1. An airplane window tray to hold your drinks and phone when you want to keep your tray table up or free to hold your laptop. Time to play Stardew Valley for 13 hours! :) 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Note: This only works if you have full access to the window (rather than those seats where you get the weird halves of two windows between the rows in front and behind you).  

Promising review: "A friend recommended this to me as a vital travel companion now that I've returned to frequent flying. I initially thought of it as a novelty, but now that I've used it, it's a necessity. It keeps the workspace clear for my laptop, but it also organizes all the little pieces that can become so annoying to keep up with — glasses, earphones, etc. It got my seatmate's immediate attention, as well as a few other folks nearby. I suspect they'll have one soon. Watch for one soon in a window near you!" —Timothy G. Wolfe

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

2. An in-flight foot hammock that hangs on the arms of your tray table so you can kick your feet up and pretend you have the ability to stretch out. Many reviewers (especially the vertically challenged) say it helps with soreness and swelling on long flights.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I will never fly again without this. I've recommended it to everyone. East Coast US to South East Asia, 24 hours in long haul flights each way with serious low back pain condition to start. But being able to hang my legs, even in a sideways position, saved me from hours of pain that I have endured previously flying with economy leg room. So easy to loop over tray table brackets in both the stowed and open positions. This is a must-have for any flight." —DL Flin

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in multipacks). 

3. Or an inflatable footrest you can adjust to three different heights to create a more comfortable seating arrangement. It can be compressed and fits into a drawstring bag so you don't have to worry about it taking up all the space in your backpack. Speaking on things you don't have room for, reviewers say it's easy to blow up and deflate without a pump!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I didn't buy this for the longest time thinking inflation would be annoying or it'd be too bulky — I finally ordered it and love it. It's very easy to inflate since it has the two inflation methods. Folds up smaller than our travel pillows. It's great for travel in car and planes, and our kid likes sitting on it at home too. Recommended." —D

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in four colors and multipacks).

4. Snack containers with four compartments so you can set yourself up with one of those "cheese boards" they offer in first class. Fill 'em up with cheese cubes, salami slices, veggies, hummus, candy, or whatever you'd like! It's your adult Lunchable to customize however you see fit. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These are a great size. They also work great for those who like to keep foods separated!! These boxes work great!! I love that I am able to easily pack a lunch or snacks exactly the way that I want. They also clean up easily in the dishwasher. They could also work well for traveling with little ones, keeping snacks or even small pieces together in the car or on a plane! I would highly recommend!!!" —Jennifer

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four colorways).

5. A tray table cover so all your snacks, books, devices, and other essentials are within easy reach. Not everyone can afford a fancy seat with extra storage room in the armrest, but anyone can get creative. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I love this thing! I always hated putting things in the seat pocket on planes. It was easy for things to get lost in there, or sometimes the pockets were pretty tight. This thing was amazing. I was able to get everything out of my bag that I might need during the flight and had easy access to it all. It was so much better than having to pull my bag out constantly to get stuff I needed. It also folds up nicely, so it doesn’t take up much space in your bag." —Corey

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

6. A seat extender that'll let your little one stretch out and even take a nap. The hammock-like device unfolds from a travel bag and buckles onto the chair and tray table arms. Oh, to be tiny enough to lie down in a single airplane seat. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This product was lightweight, super soft, easy to use, and made my flight so much easier! My toddler was comfortable and loved being able to stretch out his little legs and lie down. He even napped on the flight! The install was quick and easy — very user-friendly. It fit the space in the airplane seat perfectly. The side pocket was useful to store extra toys and a pacifier. I would definitely recommend this product to families traveling with small children." —Bruna

Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in four colors). 

7. Tower 28's  daily facial spray designed to balance skin pH and help minimize irritation, redness, and flare-ups. It's perfect for giving your skin a reset after many hours locked into a stale-aired metal box with 300 or so people. It's the next best thing to the hot washcloths you've seen get passed around at the front of the plane. 

Tower 28

This renewing toner is alcohol-, oil-, and fragrance -ree, making it ideal for all skin types. The hypochlorous acid helps reduce redness and irritation.

Tower 28 is an LA-based, Asian woman-owned small business that creates nontoxic, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty products for all skin types. 

Promising reviews: "I’ve struggled with adult cystic acne for a while now! I decided to stop using all my actives and just use the SOS spray and the barrier recovery cream to just see what would happen. I cannot believe what this has done for my skin. I highly recommend! It’s truly been life-changing!" —Julie

"This product is magic in a bottle; I’m obsessed. I travel a lot, and this is truly amazing at saving my skin from the recycled air and new climates that I’m constantly adjusting to. For reference, I have extremely sensitive, blackhead- and acne-prone skin." —Ellie

Get it from Sephora, Tower 28, or Amazon for $12+ (available in two sizes).

