When it comes to in-flight comfort today, airlines are pretty much leaving passengers high and dry. JetBlue now charges $7 for a basic pillow and blanket kit (replete with "advanced technology" to shield you from dust mites and pollen—normally not a concern at 35,000 feet). And though they toss in a $5 coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond, a dubious incentive. The bottom line is, once in the sky, you’re on your own. Experts advise passengers to take control of their own comfort zones.
“Think about your flight as time spent camping out,” says Lynn Staneff, marketing director for Magellan’s, a purveyor of innovative travel supplies. “Airline services are going the way of the dinosaur and your comfort level depends entirely on you, so set up a household in your compressed seating area by packing everything you need in your carry-on." Staneff recommends her company's Revita-leg portable compression leg massage, which wraps around your calf and has several pressure settings, and light-weight headphones that turn your airplane seat into an oasis of tranquility.
Faced with a fuel price crisis, today’s airlines are more concerned with their bottom lines than your bottom. (“There’s a solution for that as well," says Stenef. She recommends Tush Wipes with aloe vera and vitamin E.) Head-to-toe, there are abundant choices for flyer who want to carry a personal pampering program.
