We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A digital luggage scale so you aren't nervously sweating when you show up to the counter to see if your bag is overweight. No more surprises for you!
You can easily switch between kilograms and pounds!
Promising review: "This scale works and was accurate on four flights. 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 4th 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
Promising review: "Love it! Lightweight and easy to read! It even gives you the climate temperature (not that I need it but a neat feature). It reads in both kg and lbs. Definitely recommend if you're a frequent traveler and have weight requirements on luggage." —Patricia Velasquez
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors and a two-pack).
2. An Airfly wireless transmitter that will let you connect your wireless Bluetooth headphones, like AirPods, to the airplane TV. Now, you won't have to pack a separate set of wired airplane headphones (which don't have nearly half as good sound quality as your Bluetooth ones anyways), or in my case, forget to pack that second pair and experience for yourself what it's like to watch a silent movie.
Just plug it into the headphone jack to hear Meg Ryan say, "That caviar is a garnish!" the way it was meant to be heard. You can also connect up to two pairs of earbuds at a time, and it has 16+ hours of battery life for suuuper long flights.
Promising review: "Ever since I purchased my wireless Bose earbuds, I always hated having to use another set when I was on an airplane with the seat-back entertainment system. I tried many different models to connect the system to my Bluetooth headsets until I came across this one, and it is amazing! It seamlessly connects to my headset, very clear and reliable audio, and it takes the stress away from having to carry multiple headsets! Thank you!!!" —Ryan Malloy
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three styles).
3. A rather genius iPhone-charging passport holder to keep your important documents handy and save you from a very looooooong plane ride should your battery be just about dead before you've even boarded.
LovieStyle is a small biz based in San Diego making travel-friendly, two-in-one charging accessories.
Promising review: "Love love love this passport holder! Loved it when I got my hands on it. But I absolutely FELL IN LOVE with it when I took it on my first trip and completely forgot my phone charger. I was shocked and happy to discover the battery these come with has an adapter connected to it! Love love love. If I could give more than 5 stars I would." —Megan Rineheart
Get it from LovieStyle on Etsy for $39.99+ (available in 10 styles).
4. A pair of compression socks if your feet tend to puff up over the course of a long flight (and is even worse if you're wearing sandals). Just slip these on to minimize swelling and reduce sweat!
Promising review: "With three weeks of international travel coming up, I purchased these to combat swelling in my feet during the flights. I had noticed swelling after three-hour domestic flights, so I was worried about what almost 30k miles would do! I wore these on every leg of the trip and never noticed any swelling — even after the 10–15 hour flights. They are very comfortable, too!" —J. Beaty
Get them from Amazon for $18.57+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 13 colors).
And check out our full review of the Physix Gear compression socks here.
5. A collapsible stroller since it folds up nice and neat to fit in most overhead compartments, meaning you won't have to wait at the gate for them to bring it out to you. Better yet, it's super lightweight (under 10 pounds), so you won't have to struggle to lift it into the overhead bin either!
It's designed to hold kids who weigh up to 55 pounds.
Promising review: "Best stroller ever! WE LOVE THIS STROLLER! My husband originally purchased it because I was afraid to take our big stroller on the plane to gate check. I was traveling alone, so ease of use and portability was really important. I was amazed at how convenient it was to collapse and slide under my seat on the plane and it maneuvered well through the airport and throughout our trip. I received multiple compliments and a few moms even asked me where to buy one. Since then, we have been on a few more flights and many excursions and are still in love with this purchase!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $223.96+ (also available in three other styles and in black or blue).
6. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount that will let you turn any ole backseat into your own private airplane TV — one that's showing your favorite movies and TV shows, of course! Reviewers have also used this to clip their phone to all sorts of other surfaces too, like desks, armchair handles, luggage handles, and more.
Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, 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 $12.97 (available in two colors and in a set of two).
7. A Trtl neck pillow featuring a design that's scientifically-proven to keep your head and neck in an ideal and ergonomic position as you sleep. In other words, you'll never again find yourself saying, "Yeah, I just can't sleep on airplanes."
Promising review: "I can't stop recommending this pillow to all of my friends! It has let me comfortably sleep on flights that take place on the most uncomfortable airplane seats. On long flights, I always need to prop up my hand and I rest my head on it. But this method always ends with my arm falling asleep and I end up waking up every 30 minutes. Now this pillow provides that exact same support without needing my arms to prop me up! It's small enough to fit in your bag and doesn't take up much space." —Simona Krifman
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in four colors).
