Surviving a 20-Hour Flight: 13 Travel Hacks Tested and Rated

A traveler tests 13 popular travel hacks on a 20-hour economy flight to Australia, discovering which items are essential and which to avoid.

NationPulse Desk

Nov 7, 2026 · 2:01 PM 6 min read

Key takeaways

The traveler tested 13 travel item hacks on a 20-hour economy flight to Australia.

Nasal strips and mouth tape from SleepyDeepy helped the traveler breathe better and sleep without snoring.

A silicone suction phone mount allowed hands-free viewing of downloaded movies and shows.

An AirFly adapter enabled the use of wireless personal headphones instead of cheap inflight ones.

Compression socks and a DIY backpack footrest helped manage physical discomfort during the long journey.

A long haul holiday to somewhere hot and sunny might be tempting, until you have to sit on a plane in economy for 20 hours. Yet with so many hacks and tricks to surviving a long flight, which of them actually work? On a recent flight to Australia, a traveler decided to try them all out to see which ones were actually worth it.

While mentally prepared to be uncomfortable for the duration, the traveler was surprised by some items that really made a difference, while others proved to be no help at all. Here is the full verdict on 13 item hacks heard about online and whether they are actually worth packing.

Evaluating Viral Head and Neck Support Hacks

You have probably seen the famous scarf hack lingering around on social media, where you tie a scarf to your head rest to make a makeshift head rest. When first seeing it, the traveler was skeptical, believing it looked more like something that would hurt the neck rather than aid it. You essentially tuck it in behind your seat head rest and then tie it in front of your neck, untucking one side to create a hammock for your head. The traveler hated this hack and sacked it off within a couple of minutes because the scarf slipped too much, turbulence meant getting choked, and there was an overwhelming feeling of suffocation.

Neck pillows seem to be the number one travel item to take on a plane, but the traveler had never used one before despite taking dozens of flights each year. On the 20-hour flight, two were tested, including one from the airport that cost an arm and a leg and another high-tech one bought online. Both were scrapped after about 10 minutes because they made the neck, head, and ears hurt instead of feeling comfortable, as well as getting too warm. Instead, the traveler opted for the standard pillow given onboard the flight and was far more comfortable.

Breathing and Sleep Aids for Long Flights

When you think of nasal strips, you probably either think of elite runners or people snoring, as they help get more air through your nose when you breathe in. With all that stagnant air on a plane bunging you up, you want to be able to get as much air as possible. The traveler tried out SleepyDeepy nasal strips and out of all items on the list, this is the one now sworn by. You simply stick it onto your nose and you will feel the relief with the amount of air you can now breathe in through your nose, which also helps stop snoring.

Mouth tape is another product the traveler had always been skeptical of, but after getting a sore throat after every flight, a solution was needed. SleepyDeepy mouth tape looks like a black cloud and you just stick it over your mouth, as it has a small air and vapour hole in the middle. The traveler slept like a baby with it on, stopped snoring and drooling, and got off the flight without a sore throat for once.

Earplugs and Eye Masks

A lot of people will skip earplugs when it comes to their flights, but they are wrong because planes are loud. While that constant droning fades into the background after a while, all that loud noise is not good for our ears. The traveler swears by Loop Earplugs for the times on the flight when you do not want to listen to music, but also do not want to hear the plane. They then swapped to SleepyDeepy regular foam earplugs when wanting to sleep because these do not stick out, making resting your head more comfortable.

For 20 hours, the traveler wanted to do everything possible to get good sleep, so a SleepyDeepy silk eye mask was taken onboard. The soft eye mask wraps around your head with a Velcro close, featuring no tight strap and soft cushioning around the eyes to stop getting marks. It was so comfortable and cosy that the traveler slept like a baby, though those who do not struggle sleeping with the lights on might opt out of this one.

Tech Gadgets That Transform Inflight Entertainment

If one item has changed life for the better without exaggeration, it is a silicone suction phone mount. These little items cost a few quid on Amazon and stick to the back of your phone or phone case, while the other side suctions onto smooth surfaces such as a window or screen. This means if you have downloaded films or TV shows onto your phone, you can watch them without having to hold your phone in your hand, and it also helps take pictures without a tripod.

An AirFly is another brilliant piece of tech that means you can use your own headphones and ditch the annoying, cheap inflight headphones given out. The AirFly gets plugged into your headphone socket and it connects to your own headphones or earphones wirelessly. This means you do not have to battle with an annoying cable or have poor sound quality.

Hydration and Comfort Additions

Electrolytes are not just for marathon runners, as they can help to counteract the harsh environment of a plane cabin and also help the impacts of jet lag. The traveler loves Good Flyte electrolytes which come in a handy tube where you can snap them in half if you wish, and all you need to do is drop it into your water where it dissolves with an enjoyable orange flavour. Just make sure you do not overdo it.

Taking a small bottle of favourite fragrance did not occur to the traveler before this flight, but a lavender pillow spray helped calm the nerves. Spraying the pillows given on the flight and the blanket allowed the traveler to feel at ease with 20 hours of travelling ahead, making it an ideal way to think of home.

Footwear and Body Circulation Hacks

If you are short like the traveler, who is 5 feet 1 inch for reference, your feet often do not comfortably reach the floor of the plane cabin, making you fidget. The traveler uses a large duffle bag as an underseat bag and places a couple of jumpers or items of clothing at the top to bulk it up and make it squishy, creating an easy and free footrest.

For long haul flights, you should always wear compression socks to improve blood circulation and prevent fluid from pooling in your lower legs while sat for long periods. The traveler picked up a pair from Boots for around a tenner, which also help keep legs warm. Finally, taking a pair of slippers ensures you do not walk around the cabin or plane bathroom with just socks on, keeping your feet warm and protected if they have rubber bottoms.

Questions and answers

Do neck pillows work on long flights?

The traveler tested an expensive airport neck pillow and a high-tech online version, scrapping both after 10 minutes because they caused pain and warmth, opting instead for a standard airline pillow or a bundled-up jumper.

What is an AirFly used for on a plane?

An AirFly plugs into the airplane headphone socket and connects wirelessly to your own personal headphones, eliminating the need for cables and poor-quality airline earphones.

How can you make a footrest on a plane?

You can use a large duffle bag as your underseat luggage and pack a couple of jumpers or clothing items at the top to make it squishy, creating a comfortable footrest if your feet do not reach the floor.