20 Things That’ll Make An Airplane Middle Seat Feel Almost Comfortable

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Because the cheaper middle seat option can be the perfect puzzle piece for your vacation plans.

As a Deputy Editorial Director for BuzzFeed’s shopping team, I love to get into the weeds of why a product’s worth the money by deep diving into customer reviews, and product-testing as much as possible.

The people are divided about whether the window or aisle seat is superior. But have you ever met someone who prefers the middle seat? I sure haven't. Though sitting in a middle seat can be a necessary burden to help get you where you're going and, oftentimes, a wee bit cheaper, you can put those savings toward something fun on your travels...like doubling up on your daily gelato intake on your Europe trip. For those times when you feel like a martyr and pick the middle seat, I've gathered options to help you get a little cozier there, like a hand fan to help you stay cool, a sling-like contraption to nuzzle you to sleep, and even a Bluetooth earbuds transmitter that'll mean you won't have to unhook your airline-supplied wired earbuds from your TV to let the person in the window out to go to the bathroom. 

Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action. 

Airplane Pockets is a small business that specializes in sanitary, portable travel organization products. 

My colleague Emma Lord owns and loves this: "I used this on a roundtrip from NYC to Tokyo, both with connecting flights in Canada, and cannot sing its praises enough. It fit all four of the different tray tables I used it on and was so ridiculously handy for keeping track of all my littler odds and ends like AirPods, the plane's headphones, earplugs, a sleep mask, a book, gum, a scrunchie, and little snacks. The hanging end of it easily tucked into the built-in sleeve of the seat in front of me for takeoff and when other passengers needed to scoot past me in my aisle seat. Usually, I feel like a hot mess and get frustrated rooting around in the grimy sleeve for my stuff, and this was such a refreshing solution! Several flight attendants even asked where I got it to buy one for themselves!"

Promising review: "I loved it! It held my earplugs, tissues, water bottle, phone, etc. Nothing is falling on the floor or out of my lap. I had a middle seat last trip and it was so nice to have everything within easy reach." —tennis gal melissa

Promising review: "Not going to lie, I was skeptical about this product, but I was on a 4-hour flight last week, and this sling worked! I was in the middle seat and slept great!

Not a product defect, but one thing to be aware of...if the seat doesn't have an adjustable headrest, you can't use this product, which was the case on my first flight." —BB

Seat Sleeper is a small business that specializes in travel accessories. 

Note: This won't work on planes without a separate headrest on the seat, since it will block the screens! 

Promising review: "Such a simple thing, but it works great, supports the entire weight of the head. I felt a little weird at first. But with an eye mask, earplugs, and a hoodie, it worked. It’s packable. I’ve only used it on JetBlue, but it’s adjustable; I imagine it can be used on any airline, bus, car, or wherever. It blends in, looks like an eye mask. Doesn’t interfere with anyone else. It’s on my 'must' list now." —lasheliz

Promising review: "I love this TRTL!! I first used it on a trip from Seattle to Buenos Aires and will now always use it. It made it possible for me to be comfortable on that long flight. I found it to be the best neck support in how it holds up my neck in a comfortable natural way. I love how I can use it on either side of my neck, and even in the front and back of my neck. I love how I can cover my face to just below my eyes if I want privacy. It is cozy, lightweight, durable and packs easily, or I can wrap it around my carry bag handle for quick transport. I bought one for a friend who took it on a Seattle to New York flight and she said it was a game changer for her as she was able to sleep for the first time while flying. Now I know that with my TRTL and Bose noise cancelling head phones, I can be cramped in a middle seat on a long flight and survive in relative comfort. Thank your Trtl!!! I just bought another one for a gift for my daughter. It is a well-designed product!" —Amis Balcomb

Get it from Amazon for $60.99+ (available in five colors).

Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go. 

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." —Earendil

My colleague Chelsea Stuart owns and loves this: "I splurged on some AirPod Maxes and for the amount of money I threw down on them, I was determined to get as much use out of them as possible and that included on plane rides. With the AirFly Pro, I can connect my headphones via Bluetooth and use the seat-back screen without having to fiddle with the free wired headphones they hand out that 1.) have horrible sound quality and 2.) don't fit my ears in the slightest (I swear my ear canals are tiny or something??)"

