This will solve the "spotify didn't actually download my offline playlist" problem, but unfortunately there is rarely room to use a laptop on the plane unless you're flying business.
What do you mean? I've flown before and 14" or 13.3" laptop fits just fine on the seat tray.
If all you're doing is watching video then it's fine. But trying to get real work done is incredibly awkward. The only way I'm able to do anything is to use a separate Bluetooth keyboard I hold underneath the tray over my knees. But that means exclusively writing or other things I can do solely with the keyboard, without a mouse/trackpad.
Also, forget it if the person in front of you reclines. It's game over.
that's what the trackpoint is for, if you have a thinkpad ;)
I will admit to using a Thinkpad.
For other laptops I've had, I use my thumbs + tap-to-click. Also a healthy dose of KB. I am buried in the console, so I will admit that a more graphically driven user may not appreciate thumbing the touchpad and navigating by KB.
Sometimes, the options for edge-inertial-scrolling, tap then hold to drag (i.e. click dragging with a mouse), etc seem to mostly be limited to synaptics touchpads and sometimes features disappear with OS or driver updates. Really annoying, when those features are what make marginal touchpad usage shine, IMO.