8. A cooling memory foam contoured sleep mask to shroud your face in darkness when it's nap time, but your neighbor's reading light or open window is getting in the way. It surrounds your eyes without putting pressure on them — that means it can completely block out light while still allowing you to freely blink. Who needs a private mini cabin when you have this? OK, still me, but this softens the blow of not getting one. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "The BEST BEST BEST and most comfortable sleep mask I’ve found. Night shifter for years and have tried everything. Many other sleep masks have some qualities, but not all. This one is AMAZINGLY SOFT, VERY THICK, plush, high-quality material, quality stitching that won’t come apart like so many others that are cheaply made, and it’s EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE even though it’s a good price. Very impressed and pleasantly surprised." —Amazon Customer

"Got this for an overseas flight. With this and headphones, I slept 90% of the way. I was afraid it would feel heavy, but it felt light and fantastic while not putting any pressure on my eyes or smudging makeup. I just got back online to order one for home use. Thanks for a great product!" —Maryland Girl

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in five colors and two styles).

9. A Vesta Loop travel pillow for anyone who wishes they had a little pet snake that could gently strangle them to sleep. The firm pillow twists and sits securely on your shoulders, keeping your head upright while you sneak in a nap and dream of what's going on behind that snobby lil' curtain. 

Amazon

Promising review: "I’ve had the S-shaped flight pillow for a week now and have tried it in various situations. I've loved it! The S shape of this travel pillow distinguishes it from all other flight pillows. It can be easily adjusted to fit my needs so I can rest my head comfortably. Because of its S shape, the pillow is compact and can be easily folded to a smaller size and fits into my backpack. The material is very soft and of great quality. I’m excited to use it on my long-distance flight!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $59.50. 

10. Or an inflatable wedge pillow if you find neck rests simply don't offer the support you crave. You can faceplant on its padded top and loop your arms around the bottom. Now, you can catch some ZZZs and send a strong "do not disturb" message to your chatty seat neighbor. 

www.amazon.com

This item also doubles up as a backrest *and* seat cushion for optimal comfort.

Promising reviews: "Just received this, and so far, so good! Inflates within mere seconds and the same to deflate. Seems really supportive and comfortable. I was influenced by a TikTok review, so I’m assuming it’ll be a gem on flights!" —Katelyn

"Used this on four international flights last month, and it made all the difference in the world. It's compact, quick and easy to inflate/deflate, very versatile in how you can position it, and it doesn't rely on the tray table. I can very comfortably lean forward in my seat and sleep almost like I can in a bed." —Still Chilly in Colorado

Get it in gray from Amazon for $24.99.

11. Comfortable wax earplugs to help block out unwanted noises, from crying babies to arguing couples. They comfortably mold to the shape of your inner ear, ensuring a perfect, personalized fit. That means more time to nap and less time playing mediator in a lover's quarrel. 

Emma Lord/BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord swears by these: "The moldable silicone of Mack's Earplugs contours easily to the shape of your ear to block out noise much more effectively than other foam or plastic varieties, and the noise reduction is so good that if I pair them with a white noise machine (or just like a white noise loop on Spotify), I genuinely don't hear noises from outside my room. Not only that but once they're in place, they stay locked there until you decide to pull them out.

Granted, I can still hear my alarm, and like, if the fire alarm went off or something, I'd definitely wake right up. But noises that are distant and loud are pretty easily canceled out by these.

I've also *loved* these for traveling — if you put these babies in on a plane, not only does it help reduce some of the YIKES factor when the plane takes off (it's loud!!), but it cancels out the murmuring noises of passengers on the flight and makes it easier to get some shuteye." 

Get 12 pairs from Amazon for $12.99.

12. A wireless transmitter that'll connect your AirPods (or any other wireless headphones) to the headphone jack on the flight so you can get access to the free entertainment without having to use those tinny-sounding earbuds they offer during flights. 

www.amazon.com

The standard edition allows you to connect one pair of headphones and lasts for 20+ hours on a single charge. It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual.

Promising review: "This product worked flawlessly! I travel often for work, and hated that I couldn’t use my Apple AirPods on the airplane to watch in-screen entertainment movies, until I discovered the AirFly Pro. I paired these with a dummy device before traveling in order to create the initial connection. Once I got on the airplane, I plugged the AirFly Pro transmitter into the headphone jack, turned on my AirPods, and it instantly connected. I would happily recommend these again. Thanks again!" —Bill

Get the standard model from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two colors and also a Pro version that allows you to connect two headphones and has longer battery life).

