It’s quite another thing to engage in such activity while flying a plane, which is exactly what two pilots did last week.The two pilots from Northwest Airlines didn’t just create a minor blip, either. They overshot their own landing by 150 miles, were out of radio contact for 90 minutes and left over 140 passengers worried during their journey–all because they were both playing on their laptops during the flight.

The military even almost became involved at one point for fear of another national security disaster.

Okay, when people scoff that it’s more dangerous to be in car than in an airplane, and that riding in a plane is a perfectly safe way to travel, perhaps their words of wisdom don’t hold up as much as they have in the past.

People are often being told to stop talking–and especially texting–on their cell phones while driving their cars (or a bus or train…); perhaps a campaign against web browsing while flying a plane full of passengers is needed as well.

The two pilots, who violated aviation policy with their little laptop break, had their licences revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration as a result.

While some are arguing that these pilots must have been under severe stress to do such a thing–and it’s true that pilots have been enduring a lot during the economic crisis in the country right now–common sense has to come in somewhere. You’re flying a plane. In the sky. With over a hundred lives in your hands. You shouldn’t be on your laptop.

From random (to not-so-random) searches to people with prosthetic limbs being asked to prove they’re there to babies in blankets being checked before boarding, it’s never a surprise to discover what the latest thing being banned from the friendly skies might be.

Which is exactly why it’s so surprising that flights coming out of the Bay Area might be carrying passengers with approved baggies of pot.Granted, the marijuana they are traveling with is of the medical variety, but given the strict regulations on so many other substances, it’s still a cause for eyebrows to disappear beneath hairlines.

According to San Francisco police, as long as the patients carry cards that verify that the pot is for medical purposes, they are allowed to bring up to 8 ounces of dried marijuana on board with their toiletries. The police use the same policy within the city itself, and have been doing so since November of 2008.

Airport staff aren’t allowed to dictate who can fly or not with the cannabis; only the local police have that authority.

In San Jose, the law differs. While passengers are allowed to fly with their drugs, the police do write up a report and submit it to a federal judge, who then decides whether criminal activity has occurred or not.

The U.S. Justice Department in general is backing the patients, saying that prosecution of travelers with valid medical needs for the marijuana should be avoided as long as they cooperate with local laws.

But the reality is that air travel generates a considerable amount of waste. If the aluminum cans that are pitched from flights every year were recycled alone (4,250 tons of them, to be precise), there would be enough to construct 58 brand new 747s–which, you might think, would provide some incentive to recycle for the airlines. Raw materials don’t come much cheaper than that!

Paper is also a huge waste in the air travel business. Every year, 72,250 tons of paper are wasted on flights–which is enough to fill up a football-field sized hole 230 feet deep.

The good news is that some airlines are opting to get a bit greener. Delta Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines have all made some strides in recycling their waste. Southwest in particular hopes to make enough money through its recycling efforts to pay for its entire waste management process.

However, most airlines haven’t really jumped aboard the green wagon as of yet. Though the reasons why vary, experts cite little to no government regulations or incentives as the main culprit.

That said, the fact that airports that do recycle save about $100,000 annually should nudge them in the eco-friendly direction.

So what do you do if your attendant cannot recycle your stuff for you? If you truly care about it, you can keep it in your carry-on (which is likely already jam packed!) and recycle it after you get off the plane. Just be sure to write the airline once you get home and let them know that it’s very important to you.

Experts say that travelers should book while the booking is good. “You’re going to have less availability to choose from. Any of these lower fares or special fares that you see offered are capacity controlled,” warns Janet Stevens of AAA Travel Services.It all comes down to the numbers: there are simply fewer passengers flying these days. In fact, this year’s fourth quarter low is expected to be nearly as low as the record set following the September 11 attack in 2001.

Fewer passengers translates to fewer flights offered. And when the holidays sneak up on travelers as they always seem to do, without as many flights available, there won’t be as many choices left.

So how early do we need to buy? Experts say that anytime between now and the end of October is ideal. “Bottom line is that holiday air travel procrastinators do so at their own peril this year and practical travelers should be shopping now,” says Farecompare.com’s Rick Seaney.

According to Stevens, Thanksgiving morning departures can often help people save money, as well as flying outside normal peak periods. This entails flying a few days earlier–such the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving rather than the day before.

Fewer passengers flying does have its advantages. Processing times should be shorter, and lines should be as well. Flights may not be as crowded, and may be more likely to arrive on time.

British company Design Q is working on a concept for staggered, sideways seating in order to help airlines cut costs–and max out on passenger capacity.

Images of the revolutionary idea can be seen here. Each row is made up of inward-facing seats on both sides of the plane. There is also another row, composed of back-to-back seats, down the center of the plane.

And some airlines are already considering the concept. Irish airline Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, says he’s willing to consider new seating arrangements on his company’s planes. He’s also in favor of a vertical, or standing, design during short flights.

While some travelers like to have a conversation with their seat mates, many prefer to remain quiet during their journey. Would such face-to-face seating force people to start talking to one another? And would that be such a bad thing?

As far as short flights go, would standing not increase the uncomfortable feeling of flying that many people have–thereby reducing the airline’s customer inflow? After all, trekking across an airport–particularly while toting around several pounds of luggage–can be a tiring ordeal. Add that to annoyances with security, flight delays and other inconveniences, and most people would probably rather sit as they fly rather than stand.

Another thing to consider are the flight crew. Will it be possible for them to move down such aisles? How will larger passengers be able to fly without the possibility of paying for two seats? And would a larger capacity mean a larger risk during a fire, turbulence or other emergencies?

Would you fly in this fashion?