Is MasterClass Worth It? What I Learned on My Long Haul Flight to Kazakhstan

Yes, MasterClass is worth it if you have hours of travel ahead and pick the right plan before you board. I learned that on three flights from Oklahoma City to Almaty, Kazakhstan, by way of Chicago and Istanbul, with a 10 hour time change waiting at the end.

I had seen the MasterClass ads for years. I had scrolled past them, half curious, always telling myself I would look later. Then, days before flying to Almaty for the TBEX Asia travel bloggers conference, I finally signed up. What I watched in the air (during a 32+ hour travel day) changed how I walked into a week of strangers, markets, mountain villages, and networking.

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Why I signed up right before my Turkish Airlines flight

I signed up because I was about to spend a full week meeting people I did not know, mostly on my own. My first nights in Almaty were in a women’s capsule hostel. After that came a history tour, a day up in the mountains at a ski resort, a VIP welcome party, two days of conference networking, and an overnight yurt stay out near Kaindy Lake.

I am an ambivert, an extroverted introvert, and sometimes I need help in a room full of people I don’t know. Two years ago, I decided to try something new each and every week, and learning how to talk to people, and getting better at it, is always on my list. So when I saw MasterClass offered classes on those very subjects, I joined. Now, three months later, I am still subscribed.

The three flights gave me something I rarely have at home: long stretches with no email, no errands, and no excuses. Plus there are only so many movies I can watch at a sitting. That is the perfect setup for learning something on purpose.

The mistake to avoid: buying the plan with no offline downloads

If you plan to watch on a plane, skip the Standard plan. Only Plus and Premium members can download lessons in the iOS and Android apps, and you cannot download through the website. Standard has no offline mode at all, so on a flight without Wi Fi you would have nothing to watch.

Plan	Price per year	Offline downloads	Devices at once
Standard	$120	No	1
Plus	$180	Yes	2
Premium	$240	Yes	6

Prices are annual billing at the time of writing; check the MasterClass site for current offers. Every plan includes the same library of 200+ classes and a 30 day money back guarantee.

Two more things I wish I had known:

• Download on Wi Fi before you leave. MasterClass requires a Wi Fi connection to download lessons, and not every lesson is available offline.
• Test in airplane mode at the gate. Some travelers report downloads that would not play in the air. MasterClass’s own help center says to try airplane mode, and that a “no internet” message is normal while you watch offline.

What I watched, leg by leg

I built my playlist around talking to people, plus one class on habits to round it out. I matched each class to a flight by length, saving the longest for the longest leg.

Oklahoma City to Chicago: The Conversation Advantage with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks. At 54 minutes, this class fit the short first hop. The Harvard Business School professor turns 15 years of research into a framework for talking to anyone with confidence, built on four parts: Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness.

My takeaway: Prepare two or three topics before you walk into a room, then ask more follow up questions than feels natural. As an ambivert, having topics ready ahead of time takes away the pressure of thinking on my feet.

Chicago to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines: Esther Perel Teaches Relational Intelligence. The longest class on my list, at 12 lessons and about 3 hours 6 minutes, fit the long transatlantic leg. The psychotherapist covers self awareness, boundaries, difficult conversations, and reflective listening, and she encourages taking small “micro risks” to build trust.

My takeaway: Trust grows through small risks, not big leaps. Saying hello first or sharing a little about myself is a micro risk, and those add up quickly in a week of strangers.

Still over the Atlantic: George Stephanopoulos Teaches Purposeful Communication. Next came 14 lessons, about 2 hours 10 minutes, from the veteran interviewer. He treats nerves as a normal part of communicating and teaches open ended questions, simple follow ups like “And?”, and the power of silence.

My takeaway: I don’t need the perfect question. I LOVE using a short pause and waiting for others to fill the space. A short, open question and a comfortable pause often draw out the best stories.

Istanbul to Almaty: People Intelligence with Vanessa Van Edwards. The overnight leg landed at 3:25 in the morning (my time), so short lessons were key. This class packs 28 lessons into about 1 hour 39 minutes, covering first impressions, reading people, and the body language cues that build trust. Her “Triple Threat” for first impressions is open hand gestures, eye contact, and broad posture.

My takeaway: Before I say a word, my body is already talking. Uncrossing my arms, keeping my hands visible, and making eye contact is an easy first step when I walk into a room full of people I don’t know.

Then, Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life with James Clear. Its 10 lessons run about 9 minutes each, so they fit easily around sleep. The Atomic Habits author covers goals versus systems, the habit loop, and how small daily actions shape who you become.

