I tend to work a lot of red-eye flights, and it’s not uncommon to see passengers trying to get a little shut-eye while they are traveling.
Even though the seats are a little cramped, and the flights a little crowded, red-eyes are still a very popular way to travel. A lot of people choose to fly red-eyes so that they can get a little sleep on the plane, and arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Okay, maybe “refreshed” is a stretch, but it works for a lot of people.
One tool that a lot of travelers use to make sleep come a little easier is a sleep mask. I’ve written before about the “high tech” version of a sleep mask, and recently I saw this “ah cute” version: cuddly animal eye pillows.
These are more than just a simple eye mask; these pillows are filled with lavender and chamomile. They can then be heated or frozen, placed on the eyes, and used as relief for eye puffiness and strain, headaches, facial tension and sinus pressure, all maladies that can be a problem when flying. Available in five animal shapes: polar bear, brown bear, cat, dog, and a bunny, they retail for $17.95.
My recommendation would be to pop the pillow in the freezer, and then take it out just before heading off to the airport. The pillow will still be cold when you get on the plane, and you can then use it to help you sleep and relieve some of the tension of being at 40,000 feet. These would be really great for kids and teens. If they are just a little too cute for adults, you can consider a similar product in a plain (boring?) wrapper.
