10 Amazon Travel Essentials for Sleeping on Planes

As a travel writer, there are months when I sleep on planes nearly as often as in my own bed. Luckily, I have no problem dozing off at 10,000 feet, thanks in large part to the travel essentials I keep tucked in my personal item. After years of trial and error, I’ve finally perfected my in-flight packing list for more restful, uninterrupted sleep—and below, I’m sharing my tried-and-true staples with you. 

Dozing off in a dry, noisy, light-filled plane cabin is no easy feat, which is why it’s necessary to set yourself up with a few items to help block out light and noise and to upgrade your overall comfort. From the holy grail of travel neck pillows to the one esthetician-recommended skincare product I won’t fly without, these 10 products help me get some shut-eye on every flight. 

 Best Travel Essentials for Sleeping on Planes 

I’ve flown with my Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow six times in the past two months, and it never lets me down. Travel + Leisure editors are also big fans—they voted it the best travel pillow of 2026. I could wax poetic about its plush memory foam for days, but I tend to just put it around my friends’ necks and let them try it out for themselves—everyone I’ve shown it to has immediately purchased one. It features an ergonomic design that supports your neck at all angles, meaning head bobbing and neck pain are a thing of the past. Best of all, it compresses down into a compact case for easy portability. While it’s small enough to pack, I always clip mine onto my personal item so it doesn’t take up unnecessary space. 

I was skeptical about in-flight footrests, but after using the Sunany Inflatable Foot Rest Pillow on a seven-hour flight to Paris, it quickly earned a permanent spot in my personal item. I’ve tested five different types of inflatable foot rests and hammocks, and this one is by far my favorite thanks to its dual-valve design, which allows you to inflate it to three different heights for personalized comfort. It’s a must-have for petite travelers like myself, whose feet don’t always comfortably reach the ground on flights—it greatly reduces leg strain and foot pressure. Crucially, this version is quick, quiet, and easy to inflate—it took me about 90 seconds.  

The best-selling Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs are my secret weapon to blocking out engine noise, chatty seatmates, and crying babies. They’re crafted from super-soft silicone and come with several ear tip sizes to help you find your perfect fit. I used to fall asleep with my Marshall earbuds in, but now have switched over to these for their superior comfort and sound-muffling. The handy carrying case comes with a small loop, which can be attached to a keychain or belt loop so that you don’t need to waste time fishing around your bag to find it. 

Long flights are a perfect excuse to give your skin a little TLC, and the celebrity-approved Grace & Stella Gel Under-eye Mask is a great place to start. Packed with hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, sea moss to reduce fine lines, and glycerin to improve your skin’s elasticity, these gel under-eye masks leave me looking refreshed and well-rested after a long flight. Pop them on for at least 20 minutes—or leave them on while you sleep—to depuff your eyes and brighten up any dark circles before landing. 

Not all sleep masks are created equal. While I love the luxurious feel of a soft silk eye mask, there’s nothing more instantly comforting than the weighted drape of the Nodpod Gentle Pressure Sleep Mask. Designed with four pods that target key pressure points, this mask feels like a gentle hug for your head. It’s thoughtfully designed without Velcro straps or ties, so it’s comfortable to use in any position, including while upright on the plane. 

Neck and back pain used to keep me awake on flights, but the Nepq Mini Massage Gun has made that a thing of the past. This small-but-mighty personal massager is compact enough to pack in your personal item—and yes, it’s TSA-approved. It boasts four modes, allowing you to adjust the pressure to your personal preference. Deep-tissue massage lovers will appreciate that it really helps to loosen up muscle tension, and that you can easily recharge for on-the-go use with the USB-C charging port. I love that it’s extremely lightweight and quiet, so it doesn’t add a lot of extra weight to my bag and I never have to worry about disturbing my seatmates. 

I’ve been using my Marshall Motif II True Wireless Earbuds for years, and am deeply impressed with their long-lasting quality. The sound quality is crystal-clear, while the earbuds themselves have remained in great condition. There are two noise-cancelling modes—active noise-cancelling, which mutes all engine noise and crying babies, and transparency mode, which allows you to have a conversation when the flight attendants come around. I love that the case and the buds are crafted from 70 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, and that the charge lasts forever (six hours on their own, and 30 hours with the charge case, to be exact). 

Keeping my feet comfortable is my number one priority on flights, as I’m usually hitting the ground running as soon as I land. To avoid swollen, puffy feet, I always swap my airport shoes for slippers once I’ve taken my seat. While hotel slippers will do the trick in a pinch, I prefer to travel with the ultra-flexible Fires Rubber Sole Slippers, which are currently 20 percent off. These lightweight, rubber-soled slippers can be easily folded into your personal item, and they boast a strong non-slip grip to tackle wet bathroom floors. While I prefer to keep the back of the shoe up while I’m on the plane, they can also be converted to mules.

A comfy airport outfit can make or break your chances to snag some shut-eye on the plane. That’s where the Anrabess 2-piece Lounge Set comes in: it’s made from an ultra-soft rayon-polyester blend that’s substantial enough to keep you warm in a chilly plane cabin, yet breathable enough to make sure you won’t overheat. I prefer short-sleeved sets so that I can adjust my layers throughout the flight—there’s nothing that makes it harder for me to sleep than feeling too hot. This chic set is comfortable enough to sleep in, thanks to its elastic pull-on waistband, yet looks polished enough to wear right from the airport to lunch with friends, thanks to the stylish twist-tie detailing. 

During a facial, I once had an esthetician ask me if I traveled often. She could see it in my skin, she said—it looked tired and dehydrated. She recommended that I use a facial spray in-flight to help lock in hydration, and while I started with my trusty Evian spray, I’ve since graduated to the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Hydration Face Mist. It’s packed with green tea extract and Vitamin E to help protect against free radical damage, while glycerin helps to lock in moisture and promote bouncy, dewy skin. I’ll spritz this on throughout the flight whenever my skin feels dry, and always keep it in my purse for whenever I need a pick-me-up on long travel days. 

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