For years, flight attendants had an offer for weary passengers:
"Would you like a pillow?" they'd ask.
They're not asking anymore -- at least not on most American Airlines flights. In a cost-cutting move that will save the company nearly $700,000, the country's No. 1 airline has plucked the pillows from most of its domestic flights.
Which raises a question for frequent fliers with frequent discomfort: If more airlines follow American's lead, how are you supposed to get any rest in those cramped little seats?
Bring your own pillow. No, not the big, fluffy kind you use on your bed. Get one of the many kinds of travel pillows. Two popular ones are the SIBR ($34.95) and the Lucky U ($29.95). SIBR stands for Self-Inflating Backrest Pillow. It's easy to carry on. Once in the air, just open the valve and the foam pillow automatically inflates. It comes in a variety of colors.
The Lucky U pillow is just what is seems, a U-shaped, Frisbee-sized pillow designed to relieve stress in your head and neck. It's popular with people who need that support to feel comfortable.
Try noise-canceling headphones. Bose makes one of the most popular versions. Its QuietComfort headphones ($249 and $299) use a technology that analyzes background noise, such as the annoying drone of engines, and electronically eliminates, or "cancels" it. Other brands cost less; quality varies.
Consider bringing a Nerf football. Believe it or not, that's what Mark Peterson of Lee's Summit, Mo., does. The 51-year-old businessman wouldn't be without his "purple pal" when he flies. He keeps it in a carry-on bag and uses it as a pillow. At different times it supports his head, shoulders, thighs and lower back.
"People sometimes laugh," he said. "But when they try it, it's like, 'Huh. That's not too bad.' Besides, I can squeeze it when I get bored. It also helps me prop up my reading material."
Who knew?
