noughties and so was everyone else I know - it's not like it's new.

How did I not? I had screenshot and everything. 🤣.

You weren't asking for instructions. You were complaining that they didn't exist.

I agree. If you can figure out how to post on here, you can figure out downloading a podcast or music.