6 Travel Items That Fix the Most Annoying Parts of Flying
Six compact travel upgrades that make entertainment, charging, sleep, and keeping track of your gear easier in the air
Quick Take
- The AirFly Pro 2 is the best upgrade for most frequent flyers.
- Each pick fixes one specific annoyance rather than adding gear for its own sake.
Flying is full of small annoyances: bad headphones, a dying phone, nowhere comfortable to rest your head, and too much loose gear. These are the compact fixes I would actually pack.
No Bluetooth: Twelve South AirFly Pro 2
The AirFly Pro 2 sends airplane-seat audio to your Bluetooth headphones. It has more than 25 hours of battery life and can connect two pairs of headphones. For most travelers, this is the version to buy.
Best for: Using your own wireless headphones with seatback entertainment.
A Dead Phone: Nitecore Carbo 20
The Nitecore Carbo 20 carries 20,000mAh while weighing just 320 grams. Its 65W USB-C output can handle phones, tablets, and many laptops, making it a strong single battery for a long travel day.
Best for: Travelers who want substantial capacity without a brick-sized battery.
Bad Sleep: Sea to Summit Aeros Traveller Pillow
The Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow packs to about 4 by 3 by 2 inches and weighs 3.3 ounces. It provides useful neck support without consuming half your personal item.
Best for: Anyone who refuses to carry a bulky memory-foam pillow.
A Missing Wallet: Nomad Tracking Card Pro
The Nomad Tracking Card Pro adds Apple Find My tracking to a wallet or passport holder. Its slim shape is easier to live with than an AirTag, and its rechargeable battery lasts up to 16 months.
Best for: Finding the travel document you swear you packed.
Motion Sickness: Apple Vehicle Motion Cues
Apple Vehicle Motion Cues uses animated dots at the edge of an iPhone screen to reflect movement. It costs nothing and is worth trying if looking at your phone in transit makes you feel sick.
Best for: Reading or watching on an iPhone while moving.
Nothing Good to Read: XTEINK X4
The XTEINK X4 is a 4.3-inch e-reader that weighs 2.72 ounces. It lacks a front light and touchscreen, but it fits where a full-size Kindle will not.
Best for: Keeping a distraction-free library in a jacket pocket.
The Bottom Line
Buy the AirFly Pro 2 first. Add the pillow or power bank based on your biggest in-flight frustration, then treat the remaining picks as targeted upgrades rather than a mandatory checklist.