When ever travelling I always take my portable DVD player with me.If the in-flight entertainment is not up to much this always fills the space for 2 hrs or more.Also good for the hotel room.
On a recent trip from the East coast of USA to London the IFE was not working across the aircraft and the cabin crew
were sorry but there was nothing they could do about it. In the Club Class cabin for this overnight flight there were 2 young children who were,Loud & bored with "nothing to do". After 20 minutes of loud children, I offered my DVD player,via the cabin staff,to these kids and low and behold the whole cabin got a good nights sleep as they watch "E.T."
When getting off the plane in the morning I got a warm farewell & a nice little "thank you" present from the crew.
"be prepared"