Photograph: Courtesy of: Amazon (2); Trtl Travel; Sunday Club View image in fullscreen Photograph: Courtesy of: Amazon (2); Trtl Travel; Sunday Club The Filter US Life and style An inflatable cushion and compression socks: nine travel upgrades we rely on to survive long flights Essentials for comfort, sleep and entertainment worth packing so your long-haul flight flies by
Travel essentials: eight items to pack for your next trip – and what to leave at home
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Marissa Miller Sun 5 Jul 2026 16.15 CEST Last modified on Sun 5 Jul 2026 16.16 CEST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more .
Get more comfortable Get more entertained Get more sleep Airline seats feel more cramped as the years go by. Nosy seat neighbors seem interested in your life story just as you’re about to drift off. For long-haul flights, it takes real preparation to arrive at your destination rested and unscathed.
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Whether or not you can spring for a business class upgrade, we’ve tracked down nine air travel upgrades to help your flight feel restorative and even spa-like, transporting you to that nebulous “better place.” Here are essentials for comfort, sleep and entertainment worth packing so your long-haul flight flies by.
Fitrell Compression Socks, Pack of Three $14.99 $14.99 at Amazon Photograph: Courtesy of Amazon Now $14.99, originally $26.99 at Amazon Swap your usual fuzzy socks on your long-haul flight for these breathable and moisture-wicking compression socks, and you’ll be treating your feet and calves to much-needed support. “This type of footwear is designed to help with joint and muscle stiffness and avoid any blood pooling in your feet – all of which can happen if you sit still for too long on a plane,” according to travel expert Lydia Mansel.
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Fitrell Compression Socks, Pack of Three $14.99 $14.99 at Amazon Relispo Self-inflating Travel Seat Cushion Relispo Self-inflating Travel Seat Cushion $26.99 $26.99 at Amazon Photograph: Courtesy of Amazon $26.99 at Amazon Airline seats are hardly designed for comfort. For a little extra plushness, resort to our best-tested travel seat cushion with an inflatable air and foam construction. “As a frequent traveler, it’s nice to have a compact cushion I can take with me,” says tester Adam Doud of this compact option that packs seamlessly into the water bottle holder of his backpack.
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Relispo Self-inflating Travel Seat Cushion $26.99 $26.99 at Amazon Abib Mild pH Balancing Face Mask, 10-Pack Abib Mild pH Balancing Face Mask, 10-Pack from $24 $24 at Abib $30.78 at Amazon Photograph: Courtesy of Abib Now $24, originally $40 at Abib Now $30.78, originally $40 at Amazon The ventilation – or lack thereof – in your flight’s cabin has this magical way of depleting skin of moisture. Bring it back to life with this hydrating face mask coated in albumin and made from bamboo fabric, which Filter commissioning editor Karen Yuan says comes loaded “with a ton of serum” worth repurposing as a coolin...