Living
The Long Haul: 11 In-Flight Must-Haves
From sleep accessories to high-tech accoutrements, these products can ease the frustrations of flying – and maybe, just maybe, help you enjoy it
The seats are getting smaller, the lines are getting longer, and the complaints are getting louder. But despite the abundant bugbears, we still believe there’s magic to be found in the modern marvel of air travel and that, to a certain extent, the flight experience is what you make of it.
Here, we’ve gathered 11 clever products, from sleep accessories to high-tech accoutrements, that will ease the frustrations of long-distance flying – and maybe, just maybe, help you enjoy it.
Entertain Yourself
Noise-Cancelling Wireless Earbuds
Whether you’re listening to soothing rainforest sounds, getting into a podcast or using the time as an excuse to binge a full season of your favourite show, you’ll need some headphones. And when it comes to portability and tangle-free usability, earbuds are the best choice.
UK-based Bowers and Wilkins, known for their state-of-the-art audio instruments, offer up the newly released Pi8 earbuds, engineered for unparalleled sound quality and contour-hugging in-ear comfort. Advanced noise-cancelling capabilities give the impression of your own private sound booth – no matter how full the flight.
Bluetooth Audio Converter
The seatback in-flight entertainment is only half as enjoyable if you’re listening to it with questionable-quality earpieces (we’re looking at you, airline earphones), but since most of us have moved on from wired audio equipment, what’s an audiophile to do? Reach for an AirFly audio transmitter/receiver.
Conceived by US tech accessory brand Twelve South, this brilliant device plugs into the entertainment system’s audio jack and delivers flawless sound to your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. The AirFly Duo and AirFly Pro models even allow you to connect two pairs of headphones and watch a film together with your travel companion. On the ground, use it in your rental car to stream music from your phone to the vehicle’s sound system.
Airplane Phone Mount
If you have a bring-your-own-entertainment plan relying on shows and movies downloaded to your smartphone, you’ll need a way to keep your device at eye level without fatiguing your arms. Perching it on your tray table is an option – until the flight encounters turbulence or your neighbour needs to use the loo. A better solution, then, is to fix it to the back of the seat in front of you.
The Perilogics Universal Airplane Phone Mount – which comes highly recommended by scores of travellers – clamps onto a variety of seatback designs and holds your phone securely in place for hands-free viewing. Accommodating a wide range of smartphone sizes, from the iPhone Mini to the Samsung Note 20 Plus, the mount also features dual 360-degree rotation to achieve the most comfortable viewing angle.
Portable Charger
Nothing can derail a well-planned flight experience like losing charge at 40,000 feet with hours still to go. Which is why every seasoned traveller packs a power bank in their carry-on. The Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K is a favourite for its compact, lightweight design, rapid charge rate and tangle-free integrated USB-C cable. Pass-through charging allows you to top up your power bank while also charging a device, which is handy if you’re short on time at the airport. You can even juice up two devices at once, if you’re feeling generous towards your seat neighbour.
Stay Healthy
Compression Socks
Now that you’ve got everything you need in the entertainment department, you can sit back and relax – after all, there’s not much else to do for the next several hours. Unfortunately, all that sitting and relaxing over an extended amount of time reduces circulation and can lead to discomfort or swelling in the legs and feet – and even to dangerous blood clots. Compression socks, however, help keep the blood flowing to curb these unwanted side effects of air travel. Made by UK sportswear company Pressio, this high-performance pair incorporates ECONYL® – a yarn composed of post-consumer nylon waste – into a design created in collaboration with compression specialists.
Solid Moisturiser
Everyone dreams of stepping off a long-haul flight looking fresh as a daisy, but few manage to pull it off. Because cabin air is pulled into the plane from the low-humidity air outside, it is very dry and tends to leach moisture from your skin, leaving you with a flaky, dull complexion.
Set yourself up for post-flight freshness by applying moisturiser often – ideally the solid kind, to save precious space in your carry-on liquid ration. This nutrient-dense solid face serum with shea and kokum butters can be smoothed onto the face and lips, while this cocoa-butter-infused solid body moisturiser hydrates hands and any other areas that need it. Produced by ethical beauty brand Ethique, both are cruelty-free, environmentally gentle and unscented. The planet and your seatmate will thank you.
Water Bottle
Proper hydration, of course, starts within. Combat that low cabin humidity by drinking plenty of water before, during and after your flight. To avoid constantly asking the attendants for water (and to prevent waste created by the plastic bottles they hand out), you can always BYOW in a stylish reusable bottle. The Yeti Rambler, with its durable stainless steel build, attractive range of colourways and vacuum insulation that keeps drinks cold for hours, has a devoted following for a reason. On the other hand, the collapsible design of the silicone Hydaway bottle makes it perfect for travel.
Sleep Tight
Eye Mask
A light-blocking eye mask is essential for anyone looking to catch some Zs on a flight. Cult wellness brand Therabody, however, sees your eye mask and raises you an eye massager. These SmartGoggles plunge you into much-needed darkness at the same time as they emit heat and use gentle vibration patterns to massage your temples, reduce your heart rate and ease you into the land of Nod. Therabody claims their SmartGoggles are also “scientifically proven to help improve sleep quality and increase amount of deep sleep.” Whether that’s true for someone on hour seven of an Economy flight remains to be seen, but we imagine they’re worth a try.
Ear Plugs
Along with light, you’ll need to block out the sounds of your 300 fellow passengers to have any hope of getting some shut-eye. Enter: Belgian startup sensation Loop Earplugs, who’ve gained a dedicated following among travellers and festival-goers for their designs combining comfort and quiet in a distinctive package. The Loop Quiet 2 model promises 24 dB (SNR) of noise reduction in a soft, flexible silicone design that’s easy to clean and comes in a convenient carrying case.
Neck Pillow
Nothing marks out the day-trippers from the serious long-haulers at an airport more than the ubiquitous neck pillow. Clever designs abound, from inflatable iterations to the well-reviewed Cabeau Evolution S3 with seat straps, but we’re partial to the Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow. Not only does it feature incredibly soft fabric, supple BASR® memory foam and an adjustable fit, but it also boasts a sleek design that’s ergonomic and easy on the eyes.
Travel Trousers
When we’re talking about air travel, dressing for success means dressing for comfort – but it doesn’t have to mean wearing literal pyjamas. Opt instead for a hybrid garment that melds the soft stretchiness of joggers with the smart lines and put-together details of office-ready trousers. For women, we like the universally flattering Turn It Up trousers by Aday, sporting a tapered, high-rise style, while Lululemon’s ABC line is ideal for men of all body types and fashion sensibilities. Breathable, stretchy, wrinkle-resistant and made from eco-friendly materials, both will make you look and feel like a million bucks from Departures right through to Arrivals.
[Photo at top: DaniloAndjus/iStock]
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