By James Wysong

Travel columnist

updated 3:19 p.m. ET June 7, 2006

It’s your notebook, workmate, business consultant, mobile office, movie theater and — more often than not — your solitaire buddy. The variety of traveling PCs is mind-boggling: from widescreen to compact to tablet to palm-size. Whichever the variety, your PC is often a hassle when you fly. You search for power to feed it, you tote around endless accessories, you juggle it at security, and you look for places to stash it on board.

Come to think of it, it’s a lot like a baby — but that’s another story.

As a flight attendant, I’ve seen my share of PC woes. Here are 10 tips to make your computer a better travel companion.

1. Power up. If you think you’ll be able to juice up between flights, think again. Outlets for passenger use are disappearing as fast as airport energy bills are rising, and when you do find an outlet, it usually has someone hooked up to it already. So bring an extra battery — it’s worth the weight.

2. Choose your seat wisely. On the airplane, get a seat by the window so you are not bothered by passengers with weak bladders. If possible, get a seat in an exit row, at the front of the economy section, or on the bulkhead aisle; these rows typically have more space — or have no seats in front of them — so you can extend your screen without interference.

3. Protect against snoopers. If you have WiFi access on your computer, secure it. When I turn on my computer in flight, I often find I can access most of the laptops on board. So, if you don’t want me — or any other nosy person — looking into your files, learn how to secure your connection.

4. Cover your ears. If you (or your child) want to play a game or watch a movie, be considerate and wear earplugs. If someone in a neighboring row is not using earplugs, and the audio annoys you, call the flight attendant. Common courtesy will work its way out.

5. Close it up. When flight attendants pass with the drink cart, close your screen until they have served everyone in your row. Accidents and turbulence can cause spillage onto your keyboard, ruining your flight and possibly your PC.

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