Expert Tips for Your Flight

There’s a lot to love about being on a plane. It takes you to your vacation destination. It’s the only place where it’s socially acceptable to have a Bloody Mary at any time of the day. And you can finally watch all your favorite movies. But one big thing can absolutely ruin this moment of peace: sitting in the middle seat.

“There’s no doubt when I say this—and I’m pretty sure most people agree with me when sitting in coach—the middle seat struggle is real,” shared Brendan Berkson, founder and editor-in-chief of Hotels Abu Par. Travel + Entertainment.

I know this pain well. In fact, I’m currently writing this while sitting in the middle seat of a regional flight, with not a speck of elbow room to be seen. Don’t feel too sorry for me, though—I’ve compiled a few secrets from expert travelers on how to make the most of your time in the middle seat. Here’s how you can experience it as a first-class experience, too.

Get a good neck pillow.

“Do yourself a favor and grab a neck pillow—the wrap-around memory foam ones are notable for me because they keep your head from rolling in different directions,” notes Berkson. Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago, a vacation rental website, agreed. “In my opinion, a neck pillow is non-negotiable when stuck in the middle seat,” he said. “Not all airplanes have built-in headrests that you can adjust to your liking, so you can’t guarantee you’ll be comfortable with one of them.” A good neck pillow allows you to rest your head comfortably even when you’re sandwiched between two people and “not leaning against the plane wall,” Schwab adds.

Dollar Flight Club founder Jesse Neugarten also wants everyone in between to bring a pillow. “Middle seat passengers often suffer from neck pain as there is no window to lean on,” he said. Neugarten specifically recommends checking out the Trtl travel pillow, which “helps maintain proper alignment while preventing that dreaded ‘head bob’ mid-nap. Bonus points for bringing a lightweight travel blanket and compression socks to your comfort game.”

Pack an eye mask.

Schwab also advised further preparation by wearing an eye mask. “You never know what the person sitting next to the window is going to do in terms of closing the window, so if you’re worried about possible bright light, use an eye mask,” he said.

Invest in noise canceling headphones.

“Noise-cancelling headphones are cliché,” shares Berkson. “They’ll have that random chatter in the background and stop the engine. Somehow, I always end up with a crying baby.” Neugarten also had another special recommendation for her — Sony’s WH1000XM3, which she said is “a lifesaver for blocking out crying babies or chatty seatmates, allowing you to mentally transport yourself to a much more enjoyable place.” (Sorry, cry baby, we love you, but we’ll block you for now.)

Control the armrest.

This is perhaps the most important point: If you’re in the middle seat, you should take charge early in the flight boarding process to stake your claim on both arms. “The middle-seat armrest conundrum is a no-brainer. In my eyes (and many others, as I swear it’s not just me), the middle-seat passenger should have both arms (an unspoken rule while flying coach),” Berkson said. “I encourage you to assert your unofficial right as a middle-seat passenger and make it clear, as politely as you can, that your arms are not for sharing.”

Store everything in the overhead compartment.

You might be tempted to put your carry-on under the seat in front of you, but as Jo Hayes, the traveler and etiquette advocate behind EtiquetteExpert.org, says, it’s a good idea to maximize all of your space — including your feet.

“On both short and long flights, most of us like to keep our handbag or backpack close to us, so that our things are easy to access,” explained Hayes. “But in the middle seat, where room is even more limited than the space on either side, it’s best to keep the underside of the seat in front of you as clear as possible.” This, he added, would enable people who “can’t roll like pilots can recline a little bit lower in their seats and have their legs spread out under the seat in front.”

Of course, this may not always be an option. On an entire flight with limited overhead bin space, you’ll need to stow your small bags under the seat in front of you.

Wear a fanny pack.

If you really need to keep a lot of small things handy, Natalie Bald, founder and CEO of travel fashion brand Ojala, recommends keeping the smallest bag you can carry. As she said, “I always travel with a small belt bag or fanny pack that I carry with me on the flight with the essentials (phone, purse, charger, headphones, moisturizer, book) to save me from having to take things out of my carry-on.

Bring in some extra recruits.

Tiffany Banks, a frequent business traveler and CEO of Nevada Realtors, notes that there’s another product you’ll want to bring to save your back—literally. Bank said, “Knowing that I’ll be in the middle seat with little room for movement, I take my Sojoy iGelComfort 3-in-1 Foldable Gel Seat Cushion with Memory Foam on every flight. I was initially resistant to carrying an extra item, but trust me; it will be a game changer for those who experience stiffness or discomfort while flying.” “I put the cushion down first, then put my puffer jacket over it (in the winter) to add more cushion.”

Pack a few layers.

If you can’t bring yourself to pack an extra pillow for your neck or your back, the next best thing is to keep an extra hoodie on hand, says Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance. “One of the best ways to ensure comfort is to wear layers. Oftentimes, airplanes are very cold or hot, so a hoodie or light jacket is essential,” Cronin said. And when it gets too hot, you can always tuck it into a small neck pillow or place it under you for extra support.

Bring your own entertainment.

Sitting in the middle can really suck the joy out of travel. So it’s important to make sure you’re well entertained to keep your spirits up. “I would recommend making sure you have enough entertainment to pass the time,” said Dan Van Ess, founder and CEO of FastCover Travel Insurance. “Whether you’re using a tablet to browse the web, have a gaming device to immerse yourself in, or even just a good book, they all provide a significant distraction from what’s going on around you.”

Drink water—and don’t be afraid to get up to use the bathroom.

Drinking water is generally advised on any flight. Being in the middle seat can make it difficult to get up and use the restroom, but now is the time to overcome those fears and make your health a priority. “By all means, stay hydrated,” Brickson said. “A glass of water every two hours won’t cut it with small-cup commercial flights. Airplane air is dry, and it feels extra cramped when stuck in the middle seat. A reusable water bottle (that you can fill up after TSA) is key.”

Pack snacks.

Being in the middle seat also means you don’t have easy access to the galley, making getting up for snacks a bit more difficult. That’s why Berkson recommends bringing them with you. “Don’t forget the snacks. I prefer to buy them before my flight, mainly because I’m allergic to dairy, and the goldfish that are meant to be passed out on the plane don’t bother my digestive issues,” Berkson said. “Also, snack-wise, you may not always have the best food options, especially on short flights, so pack some of your favorite munchies: Sour Patch Kids and Starburst are my Hudson News guilty pleasures before getting on the plane.”

Remember, this is only temporary.

Yes, being in the middle is no fun. But remember, you’re (hopefully) going somewhere fun, and this is just a temporary inconvenience. Christian Bumps, a former flight attendant with Lufthansa and now a physician, added that it’s a good idea to try to reframe the situation: “Instead of dreading the middle seat, see it as an opportunity to practice patience, adaptability or mindfulness,” Bumps said. “A simple 4-4-4-4 breathing exercise — inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4 — can work wonders.”