Inflatable pillow a $40 upgrade
If you can’t have a first-class seat, the next best thing may be the 1st Class Sleeper. This inflatable nylon pillow blows up to about the size and shape of an airplane seat-back, providing more ergonomic cushioning and support for shoulders, neck and spine than the typical coach seat. (The pillow is not meant to be sat on, so your buttocks are on their own.) Getting the fit just right takes some practice. Ten or 12 breaths into the air valve usually does the trick, but larger or smaller individuals may require more or less inflation. Since the pillow has you sitting further forward in your seat, you may lose leg room, so try to get a roomier exit-row- or bulkhead seat. The pillow feels great against the spine, though. It rolls up and stores in an included drawstring pouch, and weighs just 18 ounces. Also good for car travel.
1st Class Sleeper is $39.95 from Magellan’s; 800-962-4943; www.magellans.com.
– Judi Dash
