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34 Travel Products That'll Make Your Next Flight Comfier, Easier, And Less Annoying
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. You might even *gasp* look forward to that long plane ride. 👀 PS: The genius Airplane Pocket is a small biz! Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action. Here's what BuzzFeeder Emma Lord has to say: "I used this on a round-trip from NYC to Tokyo, both with connecting flights in Canada, and cannot sing its praises enough. It fit all four of the different tray tables I used it on and was so ridiculously handy for keeping track of all my littler odds and ends like AirPods, the plane's headphones, earplugs, a sleep mask, a book, gum, a scrunchie, and little snacks. The hanging end of it easily tucked into the built-in sleeve of the seat in front of me for takeoff, and when other passengers needed to scoot past me in my aisle seat. Usually, I feel like a hot mess and get frustrated rooting around in the grimy sleeve for my stuff, and this was such a refreshing solution! Several flight attendants even asked where I got it to buy one for themselves!" Promising review: "Every time I whip this thing out, someone leans across the aisle, asks what it is, and then makes a note to buy one when they get home. On a long-haul flight, it's simply a must for organizing your reading materials, headphones, sanitizing wipes, etc. My favorite use for this thing is when I've fallen deep asleep along the way, only to wake up in a fog and in a rush to deplane. Instead of having to hastily dig things out of the seat back pocket, I just slip the entire thing off of the tray table, pop it in my bag, and worry about sorting things out when I get to where I'm going — safe in the knowledge that I didn't leave anything behind. Love it!" —justinglen This contraption provides 360-degree support thanks to a wraparound design and clips that connect it to your seat's headrest. Promising review: "Just took a 15-hour flight with this travel pillow, and this was the best travel pillow by far. I've used inflatable and memory foam neck pillows before; the major problem is that they don't secure your head and torso, so either your muscles have to hold up your body, or your head and torso will end up swinging around, and both are disruptive to sleep. With this travel pillow, my muscles can relax, and the padded eye mask will hold up my head and torso. One minor downside is that the pillow needs to be mounted on your seat's headrest; if someone bumps your seat, it can be disruptive, but this rarely happens. Its size and weight are also much less than memory foam neck pillows, and I don't have to bring an extra eye mask, so it is very travel-friendly." —Sky Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in nine colors). PS: This only works if you have full access to the window (rather than those seats where you get the weird halves of two windows between the rows in front and behind you). Promising review: "A friend recommended this to me as a vital travel companion now that I've returned to frequent flying. I initially thought of it as a novelty, but now that I've used it, it's a necessity. It keeps the workspace clear for my laptop, but it also organizes all the little pieces that can become so annoying to keep up with — glasses, earphones, etc. It got my seatmate's immediate attention, as well as a few other folks nearby. I suspect they'll have one soon. Watch for one soon in a window near you!" —Timothy G. Wolfe Unlike the regular U-shaped pillows, Trtl Pillows are machine-washable and fast-drying. Promising review: "Used it for a 14-hour flight to Japan last week, and it helped tremendously. This was the first time I was able to sleep on the plane so this helped tremendously. Definitely a must-have for travel. It is very light, so I was able to easily pack it in my under-the-seat wheeled trolley. I want to emphasize how much the light warmth of the fleece (and I don't like being hot) was just right to help me nod off to sleep. Since this is primarily for sitting upright in the seat or someone in the middle or the aisle seat, this was ideal for me. I just got back yesterday. Again, I used it — this time for a 12-hour flight." —Ambience Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (available in three colors). The pillow is made with a breathable, super-soft bamboo fabric and is fully machine washable. Promising review: "We got a few different types of travel pillows for a red-eye to Europe and this was overall our favorite due to its versatility. The loop actually allows you to have various self-supporting positions, and this will contort all sorts of ways to be a pillow, neck rest, armrest…anything. It’s actually just good for any type of travel in general and got a lot of use on the whole trip. The material is soft and comfortable." —Tom Shaw Get it from Amazon for $54.50 (available in nine colors). Promising review: "I bought this product before taking a six-hour flight, and it was a lifesaver. The pillow has a strap behind it to put it on your luggage so that it doesn't have to be carried. Very convenient when traveling. The blanket