13. Or a hands-free rotating phone mount you can install onto your tray table or chair arm so you can watch your own entertainment — because sometimes the in-flight options are reminiscent of a DVD bargain barrel. This can mount onto almost any surface, so it'll also come in handy pre-boarding when they delay your flight yet again. This wouldn't happen if you had a private jet, but alas. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multileg, ultra-long-haul trip, and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes, and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer. At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards, and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well built, and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time. Thus far it still feels solid, and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" —Earendil

Get it from Amazon for $12.57+ (available in six colors and multipacks). 

14. A hoodie made with a built-in eye mask so you can pull the hood up and get right to sleep before your seat mate starts showing you pictures of their time at Coachella. 

Pond Los Angeles

Plus, it has a hidden pocket inside the pouch to safely hold your valuables (phone, keys, headphone case). Reviewers do say it has an oversize fit, so size down if you want a closer fit. 

Pond Los Angeles is an Asian- and woman-owned small business that creates bags and clothing perfect for traveling. 

Promising review: "I fly a lot and am constantly trying to find a hoodie with a big hood to cover my eyes so I can catch up on some beauty sleep on flight. I saw this product on Instagram and knew it would be a game-changer. I was able to use it recently for the first time on an early morning flight and let me tell you, it is EVERYTHING I was looking for and more. It’s comfy, cozy, oversized, and the eye covers make you feel like you’re in a whole other world and not packed like a sardine on a plane. My over-ear headphone fit perfectly under it and I got the best sleep I’ve had on a plane — EVER!" —Heather G.

Get it from Pond Los Angeles for $105 (available in women's sizes XS–XXL and four colors). 

15. Or a weighted hoodie to gently smoosh you to sleep if plane naps are normally out of the question. Like a weighted blanket, it can help reduce flight anxiety and soothe restless limbs, so you can sleep like a baby (not the one currently crying in 32A, of course). 

Thera

Read more about how to choose a weight, what weighted blankets help with, and how they do it from Cleveland Clinic.

Promising reviews: "I’ve had this hoodie for about 3 hours total, and it’s already one of the favorite things I own. I was eyeing this for a while and during a particularly annoying meltdown, I caved. BEST DECISION EVER. I’ve had weighted blankets in the past, and they often cause my back or hips to hurt eventually, but this doesn’t. The arms are pretty heavy but definitely manageable." —Darcy

"Everything I could ever want and more. This is the coziest thing ever, and I was able to wear it to work, and it helps ease anxiety sooooo much!! I cannot recommend this jacket enough." —meredith

Get it from Thera for $158 (available in sizes XS–3XL and six colors; also available in minky fabrics and children's sizes). 

16. A cocktail tin with everything you need (syrup, bitters, mixing tools, etc.) to make an amazing drink — just add an airplane bottle, and you're basically an in-flight bartender. Who needs the gross sparkling wine in first class anyway? 

Amazon

The kit makes three drinks.

Promising review: "A neat kit to have on hand, take to a hotel, or give as a gift. All of the tools and ingredients you need to make the drink are in the kit (except the alcohol and ice). I found the kit to be cheaper than purchasing the individual ingredients for an old fashioned. I would definitely buy this again." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in eight flavors). 

17. A luggage-mounted cup caddy so you can keep your smoothie or coffee secured while you run to your gate. We can't all afford an assistant to hold our things, and the last thing you need is to be sticky for a 10-hour flight. 

www.amazon.com

Reviewers say it's ideal for a suitcase that can roll on four wheels so you don't tip over your drink. It'll still work for a suitcase that has to tilt while it rolls; just be careful if the drinks are open at the top.

Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, I dropped and spilled my drink everywhere when it was my turn to check my passport and ticket. It was a nightmare! This time, I bought this cup holder to do me a favor! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." —Philip

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in 26 colors and patterns). 

18. A bunch of Sriracha packets to help make the bland airplane food taste sliiiiightly more edible.

Amazon

Promising review: "I travel extensively and often desire to spice up the food along the way. Carrying a bottle of hot sauce is precarious, so I welcomed these individual packets, which are TSA-compliant and easily packed." —Randy Becker

Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $9.98.

19. A digital luggage scale so there are no surprises when it's time to check your bag. Drop off your perfectly weighted luggage with zero extra fees and finally not wonder if it's worth splurging on an elite airline credit card just to avoid future checked bag troubles. 

www.amazon.com

You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements. 

Promising reviews: "I cannot imagine how we would have managed a big international trip without this. It saved us so much stress and, I’m sure, surprise charges at the airport." —Potter Freak

"This scale works and was accurate on four flights. The first flight was a test at 46 pounds, and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds, and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the fourth flight weighed 49, but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost, must-have item for air travel." —Robert

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in four colors and also a two-pack).

Desperately waiting for Nathan Fielder to perform another Miracle Over the Mojave, but for comfortable airplane seats...

Jimmy Kimmel Live / Via youtube.com

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.