Must-Have Essentials for Better Sleep on Airplanes

Unless you’re one of the lucky few who can sleep through anything, falling asleep on planes is no easy feat. The combination of air pressure, loud noises, pestering seatmates, and sudden temperature changes can make it nearly impossible to get comfortable enough to snooze. For shorter flights, this isn’t that big of a deal, but when you’ve got a 12-plus hour international flight on the horizon, flight insomnia can leave you feeling too exhausted to tackle the first day at your destination. 

To help, I spotted nine travel essentials that Amazon shoppers specifically have called out for their ability to help them catch Zzz’s on flights. From noise-canceling earplugs to blue light-filtering glasses, these essentials have earned praise from weary travelers who struggle to get comfortable enough to fall asleep on planes, and they start at just $6.

Gaoye Blue Light Glasses

Reading a book on your phone or streaming a movie on your laptop could help you tune out the flight and inch toward dozing off. But research shows that the blue light emitted from screens can keep you awake longer, and even affect the quality of sleep you get when you do finally fall asleep. 

If you want to use screens as a way to fall asleep on your flight, try wearing blue light-blocking glasses. These glasses, now just $6, have lenses that filter out blue light, allowing you to use your electronic devices without further interrupting your sleep. “I felt different after the first time wearing them—less eye strain and more of an ability to go to sleep after staring at my phone and computer for work all day,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “Highly recommend!”

Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow 

If a normal neck pillow isn’t comfortable enough for you to get some rest, try one that can be bent and twisted. This Dot&Dot twistable memory foam pillow has a thick metal rod inside that can be contorted to multiple different shapes in order to help you find your sweet spot. 

Use it like a typical donut-shaped neck pillow, or place it flat against your lower back for lumbar support. If you prefer the window seat, you can also twist it into a Z formation to create a barrier between your head and the wall, like this five-star reviewer did while on a six-hour overnight flight to Iceland. Another five-star reviewer wrote that this pillow was a “lifesaver” on a recent 30-hour trek to Athens, Greece, adding that it didn’t make them hot and was easy to stash in their carry-on. “I typically can’t sleep on an airplane,” wrote another reviewer. “However, this allowed me to snuggle it like a pillow, and I was able to doze for a while.” 

Mzoo Padded Sleep Eye Mask

Picture this: You’ve *finally* gotten comfortable enough to sleep, but right when you’re about to drift off to dreamland, your seatmate flips on the overhead light, settling in to read a comically thick novel. A high-quality sleep mask can be a world of help in situations like this, and this Mzoo padded eye mask is up for the task at hand. After multiple rounds of testing, this sleep mask, now on sale for 31 percent off, earned a spot in our list of Best Sleep Masks due to its face-molding memory foam construction and adjustable strap. 

Don’t just take our word for it: Roughly 74,000 people have given this specific sleep mask a pristine five-star rating for its fit and ability to block out light. “It made sleeping on the plane so much more manageable,” wrote one five-star reviewer who bought four masks for their family ahead of a long-haul flight. “If you’re a light sleeper or travel often, this mask is worth every penny.”

Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs

Noise-canceling headphones can be great for blocking out airplane noise and locking into a movie, but their chunky design makes it hard to get comfortable. Instead, these Loop Quiet 2 flexible silicone earplugs comfortably block out noise while you sleep—and they’re even comfortable enough to wear all day. “I’ve used them on flights, during meditation, and even to block out snoring,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “Total sanity-saver.”

Eversnug Travel Blanket Pillow

Sometimes, a hoodie just isn’t enough to keep you cozy on a frigid flight. That’s where a packable travel blanket comes in clutch—and this one from Eversnug, on sale for $30, doubles as a travel pillow. Made with a premium, micro plush fabric, this compact travel blanket has earned high marks from travelers. “Thanks to this blanket, I was able to sleep nicely on the plane, which made my travel experience much more enjoyable,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “I highly recommend this blanket to anyone who, like me, struggles with the cold on flights and wants a cozy solution.”

Charmking Compression Socks

The combination of the change in air pressure and having to sit for hours on end can leave your calves and ankles achy, swollen, and seriously painful, to the point where they’re all you can focus on. A pair of compression socks can prevent and alleviate this pain, helping you relax and get some quality shut-eye. These Charmking compression socks, $13, have earned glowing reviews from flight attendants who spend much of their day up in the sky.

Tanamo Packable Slippers

We’re used to having our feet and toes unrestricted while sleeping, so it makes sense that normal shoes—especially when coupled with in-flight foot swelling—could prevent us from getting comfortable enough to fall asleep. Throwing a pair of roomy, comfy slippers into your carry-on could be the key that unlocks a full night’s rest on your next long-haul flight. These Tanamo slippers, available in 15 colors and patterns, are crafted with a fluffy, stretchy fleece fabric and flexible rubber soles that allow you to curl them up and stuff them into your carry-on with ease. One five-star reviewer who has purchased several pairs for themselves wrote that they wear them on flights and while on vacation, noting that they’re so comfy, they “don’t even feel like they’re on.”

Comlife Portable Bladeless Neck Fan

If you’re anything like me, trying to fall asleep when you’re hot is impossible, and the summer heat can make an airplane feel like a sauna. A portable neck fan can keep you cool from takeoff to touchdown. This option from Comlife is bladeless (no hair-snagging here!) and is whisper-quiet, so it won’t disturb your seatmate. One five-star reviewer who initially bought it to withstand Texas temperatures reports that it’s been a “must-have” for flights. “The noise level is minuscule, but you hardly notice it unless you are thinking about it,” they write. “I travel often, so it works perfectly when you are on one of those hot, stuffy flights.” 

Miikare Portable Airplane Phone Holder

Not all planes are outfitted with screens for complimentary in-flight entertainment, so if you rely on movies and TV shows to fall asleep on planes, you may be left to your own devices (literally). The attention it takes to hold your phone up or keep it properly tilted on your tray table is a job that can keep you awake longer than you’d like; that’s where this portable phone holder comes in handy. 

It adjusts to fit any smartphone and has a sliding clamp mechanism that can be clipped onto your tray table for hands-free entertainment. It’s not just a great tool for flights, though; you can clip this baby onto your carry-on while waiting at your gate, a hotel nightstand, or practically any surface. One Amazon shopper who gave it a five-star rating called it a “nice accessory for a long flight,” sharing that they were able to relax and not worry about their phone slipping off their lap mid-flight. 

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