A retired pilot recently shared why he packs a feather pillow in his luggage when he travels – despite the abundance of space-saving travel pillows on the market.
Martin Drake, a former British Airways Boeing 747 captain, said it’s all about making your travelling experience that much more enjoyable.
That’s why he packs a ‘large feather pillow in a cotton pillow case’.
‘They can squash down to almost nothing in your luggage and they make travelling much more comfortable,’ Drake told Sky News.
This also comes with the bonus of giving you an extra pillow for your hotel room bed.
Avanti Travel Insurance’s travel expert Sarah Rodrigues told Metro that feather pillows actually ‘compress down far more easily than synthetic ones.’
She said: ‘You can squeeze all the air out, tuck them into your bag, and they’ll spring right back to shape with a quick fluff.
‘They’re lightweight, take up minimal space, and offer a comforting touch of home wherever you are.’
A retired pilot recently shared why he packs a feather pillow in his luggage when he travels
Sarah added that they’re also incredibly versatile, being perfect for either ‘lumbar or neck support on the plane,’ as well as a ‘comfy headrest by the pool, or even padding for fragile souvenirs on the way home’.
‘Plus, having your own pillow means you know exactly what you’re sleeping on, which can be cleaner and kinder for anyone sensitive to hotel detergents or synthetic fillings,’ she added.
The tip has been echoed by Reddit users, with one user on the r/TravelHacks Subreddit writing: ‘Pillows squash down when given pressure; a typical pillow should fit into a suitcase easily enough, if you give downward pressure as you close the zipper/locks.’
They added that their personal pillow has been ‘all around the world’ with them – including to Japan, Cuba, Germany and Canada.
Meanwhile, others who said they had difficulty with hotel pillows said they’ve managed to bring their own with them in the past by vacuum packing them down.
In another Reddit post, a user shared their DIY invention for avoiding this pain while flying, saving money on buying a travel cushion.
The Reddit user CassMistral wrote on the channel r/TravelHacks: ‘Do you hate how airplane headrests force your head forward?
‘A lot of people are like me and don’t sit the way airplane designers think we should, and it creates a lot of stress on our necks.
In another Reddit post, a user shared their DIY invention for avoiding this pain while flying, saving money on buying a travel cushion (stock)
‘I figured out an easy way to get around this with one inch upholstery foam and an old pillowcase.’
The user then describes how to create a makeshift cushion.
They wrote: ‘Measure the length and width of your back while sitting down and cut the first piece of foam this size.
‘Measure your lumbar region and cut a second piece of foam this size. Put both pieces in an old pillowcase, roll it up, and put it in your carry-on until you get ready to board.
‘This whole setup keeps me from arriving at my destination with a huge crick in my neck.’
