The 2 Best Travel Accessories to Sleep on a Plane

If you haven’t seen the viral plane napping hack making the rounds on TikTok, you might be surprised when the stranger next to you hikes their feet up on the seat to sleep the next time you fly. However, besides looking a little abnormal, there are actually some serious concerns about this trend: it’s unhygienic (you can get germs from your dirty shoes on the seat), it puts extra stress on your body than other in-flight napping methods, and — above all — it’s a bona fide safety hazard.

We spoke with flight attendants and sleep experts who say that the TikTok-popular sleep hack — knees up, feet tucked into your seatbelt with heels against your bum, and head hunched forward — is, in fact, very risky. So risky that flight attendants might even ask you to sit properly (which is also a bit embarrassing). Turbulence could send your knees crashing into the seat in front of you, or make you topple into your seatmate. 

Not only that, but the sleep experts we spoke with also noted that this position puts strain on your neck and could disrupt your airway leading to snoring or even difficulty breathing properly while asleep. In short? Keep your feet off the seat.

There’s a much better way to rest on a plane, anyways: with a good old-fashioned foot sling and neck pillow. We recommend packing these two tried-and-true travel accessories in your carry-on for a comfortable, secure (and, let’s be honest, a more socially acceptable) snooze. 

Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow

According to Travel + Leisure product testers who searched high and low for the best travel pillows, the Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow is your best bet for comfortable rest on a plane. Designed with an asymmetrical shape and made with cushiony memory foam, this pillow contours to whatever sleep position you find most comfortable. It wraps all the way around your neck, providing optimal chin support, and compresses to less than half its full size for easy packing. Another selling point: you can remove the cover and wash it after your trip (goodbye, airplane germs!). 

It’s not just our testers who love this pillow: it also has more than 1,000 perfect ratings on Amazon. One reviewer wrote that they tried the inflatable Trtl and regular collar-supporting neck pillows, but the Ostrichpillow is “the most comfortable and is more packable.”

Basic Concepts Airplane Footrest

Now, with your neck and spine in perfect alignment thanks to your comfy pillow, it’s time to address the leg situation and that awful feeling of losing circulation in your feet when flying. The solution? This portable footrest by Basic Concepts, that even the pros use.

“I’m a flight attendant who commutes a long way, and this is a life saver,” one Amazon reviewer said. “So much more comfortable than without.” The sling is padded with memory foam and has adjustable straps. Resting your feet on something while you nap on a flight not only improves circulation but also takes pressure off your lower back and hips. Although airlines want the rows to remain clear in case of emergencies, many will allow this footrest so long as you put it up during taxi, takeoff, and landing.

“I am very short, so it’s just not comfortable for me to fly without having my feet up,” one traveler said about this “life changing” footrest. “With the hammock I had zero hip pain and was so comfy I was able to go right to sleep.”

Ready to get some real rest on your next long-haul flight? Instead of folding your body into unnatural shapes, just invest in these traveler-approved travel accessories to help you sleep. You can also browse some other options below with even more neck pillows and foot hammocks on sale at Amazon right now. 

More Travel Accessories for Sleeping on a Plane:

Napfun Tie-front Neck Pillow

Bcozzy Wrap-around Neck Pillow

Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Beekbing 2-pack Airplane Foot Hammock

Sunany Inflatable Foot Rest Pillow

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.