kept me warm on the plane, and when the blanket is folded into a pillow, it is also comfortable. Would definitely recommend." —Robynn Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in seven colors). Promising review: "I was hesitant to buy these but I have terrible dry eyes so went for it. I love them! They heat up quickly and are so comfortable and soothing I fall right asleep when used at night! I used them on a recent long haul flight and had no problem with dry eyes in the air. I also used the wipes several times during the flight. These are good for anytime you want to take a break and treat yourself to a 20 minute savasana or meditation. Your nervous system will drop right in and thank you! They also helped with jet lag to encourage sleep at the appropriate times. Your eyes will love them." —Amazon Customer Get a 30-pack from Amazon for $35 (also available in two styles and three sizes). Before I started using these a couple of years ago, my ears would *always* start to hurt when the plane started to descend. I'd have to press my fingers on my ears and chew gum just to try to reduce some of the discomfort. Now, as soon as the captain announces they are starting the descent, I put these in my ears (BTW, they're surprisingly comfortable!), put my headphones on over them, and can actually enjoy the last half hour of my flight. Promising review: "I am very sensitive to the change in pressure on airplanes, to the point where I am in tears on takeoff and landing. I finally had to do something about it, or I would fear flying again. I wish I had known about these years ago. They alleviated ALL sensitivity to the pressure change and made for a very comfortable and anxiety-free flight. I can't recommend them enough." —Nancy Cardella Get it from Amazon for $7.89 (also available in multipacks and kids' sizes). It's also been known to work for postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea. It applies pressure on your wrist to help ~restore balance~. Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Promising review: "I'm eight weeks pregnant and have had morning sickness nonstop every single day, and it has made my appetite go away so much that I feared for my baby's health. I needed a quick fix so I could eat again. It worked amazingly. I went to Denny's and ate my weight in pancakes! It feels so good not to feel nauseous all the time." —Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $8.39+ (available in six colors). Check out a TikTok of the nausea relief inhaler in action. PS: Allclair is a small biz! Promising review: "Took this on my first cruise. Anytime that I started to feel woozy, I’d reach for it. I’m sure the required act of deep breathing helped a lot — and breathing in the fragrance of the essential oil is very calming and effective. Worked for me! Wonderful!" —Willy&Lilly Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a pack of four). Promising reviews: "I have sensitive skin, so I am particular about my face products. I travel for work two to four times per year and usually once for vacation, and I try to avoid bringing so much liquid due to restrictions. I can bring these and leave both my face and eye cleaner at home. They are great for use in flight on long overseas legs or in your seat. No need to disturb anyone or spend extra time in the overused, tiny bathroom. I have never broken out, and they don’t bother my eyes. I do use my normal face lotion after these, unless on the plane. They don’t leave your skin dry." —Andrea Louise "I use these for travel and freshening up on the plane before landing or whenever I am hot and am not in a place where I can wash my face. They are wonderful. I used to buy the big packs but found them awkward to carry. With these, I throw a bunch in my travel pack, and I am off. Love them!" —BrianM_NJ Get a 20-pack from Amazon for $5.48 (available in two sizes). Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multileg, ultra-long-haul trip, and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes, and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel, too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer. At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards, and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well-built, and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time. Thus far, it still feels solid, and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" —Earendil Get it from Amazon for $13.97+ (available in three colors and in packs of two). Promising review: "I will never fly again without this. I've recommended it to everyone. East Coast US to Southeast Asia, 24 hours in long haul flights each way with serious low back pain condition to start. But being able to hang my legs, even in a sideways position, saved me from hours of pain that I have endured previously flying with economy leg room. It is easy to loop over tray table brackets in both the stowed and open positions. This is a must-have for any flight." —DL Flin Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (also available in multipacks). Promising review: "I didn't buy this for the longest time thinking inflation would be annoying or