My takeaway: Every small action is a vote for the person I want to become. That is exactly why I try something new every week, and why practicing conversation one small step at a time works.

My flight playlist at a glance:

• The Conversation Advantage with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks: 54 minutes
• Esther Perel Teaches Relational Intelligence: 12 lessons, about 3 hours 6 minutes
• George Stephanopoulos Teaches Purposeful Communication: 14 lessons, about 2 hours 10 minutes
• People Intelligence with Vanessa Van Edwards: 28 lessons, about 1 hour 39 minutes
• Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life with James Clear: 10 lessons, about 1 hour 29 minutes

That is about 9 hours 18 minutes of lessons across three flights, with time left over for meals, sleep, and a few movies.

How it showed up in Almaty

The real test came on the ground, where nearly every day put me in conversation with someone new.

• The female only capsule hostel. Language was my first hurdle. My Kazakh is nonexistent, and the other guests spoke very little English. When words run out, a smile, open body language, Google Translate app on my phone with a Kazakhstan esim, and patience have to carry the conversation.
• The history walking tour. A local guide led us around Guardsmen Park with a mix of tourists from around the world. That is where I met a fellow travel writer from Chile who was in town for the same event, and we became friends.
• The VIP welcome party and TBEX Asia. I set myself a small, specific goal: introduce myself to five people I had never met. I walked in with two topics ready instead of hoping something would come to me. I kept my arms uncrossed and made eye contact, and I said hello first instead of waiting to be approached. Once someone answered, I asked an open question, listened, and followed up with a simple “And?” I met five new people, then kept going and met more.
• The yurt stay and Kaindy and Kolsai lake visit. This was a group trip full of travelers I had never met. Over shared meals I struck up conversations with people from Italy, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The biggest change? I quit falling back on the weather. I had two topics ready, and I engaged: listening, pausing, and asking “And?” The classes were a great refresher on how to put myself out in front of people again, jump into conversations with both feet, and enjoy sharing the experience of time and place.

Want to read more about my visit to Kazakhstan? Start with this article on Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes, and Charyn Canyon: A Two Day Tour Worth the Drive

Is MasterClass worth it? Honest pros and cons

For a traveler with long flights ahead, I say yes, on the Masterclass Plus plan. If you want structured training with homework and feedback, look elsewhere.

What I liked

• Lessons are short, so they fit around meal service and naps.
• Audio mode works like a podcast when your eyes need a break.
• The instructors are people who have done the thing at the highest level.
• One annual price covers every class, so you can sample freely.

What to know before you buy

• It is inspiration and insight, not a course with assignments or feedback.
• Offline viewing requires Plus or Premium, and not every lesson downloads.
• Billing is annual only, with no monthly option. (I have the Plus membership that is $180 a year or $15 a month)
• Some App Store reviewers report download glitches, so test before you fly.

More reasons MasterClass is worth it

For parents traveling with teens. The Premium plan streams on up to six devices at once, so everyone in the family can watch their own class on the same flight or in the back seat. The MasterClass app is rated 13+ on the App Store, so it suits teens, but preview a class before you hand over the tablet. Watching the same class gives you something to talk about besides “are we there yet?”

For road trips. Audio mode turns lessons into podcast style listening, so the driver can keep eyes on the road while everyone learns. With Plus or Premium, downloaded lessons keep playing through long stretches with no cell signal. Pick a class the whole car will enjoy, then talk it over at the next stop.

For starting a new chapter. Whether you are an empty nester like me, changing careers, or rebuilding after a big life change, a new chapter often means learning new skills. One annual price lets you sample everything from habits with James Clear to relationships with Esther Perel, without committing to a single course. The 30 day money back guarantee takes the risk out of trying.

How to set up MasterClass before a long flight

1. Choose the Plus or Premium plan so offline downloads are included.
2. Install the MasterClass app on your phone or tablet; downloads do not work on the website.
3. On home Wi Fi, tap the cloud icon under each lesson you want to save.
4. Wait for the checkmark that confirms each download finished.
5. Find your saved lessons under My Progress, then My Downloads.
6. Switch to airplane mode at the gate and play one lesson to confirm it works.
7. Pack headphones, a charger, and a power bank for the long legs.

MasterClass FAQ for travelers

Final thoughts: turn your next long flight into a classroom

The hours in the air will pass either way. I would rather land with a new skill than a sore neck and three forgotten movies.

If you have a big trip coming up, pick one skill you want to bring with you, download a class on it, and test it before you board. Then see how it changes the way you move through a new place.

Start learning with MasterClass here, and choose Plus if you want to watch offline.

If you are so inclined…. Leave a comment here or email me and share which class you would download first.