It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual.

Twelve South is a small business that has been creating innovative tech accessories since 2009. 

Promising review: "I was a little reluctant purchasing Airfly after reading the reviews, but I’m so glad I did! It worked perfectly on the plane, and while on my trip, I also used it to listen to music in the car. It acted like a speaker because I had no aux cable. It was great!" —Yamile cardozo

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in eight styles and two colors).

iJoy is a small business that specializes in headphones and tech accessories. 

My colleague Emma is a fan: "I own a pair of these, and because I'm vain as heck and need to own all things pink, but I was decently surprised by how well they muffle noise! I feel like these are ideal for people who still want to hear some of the world around them (read: parents, people working in open offices), but still want to listen to their tunes comfortably. The charge on these goes for at least four hours (I haven't tried it beyond that yet), and the Bluetooth connects to my devices super easily. Excellent pair of headphones for the price point."

Promising review: "These headphones surprised me. I thought they were not going to be as great because of how cheap they are, but the bass is amazing! The noise cancellation is so good that I can’t hear anything. The volume is loud and sound quality is a win, and just how I like it. Very snug and comfy, recommend! Thanks TikTok, lol :)." —Chevelle Revero

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors). 

This handy little carrying case (which just so happened to match my Kiss press-on nails in the "dancing heart" design in this pic) easily slips into my coat, jacket, or even front jeans pockets, which is normally where I put it right before I'm getting ready to board so I don't have to dig for them in my bag. They also go in my coat pocket anytime I'm commuting so I can listen to a podcast or the same Slayyyter song 10x in a row on the way to the office. They easily switch back and forth between my laptop and phone via Bluetooth, and I've connected them to seatback Bluetooth on the plane so I can watch whatever Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks film is available. And if I end up losing these earbuds, it's nbd because I've more than gotten my money's worth out of them. I'm pretty sure you can barely buy an airport sandwich for their $17 price!

Get the current version of these earbuds from Amazon for $16.99 (available in nine colors).

I bought these more than a year ago before I went on my first-ever cruise, but didn't need to use them. They've been kicking around the front pocket of my go-to travel backpack since, so I had them handy when I recently went on a driving-heavy (we're talking 1,600+ miles over five days) trip with my parents. My mom suffers from vertigo and it was really hitting her once we set out on the road. I remembered I had these, and she switched to the back seat and wore them the whole trip because they made such a big difference! Now, did it make driving up the side of the Colorado National Monument's Rim Rock Drive with 23 miles of switchbacks and soaring heights less scary? Eh. Idk. But it made it less woozy! (The drive is absolutely worth it, btw.)   

Promising review: "FLIGHT ATTENDANT APPROVED! They work. 100% of the time." —Jessica

Promising reviews: "Purchased this jumpsuit for a cruise. It is amazingly comfortable and fits perfectly. Normally I need to hem or alter the length, but this was perfect due to the type of bottom. It could be dressed up with jewelry and a large belt. I liked the black one so much I ordered the same one in a maroon." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in sizes S–3X and 31 colors/patterns). 

Promising review: "I wasn't sure what to think based on the description alone. You just never know. But as soon as these bad boys arrived, I fell in love with them. They fit great and are sooo comfortable. The fabric feels almost like a very thin cashmere and I like that they have pockets so I can haul things around. I bought these to replace a pair of terry joggers whose drawstring broke and just wanted them to be as easy and comfortable and cozy. They totally are. I want to buy them in every color and wear 20 pairs at once." —Meredith in Maine

Get them from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in sizes S–3X and many different colors and prints).

Promising review: "I love this foldable airplane blanket! There are few things worse on a flight than being too cold. This little blanket is the perfect weight to keep you warm but doesn’t take up too much room in your carry-on/personal item bag. I actually clip it to the outside of my backpack." —Danielle Gaudette

Get it from Amazon for $25.03 (available in nine colors).

Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and have a wacky work schedule. I frequently have to sleep during the day. These are SO comfortable and cool as well. I have ordered and tried out at least 10 eye-masks off of Amazon and have found these to be the best. They are SO comfortable and do not have velcro on the straps, for which I am thankful, because I usually sleep on my back and am sensitive to the thickness of eyemasks which have the Velcro straps." —SW

I had a Kindle in the early 2010s, and never quite took to it, but I invested in a Kindle Fire in 2020 during quarantine and haven't looked back since. This 8-inch model takes up a TINY amount of room in my personal-item backpack, and I always load it up with books from Libby before each trip. That model I bought in 2020 lasted 'til spring 2025 for me after getting LOTS of use during travels (I once read four books on it on a 17-hour flight on the way home from a Vietnam trip) and also at home. I hardly ever leave my house without a physical book or my Fire tablet because I'm able to sneak in reading during my commute on the subway. This model has since traveled to Argentina, Brazil, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Costa Rica! It's SUCH a great investment for anyone on the go, even if you ADORE physical books. (I have a physical TBR stack at home.) Sometimes — a LOT of the time — you just don't have room in your bags for three books!

Psst — it's also gluten-, soy-, and dairy free! FYI, depending on your situation, water may be enough to rehydrate you! Read more about electrolyte-enhanced drinks and hydration at Cleveland Clinic. 

I always pack these for trips and will drink one the day of a flight, and end up feeling so much better during and after my flight. I even pack them in bulk and make my friends drink one after we land. I'm a Liquid I.V. pusher! They're also INCREDIBLY handy for drinking after a night of several cocktails. (Listen, if you hear ABBA blasting from medieval streets and walk into an open-air nightclub on your last night of the trip, you should stay awhile and enjoy yourself!) Being hungover on a plane is MISERABLE. But with one of these, I've hydrated, napped, and then woke up feeling vastly better in time to make a transfer back home. 

Promising review: "I recommend Liquid I.V. to everyone I know who travels. I drink this while I'm waiting at my gate before a long flight, and the difference is massive. Instead of leaving most long flights feeling dehydrated with no appetite and a sour stomach, I feel normal! I also keep a few tubes in my first aid kit for emergencies." —WritingFromNowhere

Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $24+ (also available in sugar-free flavors). I'm also quite partial to the newer grapefruit flavor. 

These little pieces of waxy goo (more on the waxy side) are super comfortable, and reviewers say they're more comfortable than foam earplugs. I agree! I'm able to reuse them over and over again, and I think during these past years that I've only reupped them once. I most recently used them on a ~six-hour flight back from Costa Rica when a little kid three rows in front of me screamed for the first half of the flight. They didn't completely block out all the noise, but they dampened it significantly. 

Promising review: "I have tried many types of earplugs due to a husband who snores. Took them on a recent trip to Galapagos and they performed wonderfully. Drowned out his snoring and all the noises outside the room. Easy to install in my ear and was comfortable all night long while I slept. They mold to the outside of your ear and form a seal that blocks on most of the noise. These will be my go-to earplugs from now on!" —jlwrink

Check out a TikTok of the portable fan in action. 

I own this and use it ALL the time. It comes in handy in a variety of situations at home *and* while traveling — especially when you're sitting in a stuffy plane in Miami in July with the doors open, waiting for the pilot to board and take off. I def got some jealous side-eyes from other passengers as I kept myself cool with this. 

Get it from Amazon for $14.39+ (available in three colors). 

Promising review: "This cushion is wonderful! I ordered two of these, one for me and one for my husband, before taking a long trip in our motorhome. I've been using mine almost daily for a month now and it truly takes away my low-back pain while sitting on it. My main purpose was to use it while traveling, now I take it any place that I'll be sitting on hard surfaces or for extended periods. Some said it didn't fit them properly or raised them up too high, but I have no complaints, only praise! My husband likes his as well. Says it gives him more support and comfort while driving." —Pat F

Get it from Amazon for $37.45 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "My summer handbag has no dividers, so everything falls into a lump together. I was so pleased to find the smaller slender option for this organizer. It slides down into my purse with room on the sides to spare —this is exactly what I wanted since it lets me put things into the organizer and then other things outside of it on either side. I ordered the gray color and am very satisfied with the construction and fabric used." —Jay

Get it from Amazon for $9.88+ (available in six sizes and 16 colors).

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- to 15-hour flights. They are very comfortable, too!" —J. Beaty

Get them from Amazon for $18.63+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 13 colors).

Check out our full compression socks review here.

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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.