Five items between you and a sub-par 11-hour flight. The neck pillow is the one most people get wrong.
Soft scarf with a hidden internal support — holds your head upright in the same position a chiropractor would, instead of letting your chin fall to your chest.
Why this, not thatThe horseshoe-shaped neck pillows don't support the head properly and look ridiculous. Trtl looks like a scarf and actually works.
Check on Amazon →Best in-flight noise cancelling on the market in 2026. Turns a long-haul cabin into a podcast booth.
Why this, not thatThe £80 generic ANC buds work for trains, not aeroplanes. Cabin pressure noise needs proper engineering.
Check on Amazon →Reduces ankle swelling, lowers DVT risk on flights over 6 hours. Especially worth it after age 40 or if you have a history of clots.
Why this, not thatThe £4 pharmacy compression socks are too loose to do anything. 20–30 mmHg is the medical threshold.
Check on Amazon →Six weeks of battery, glare-free in sunlight, 16 GB of books in your pocket. The single best in-flight upgrade per pound spent.
Why this, not thatReading on a phone destroys your eyes and your battery. The Kindle is paper-imitation at its best.
Check on Amazon →Charges a phone five times, fast-charges a laptop too. Airline-approved for cabin baggage (under 100Wh).
Why this, not thatThe dead phone at the connecting airport is a small disaster. 20,000mAh is the sweet spot between capacity and bag weight.
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