9 Travel Essentials to Sleep on a Red-eye Flight

I am a painfully light sleeper. It’s a nightly struggle, but never more so than when I’m on a red-eye flight. Growing up with both sets of grandparents overseas, I’ve been taking overnight flights annually my entire life, and I’ve never been able to get more than a measly half hour of sleep during those dreaded red-eyes, which means my first day at my destination is always a wash as I struggle to stay awake while running on little to no sleep. 

That all changed earlier this year when I took a 10.5-hour, overnight flight to Chile. I took a maximalist’s approach to packing my carry-on with a variety of gizmos and gadgets, all of which promised to marginally improve my in-flight sleep potential. Although I had tried a number of these items on their own before, this was the first time I piled everything in my arsenal into my carry-on and used them all in tandem. 

The result: I caught a solid 5.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep — in economy. If you can at all relate to the misery of feeling like the only person still awake on a crowded red-eye flight, read on for the items that made my slumber possible, starting at $10. While it may be tempting to try just one or two of these gadgets, I attribute my success to utilizing all of them together for maximum sleep potential.

Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow 

The standard C-shaped foam neck pillow that can be bought at any airport kiosk never did it for me. As a side- and stomach-sleeper, I’ve found it impossible to drift off while leaning back in my airplane seat. This inflatable pillow, however, rests on my tray table allowing me to lean forward on it as I sleep. The face hole is positioned at a 45-degree angle, which is said to decrease pressure on the cervical vertebrae. 

Despite how it awkward looks, I’ve found this pillow to be quite comfortable since it gets closer to a simulating side- or stomach-sleeper position than a C-shaped pillow. When not in use, the pillow deflates and folds neatly into an included carrying sack, which measures about 7 inches by 4 inches for easy transport. 

Basic Concepts Airplane Foot Hammock

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to fly on an airplane equipped with footrests on the seat in front of you, you know what a game-changer it is to have your legs elevated while you fly. Besides giving you a more comfortable position to sleep in, elevating your feet also helps alleviate foot swelling, ease back aches, and improve blood flow. Unfortunately, many planes do not offer this comfort, which is where this packable foot hammock comes in. 

It uses an adjustable strap to hook onto the tray table in front of you (but don’t worry, you can still use the tray when the hammock’s all set up). Then, you rest your feet or calves on the padded swing. My husband and I were both impressed with how simple and impactful this $15 hack turned out to be.

LC-dolida Sleep Mask With Bluetooth Headphones

A sleep mask is a bit of a given when trying to get shut-eye in public. But this isn’t just any sleep mask that might be handed out by a flight attendant before takeoff. This silky soft option is equipped with flat-lay Bluetooth speakers, which are positioned over your ears like headphones. You get noise-reducing sounds in your ears, while your seat neighbor hears nothing. 

During my flight, I used a white noise app on my phone to drown out closing bathroom doors and crying babies in the plane cabin. With this device, I didn’t have to worry about accidentally dropping an earbud while I slept and losing it under the seat behind me (which has definitely happened to me before).

Bombas Women’s Knee-High Compression Socks

Compression socks can stimulate circulation, which helps to reduce swelling and discomfort in your legs and feet. My feet always swell on planes, and I found these knee-highs help a lot. Bombas’ medium-level compression socks are great for people who aren’t accustomed to wearing compression socks daily. They have graduated compression (15 to 20 mmHg), which is stronger in the ankle and easier in the calf to hug your legs without squeezing them. Foot-hugging arch support adds even more comfort. 

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Wrap

Plane cabins can get quite chilly, and blankets aren’t always available. To be on the safe side, I travel with this luxe cashmere wrap as an elevated alternative to a blanket. I love that it doubles as a scarf or shawl to use on my trip. Not only does it keep me plenty warm while I snooze, but I can also drape it over my head to block out light from the plane cabin. For 100 percent grade-A Mongolian cashmere, which is three times as warm as wool, Quince’s version has an unbeatable price tag. 

Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Straw

If you sleep with a glass of water on your night table (like I do), you’ll appreciate having water nearby and ready in case you wake up thirsty. I bring this insulated, reusable, leak-proof (and best-selling) water bottle with me every time I fly. As soon as the seatbelt sign deactivates after takeoff, I head to the back of the plane and ask a flight attendant if they would fill up my empty bottle for me (it’s never been an issue). That way, I don’t have to stress over waking up when the beverage cart comes around to get a measly plastic cup of water. I like the 40-ounce version because it means I never have to go back for refills, but there are also 32-ounce, 24-ounce, and 16-ounce options available for those looking to pack lighter. 

Philips One by Sonicare Battery Toothbrush

At home, I’ve found that a repetitive bedtime routine gets my mind into “sleep mode” and helps me fall asleep faster. When I’m traveling, I try to replicate as much of that routine as possible to help me relax. Since I’m accustomed to using an electric toothbrush at home, I’ve found that a cheap manual toothbrush feels like a noticeable downgrade when I’m traveling. Instead, I pack this travel-friendly super slim electric toothbrush, which operates on a single AAA battery — no charging required. Before attempting to drift off, I get ready for “bed” by brushing my teeth with it in the airplane bathroom. 

La Roche-Posay Travel Size Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizer

Also part of my bedtime ritual: skincare. Though I don’t pack all my serums and eye creams for plane travel, I do make sure I have a high-quality moisturizer, like this one which can conveniently be used on my face and body. Plane cabins are notoriously drying on the skin, so I’ve found that re-upping the hydration on my face and hands before I pass out is key for a comfortable night’s rest. 

Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Vintage Sunday Half-zip Sweatshirt and Essential Sunday Sweatpants Set

Though I’m dedicated to packing top-notch pajamas anywhere I travel, sleeping on a plane requires a more versatile outfit. Therefore, I always fly in a cozy sweatsuit that’s polished enough to wear through the airport but comfortable and warm enough to sleep in on the plane. This version from Abercrombie & Fitch is my favorite, medium-weight set, but I also love to travel with Athleta’s Coaster Luxe Recover Sweatshirt and High-Rise Joggers in the colder months and Cozy Earth’s Bamboo Crew Pullover and Jogger Pants in the summer. 

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