it'd be too bulky — I finally ordered it and love it. It's very easy to inflate since it has the two inflation methods. Folds up smaller than our travel pillows. It's great for travel in car and planes, and our kid likes sitting on it at home too. Recommended." —D Get it from Amazon for $21.96+ (available in four colors). Promising review: "I absolutely love this wrap!! It is the perfect weight and size for travel. It didn't leave my side on an 11-day backpack trip through Europe and was used as a scarf, blanket, towel, and wrap all throughout the trip. Fashionable enough to dress up a basic travel day outfit, warm enough to keep away a chill on a cooler night, and light enough to pack away small into a bag or tie around a purse strap. I can't say enough great things! I am buying these as gifts for everyone I know who travels." —Jenn Get it from Amazon for $42+ (available in 11 colors). Promising review: "I have a big spot of blood vessels in the inner corner of my left eye. I use the expensive lubricant eye drops for moisture — I've used Visine, Clear Eyes, you name it. No eye drop has made my eyes look this great. Only Lumify! I was soo happy when I looked in the mirror and saw some beauty in my eyes instead of darkness and redness." —Angela Leonard "Two drops in your eyes and all day, they look perfectly white and healthy. I would definitely buy these again." —Kelley Promising review: "These headphones are a game-changer. As an avid music enthusiast, frequent traveler, and lover of movies in a loud and busy household, these headphones have improved my audio experiences in ways I never knew were possible. First and foremost, the noise cancellation is unparalleled. The moment you put these on, the outside world fades away. However, it still offers the ability to be aware of your surroundings when needed without stopping your audio. If you are traveling, you don't need to worry about the headphones going out on you, because the battery life is incredible. As with all Bose products, the craftsmanship and quality are top-notch. I have been hesitant to purchase Bose headphones in the past because I just didn't think that I would be able to tell enough of a difference. I was wrong. I am beyond excited to have these headphones, and it has added so much to my entertainment enjoyment." —P.O. Get them from Amazon for $319+ (available in six colors). Promising review: "These headphones are great! They have a nice shape and comfort and sound isolation that serves my kid well on a 10-hour flight with other screaming kids. These headphones have great sound isolation that make it still possible for my kid to listen during plane rides despite volume limitation, and also able to ignore four other screaming, tantruming toddlers in our cabin. I was just about to dig deeper in my pockets to buy much more expensive headphones for my kids, but these worker great with a nice budget! They fold compactly, so they were easy to pack. The cord had a nice fabric soft feel. Highly recommend for travel." —Elizabert Get them from Amazon for $12.22+ (available in five colors). Promising reviews: "I bought this as a purse for traveling to populated European cities, as there are heaps of pickpockets. It worked perfectly! It is the perfect size to fit everything I need and was super comfortable. Highly recommend." —Jessie Anela "I bought this fanny pack to take on our trip to San Francisco, and it worked out better than I thought it would! We hiked through Muir Woods, and I loved that my hands were free from holding a purse! Then we walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, went to Chinatown, the wharf, etc., and again, it was great not having to hold anything. This is by far the best bag I've ever traveled with. It is almost the exact same size as a (name brand) bag, but a lot less. Best purchase for the vacation :)" —Pat Get it from Amazon for $11.98+ (available in 40 colors). Check out a TikTok of the wrinkle balm in action. Promising review: "Okay! So I was skeptical at first, but honestly this stick is life-changing!!! In a matter of minutes, my skin felt hydrated and plumped. After an hour, still hydrated. No greasy after feeling, very light, and you can feel your skin hydrated and absorbing. I love the fact that you can use it on your eyes, lips, and wrinkles!! Game changer for me, will def try the others!" —Kristy "This stuff makes my face feel so soft and has a nice scent. I use it every day and will buy it again when I run out!" —Cyndy1 Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in seven styles). It also can help tighten the appearance of eye wrinkles if you'd prefer for them not to be as noticeable. And here's a tip! It reduces puffiness faster if used after refrigeration. Promising review: "This is definitely a miracle product. I was impressed that it worked so well, so fast, and so instantly. The packaging is silly but whimsical; I enjoy it. This is the last thing I apply before walking out the door. First day I used it, I put it on and got in my car — I looked in the rear view mirror and my heart jumped. My eyes had de-puffed on my walk down the front path!!! So impressive. It's not hydrating, it’s more tightening/brightening. If you have dry under eyes, use a creamy hydrating eye cream first, and apply this over it — problem solved. You don’t get much product, but you don’t need to use much either, and it’s not like it’s expensive. Definitely worth it if a product actually DOES what it claims it’ll do!!! Buy it!" —Joseph S. Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available as a collagen stick, a peptide stick, and in multipacks). Promising reviews: "After two little ones, this product is at the TOP of my list for favorite, most-used baby products in the infant years! It is extremely useful both at home and on the go. Instead of having to make the "shhh" sound over and over yourself, this shusher makes it so easy, especially in those late night hours when you can take all the help you can get! It can be set to run for 15 minutes or 30 minutes which is nice so that you can set it in the nursery and not have to come back to turn it off. It really worked like magic for our two babies to help soothe them! After giving them a pacifier, rocking gently, and using the shusher, they were sound asleep! It is one of my most recommended baby items to friends making baby registries! Great gift to take to a baby shower as well, especially if you need something gender neutral. Love this product. A baby product you will actually use!" —Amanda Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (also available in sets). It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual. Traveling with a family member or friend? They can also sync their earbuds to this gadget! See one user using it with their AirPod Pros on TikTok. Promising review: "Ever since I purchased my wireless Bose earbuds, I always hated having to use another set when I was on an airplane with the seat-back entertainment system. I tried many different models to connect the system to my Bluetooth headsets until I came across this one, and it is amazing! It seamlessly connects to my headset, very clear and reliable audio, and it takes the stress away from having to carry more than one headset! Thank you!!!" —Ryan Malloy Get it from Amazon for $54.62 (available in three styles and three colors). BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord swears by these and raves: "The moldable silicone of Mack's Earplugs contours easily to the shape of your ear to block out noise much more effectively than other foam or plastic varieties, and the noise reduction is so good that if I pair them with a white noise machine (or just like a white noise loop on Spotify), I genuinely don't hear noises from outside my room. Not only that but once they're in place, they stay locked there until you decide to pull them out. Granted, I can still hear my alarm, and like, if the fire alarm went off or something, I'd definitely wake right up. But noises that are distant and loud are pretty easily canceled out by these. I've also *loved* these for traveling — if you put these babies in on a plane, not only does it help reduce some of the YIKES factor when the plane takes off (it's loud!!), but it cancels out the murmuring noises of passengers on the flight and makes it easier to get some shuteye." You know how everyone has those little items that are permanently in their carry-on bag? This is one of them for me. Being able to get some nice airflow wherever I go has been so amazing, I can never go back. And not even just for travel! I also take it to amusement parks and on hikes, and I even use it throughout my makeup routine to help set products in place. Plus, the battery life is *top-tier*. Promising review: "This thing was a godsend while I was in Florida in the summertime. Love that it has a flashlight, and you can use it as a backup power bank in a pinch. For me, this fit all my needs, it kept me cool in Florida, fit perfectly in my purse/backpack, and on my wrist. I pretty much took this wherever I went and even used it on the plane during boarding when it was super hot in there. I’m giving this 5 stars. It worked perfectly for me." —Erica Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in eight colors). For more info on melatonin, visit The Mayo Clinic. As someone who has a hard time napping at home (much less on a plane), I have been using these tablets for years now. I can't say enough about how well they work at giving you a soft, sleepy feeling without making you feel heavy or drowsy. They also seem to last FOREVER. Personally, I'll take even half the tablet, and I'm off to Dreamland. The yummy berry taste is also a bonus, and I wake up feeling rested and refreshed! Promising review: "I travel internationally frequently and constantly struggle with jet lag. I've tried many different melatonin sleep aid pills. And while many of them do help somewhat, the these melatonin tablets have consistently worked the best. They work fast and give me a full night's sleep. I highly recommend them." —Just Joe Get a pack of 180 tablets from Amazon for $8.29 (also available in a bigger size). Promising review: "Loved that each item had a spot and the chargers for each item wouldn’t be all tangled or knotted together when I arrived at my destination. Nothing was damaged