Do I need a neck pillow for a long flight?

On a longer flight, perhaps international, you may intend to sleep on the plane. Since most of us can't afford to fly business class and actually be able to lie down, you need to know the best position for your neck when sleeping. So should you use your neck pillow? The short answer is no.



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As a general rule, travel neck pillows don't offer any support, alignment, or comfort and are not recommended for travel. Even though neck pillows have existed for almost 100 years, there is no evidence, either personal or scientific, to suggest that these travel neck pillows have any efficacy.

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Mothers carting off kids are in the habit of having them safely seat-belted with neck pillows before scuttling them off on long drives. And if you are going on a long-haul trip by air, land, or sea, the obvious answer is that you need a travel pillow more than you know.

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Though neck pillows could be seen as not completely necessary, they are excellent to have when on a long flight, especially for those red-eye flights. If you're one who can easily fall asleep sitting up on a plane, I really recommend a neck pillow to avoid any painful neck aches when you wake up.

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Take a melatonin pill. That's the hormone that our bodies use to put us to sleep naturally. Pop the pill a few hours before the flight. It's an assist, but it won't knock you out if you're not already inclined to sleep. Buy it at home, because it's not sold in some countries.

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“A few weeks ago I saw a track hack on TikTok for the budget airlines that don't let you carry on a bag,” the text continues. “Instead, you can use a travel pillow as additional storage.” She explained that she got a U-shaped travel pillow that had a zipper on it.

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  • Best Overall: Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Pillow at Amazon. ...
  • Best Overall, Runner-up: Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Neck Pillow at Amazon. ...
  • Best Budget: Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow at Amazon. ...
  • Best Splurge: Ostrich Pillow Go Neck Pillow at Amazon. ...
  • Best Cooling: ...
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A study showed that wearing compression socks on long flights may provide a reduction of blood clots in your legs by more than twelve times. DVT or deep vein thrombosis, a type of blood clot that can develop in your legs, arm, or torso, can be very dangerous.

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The best neck pillows for travel are made from soft, breathable material that won't irritate your skin. Airplanes can get stuffy—especially if you're in the middle seat—so having a pillow made from a light, airy material will help keep you cool.

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Prevents Neck Pain A travel pillow aligns your body to the seat, thus improving your posture. This helps avoid neck strain; thus, you may rest easy while sleeping. Neck pain is one major health concern among plane travelers.

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While many stores sell neck pillows at the airport, InMotion ensures that your neck pillows from Cabeau are made to last. The physician-recommended neck pillows from Cabeau help ensure that your adventures are comfortable and treat your body right, taking every journey to the next level.

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Once you board a plane, you may be in for quite a long flight, depending on your destination. To make yourself comfortable for the next however many hours, you might want to make use of some of the amenities being offered to you, including the complimentary pillows and blankets that are often left on your seat.

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Unless your flight attendant at the gate is really stingy, you can typically get away with a personal item like a bag or purse plus a travel pillow for comfort. Just note that this travel “pillow” seems rather uncomfortable compared to a pillow with the normal stuffing inside. That doesn't mean it's useless.

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On airlines that don't charge for carry-ons, the pillow hack is handy for overpackers that don't want to pay for a checked bag — whatever you can't squeeze into your carry-on and personal item, you can pack into your pillowcase.

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Use a sleep mask. Follow your usual bedtime routine as close as possible when you're on the plane. Invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones or earplugs. Limit your screen time: Being on your phone, laptop or tablet can make it more difficult to fall asleep.

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The simple answer is yes, pilots do, and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.

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Prevention. Most people don't need to worry much about clots on short flights. But if you're already at risk for clots and you plan to take a plane trip that's longer than 6 hours, you can do a few things to avoid them. Get up and walk around every 2 to 3 hours.

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Get into the habit of sleeping eight hours per night. When needed, and if possible, nap during the day, but limit the nap to less than 30 minutes.

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The airport's Hudson News sold two travel pillows: one with a bean bag-type filling for $20, and a memory foam one that, at the time, cost $40 (it's now $29.99). Of course, I reached for the $20 one, but decided to try it on before committing to becoming one of those travelers.

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