Must-haves for Getting Comfy on a Flight

Unless you have your own private jet, the means to hire one at the drop of a hat, or don’t blink at the cost of flying at the pointy end of a plane, you may need to upgrade your sitting arrangements with a few self-add-ons to get that totally comfy feeling when flying.

When packing for your flight, don’t leave home without these goodies:

Headphones – noise cancelling

You don't have to hear that baby yelling its lungs out at the back. Splurge on noise-cancelling headphones and make the din disappear. When buying headphones, consider the sound quality (with noise canceling both on and off), the battery life, the efficiency of the noise canceling, and the comfortable-to-wear factor. Top of the range are the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones, which are super comfy and lightweight, so you won't feel like you have a brick on your head. If you want to cancel the world out from around you on a flight but hate headphones, invest in Apple AirPods 4, which have upgraded microphones that reduce low-frequency noise.

Earplugs

If you aren’t listening to music or watching your favorite movie and just want silence, nothing beats a good pair of earplugs to block out surrounding noise, such as the dribbling and snoring of the person beside you. Wax earplugs gently mold to the shape of your inner ear, which plastic or foam varieties do not. Or consider buying ‘Earplanes EP2’ because they can relieve any take-off and landing ear pain—the downfall is that these earplugs may not fit all adult-sized ear canals. If you have small ears, try the kids' version.

Sleep Mask – beauty sleep

A sleep mask comes in many forms, but the ultimate sleep mask should be silky, soft, and made of breathable material. It should be a good fit for your oddly shaped head and, of course, be able to block out light. Most cheapies do not cut it when it comes to blacking out the world around you, so spend more, if necessary, to ensure the world disappears. Sleep masks made of super soft material (silk or fleece) offer more comfort, or a weighted eye mask that gives a soothing effect—a 'Nodpod' sleep mask. To stop eye pressure when the mask is on, buy a contoured eye mask or even a memory foam mask that will mold itself to the shape of your head, such as the 'Mzoo' sleep mask. If you are paranoid about germs flying around a plane cabin, the 'Lunya' washable silk mask will remove this anxiety.

A Pillow

A pillow is necessary to get really cozy as you hurtle through the clouds, especially if you got the raw deal of a middle seat between two strangers. Having a pillow will stop your head from lolling over onto your neighbor’s shoulder, who may or may not appreciate it. Or getting neck strain from your head wobbling back and forwards. Your head is heavy and needs support if you sit for long periods in one place. There are so many travel pillows on the market that it comes down to individual needs, especially if you have a long chook's neck. To stop the bobbles, try an ergonomically designed 'Trtl' neck pillow made of soft fleece and is washable. More cushion for that heavy load on your shoulders? Try a 'Huzi Infinity’ pillow that wraps around your head like a snuggly scarf, and is noise canceling up to a point.

Compression Socks

Not just for grannies or post-op patients, compression socks are the best invention to prevent your feet and legs from blowing up like balloons and to minimize the chances of getting blood clots when flying long distances. Your body wasn't made for air travel—blood pools, giving heavy legs, gravity creates fluid retention in your ankles and feet, the lack of movement leads to stiffness in your muscles, and there's always a risk of 'DVT' (deep vein thrombosis) creating blood clots. Always put on compression socks at home or at the airport gate before boarding your flight and wait a couple of hours after your flight to take them off. There are plenty on the market to choose from—a couple of brands worth noting are: 'Levsox’ and ‘Bluemaple Copper’ compression socks.

Foot Hammock

Another gem to consider if you suffer from foot swelling on a long flight is to invest in a foot hammock. You won't have to worry about where to put your feet, especially if you are short in stature and your feet don't touch the ground. Just loop this wonderful creation over the tray table brackets and sling your feet into it.

Footrest

An alternative to hanging your feet is to invest in an inflatable footrest—you'll feel like you're in first class. One brand to look at is the 'Sunay', which is made of washable PVC. It only weighs 12.8 ounces and folds up into a small drawstring bag. It's really easy to inflate and fits perfectly in front of your seat.

There are quite a few other items to trick your mind into thinking that you are flying in the plush pointy end, such as a mobile mount for easy watching of movies on your mobile, a tray table cover to put all of your small items within easy reach, a cuddly blanket or scarf to snuggle up with, and even melatonin tablets (100% drug-free) to help you drift off to sleep.

Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.