even with my bags being tossed around by baggage handlers on several flights." —Rachel Grace Get it from Amazon for $13.29+ (available in four colors). Promising review: "I went on a long trip overseas and visited a number of less-than-sanitary areas. These were total lifesavers. My coworkers used them too. Wonderful. Plus, they're small enough to take on the plane. The TSA didn't even insist I put it in a quart-sized bag." —Kris Jennings Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $20.15 (also available as a pack infused with essential oils!). Read more about compression socks and long flights at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "My ankles got really swollen after a 14-hour plane ride last year, so I thought I would give these a try. I recently completed another 14-hour plane ride, and these socks really did their job! I had them on for a good 24 hours straight, and they remained comfortable the whole time. My ankles were not swollen after the long plane ride. My legs and feet felt really good after the plane ride and the day after. The sock can be stretched over the knee but I did not stretch it that much and left the socks right below the knee. The socks stayed in place the whole time." —MYamo Get them from Amazon for $18.63+ (available in nine colors and sizes S–XXL). Promising review: "I am an avid traveller, and one issue that I always have is needing to pack all of my toothpaste/toothbrush/floss in my personal bag, so I can have it ready to go to brush my teeth on the plane. However, this product has changed that! Now, I can simply bring individual packed mini toothbrushes that have everything I need for a simple touch-up after a long 14-hour flight. I love how it doesn't require any water, so the toothpaste is activated by your own saliva. The toothpaste was a bit chalky and left a subtle aftertaste, but I didn't expect it to be an amazing toothpaste considering that it was pre-packaged. Otherwise, this is such a convenient product to take with you everywhere as you can carry a few in your bag at a time!" —Andrew Liang Get a 24-pack from Amazon for $21.65 (also available in three bigger pack sizes). LOKI STASHED is a small biz specializing in these scrunchies. See them in action on TikTok here! Promising review: "I use these every time I travel. Perfect for holding a key or some rolled-up bills for emergencies. Comfortable and reliable." —Poke-me-in-the-coconut Get a pack of three from Amazon for $13.99 (available in six color combinations). Promising reviews: "Sometimes the medication I take leaves me with a very dry mouth. These lozenges are very mild, minty tasting, and really do the trick. Nice packaging makes them easy to travel with and carry in my purse. Very decently priced too." —The Cat Lady "My husband has a lot of issues with dry mouth, especially as he gets older, and before finding these lozenges, we didn't think that anything was ever going to help. Getting a drink is a very short-term solution, as is sucking on hard candies. Nothing lasted for more than a few minutes at most. What a difference these have made. They last a long time, they taste great, and an added bonus is fresher breath. I highly recommend these. They work." —Kaly D Get a 36-pack from Amazon for $6.54 (also available in a smaller size). To use, just take one tablet and hour before takeoff and one every hour you are in the air. Promising reviews: "I had a flight to Europe from the US east coast with an hours long layover in London recently. I used this product during my travel, and I was able to sleep well once I made it to my destination. I wasn’t jittery or hungover feeling the next morning. I was able to launch into a full week of activities and meetings without any problem. Jet lag usually takes a few days for me to get over, but this product eliminated all that." —Cynthia Norman "These are fantastic. We used these for a trip which included a long day after the overnight flight to Europe, as well as a missed connection and overnight stay on the way home, and these kept us feeling human the entire time. We continued to take them throughout the first day there and back home, using the package directions for timing and dosage. They are chewable and pleasant tasting, and do not make you feel "speedy," just normal, alert, and not so beat-up physically from a long trip. It didn't take long to adjust to a six-hour time difference, in both directions. Highly recommend." —KL Get a 30-pack from Amazon for $16.95 (also available as a 60-pack). Promising review: "Nuun seems to have gotten it better than others. We are athletic and travel for business also, so hydration is key after hard athletic events or long travels. Nuun has now been our go-to for two years, makes the body feel good and the tablets are more convenient to use than other products." —Krakski BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Gabriela Manjarrez is a staff writer on the BuzzFeed Shopping team who covers a variety of topics from beauty to home to travel, while having a special enthusiasm for K-beauty, quirky (but useful!) trinkets, and all things luxe and aesthetic. Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.