8. A clever hoodie with a built-in eye mask because how has nobody thought of this before? I mean seriously, what could be more ideal for red eyes than a super soft and snuggly sweatshirt that also covers your eyes? Nothing, that's what.
Pond Los Angeles is an Asian woman-owned small biz making luxurious travel products that'll make you feel like you're in first class, even if you're flying coach.
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 flights. 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! Like other reviews have said, it is big, so size down if you want something a little more snug. I have been wearing it every day at home and can’t wait to get the black and blush ones!" —Heather G.
Get it from Pond Los Angeles for $102.40+ (originally $128; available in women's sizes XS-XL and three colors).
9. A small pet carrier with WHEELS (!) so you can save your poor arms and roll your fur baby around the terminal instead...and then tuck them under your seat once you're on the plane.
It's designed for dogs and cats weighing up to 22 pounds.
Promising review: "Traveling with a pet is stressful. I've done it with a carrier that didn't have wheels and it was difficult carrying my dog through big airports, so I bought this one with wheels and it was totally awesome! I can't say enough good things about how much easier it was to get through the airport rolling my dog next to me! She sat there with her head out of the carrier and enjoyed the ride. It was a tight fit under the plane seat in front of me, but it did fit and she sat through the whole flight (one 4 hours and another 6 hours) just fine looking up at me or sleeping (most of the flight)." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $78.69.
10. A couple pairs of in-flight earplugs to block out crying babies, yapping seatmates, and any other annoying noise that might disrupt your in-flight experience. Wearing these can also help reduce air pressure problems, i.e. your ears unexpectedly and painfully popping.
Promising review: "Never fly without these! Before I found these, I endured excruciating pain in my ears upon descent and landing. Felt like a hot poker being driven into each ear. My ears would also be plugged up, and it would often take two to three days for them to resume their normal state of being. I insert them about an hour before landing, as the plane is making its slow descent. I'm comfortable, and the most discomfort I experience is a slight adjustment of pressure feeling in my sinus. NO PAIN. NO TEARS." —K. Tombrella
Get a pack with three pairs from Amazon for $18.49 (also available in 5- and 10-packs).
11. An all-encompassing foldable travel blanket for folks who are somehow always cold on flights, no matter what time of year or where you're heading. Not only is this insulated blanket super duper cozy, but it also has snuggly hand and foot pockets.
PS: It's also got a neck strap to keep it from slipping off of you during naps, and if you fold it inside out, it turns into a travel pillow! Is there anything they haven't thought of?!
Promising review: "Used this on my recent air flight and LOVED IT!!! I could use it as a pillow, and then when I got cold, opened it, stuck my feet in, and snapped the snap...stuck my head though and slept for the first time EVER on a plane!! Then, when landing, easily stuffed it back into a pillow and snapped to onto my under seat bag, and off on my adventure I went!!!" —Stacy S.
Get it from Gravel for $99 (originally $129).
12. Or, a fuzzy combination travel blanket/pillow/poncho to cover all your bases and cut down on the number of things you have to pack. We love a good space saving three-in-one product!
PS: It's also machine washable!
Promising review: "I purchased this for my 13-hour flight and would highly recommend it. The blankets provided by airlines are usually reused and made of itchy fabric. They also tend to slide off while I'm sleeping and fall to the floor several times, making them unsanitary to use. This Travelrest blanket has a slit that you put your head through. It rests on your back shoulders and stays on until you take it off. There's a front pouch that you can put your valuables in... this was very useful. Without this, I used to put my passport, wallet, phone, etc in the seat pocket in front of me...which is risky since the stuff can fall out of those pockets (very easy to lose/forget things). Also very lightweight and soft." —sartra
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in two sizes and in gray or navy).
13. A soothing self-care stone to pull out when those flying jitters start to creep up. Give it a few gentle strokes with your thumb, and you'll be feeling more relaxed in no time!
Soul Sister Gifts is a small biz based in Ventura, California specializing in all sorts of giftable trinkets, like succulents, aromatherapy items, and gemstone jewelry.
Promising review: "I use these all the time to center myself — they are so smooth and calming." —Isadora Armentrout
Get it from Soul Sister Gifts on Etsy for $6.95.