The Royal Geographical Society is the latest to attempt to improve the flight experience with its Hidden Journeys project.
The Google Maps-based initiative plots plane journeys between destinations providing information on what is below focusing on people, places and environment.
The organisation joins MondoWindow and others in efforts to make flying more fun and has already mapped plane trips including Hong Kong to Bangkok, Mumbai to Delhi and Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg.
Until quite recently the flight experience had been neglected but now expect dramatic changes to in-flight entertainment thanks to developments in consumer devices and increasingly, the availability of in-flight web connectivity.
Hidden Journeys gives travellers three different perspectives on what's below based on different altitudes.
The RGS is now working towards integrating the content with moving maps on planes.