You have your book, your iPod, and good old SkyMall. And in the seat next to you, there's Chatty Cathy, dying to get to know you. If you'd rather not talk, "try the monosyllabic grunt," says Gordon Elliott. "Or pretend to sleep. The last resort is to plug in earphones, even if you don't need them." If you're the one who feels like talking, wait to start the conversation until an hour or less before landing. That way you know the conversation can't go on too long. Jockeying for armrest space can also get tricky, but using a pillow to prop up your arm will net you more room. "Hulk Hogan and I sat next to each other once. We both used pillows — he got the front half of the armrest and I got the back," says Elliott.