Long flights no longer mean travelers are disconnected from the world, but keeping up on news still requires some equipment and know-how.

While cruising several thousand feet in the air, it is impossible to connect to any kind of mobile data. Airlines typically allow passengers to pay to connect to in-flight WiFi and the internet. Once connected, there are myriad options to best stay connected and get the news your business relies on.

Bring headphones on the flight and use a radio app like iHeartRadio to connect to your favorite news station. If radio is out of the question, there are still lots of options to keep connected.

News aggregation apps like SmartNews and Flipboard allow users to curate their own experience and only get the news they want. These apps connect readers with trusted outlets and update frequently, making sure, even in the middle of a long flight, you can keep up on current world events.

Connecting to these apps is free, which should help alleviate the problem of paying to connect to the WiFi.

If you arrive at the airport a little early and have some time to kill before the flight departs, load these apps onto your phone or tablet and prepare the pertinent news stories. These options are possible in the apps of many established newspapers, such as the Washington Post and the Economist.

If all else fails, grab a newspaper to take with you on the plane.