Can You Bring a Pillow on a Plane?

Traveling by plane can sometimes be quite uncomfortable. Though airlines try their best to ensure that even the cheapest economy seats are comfortable, sometimes sitting in the same position for multiple hours on long flights can prove to be a massive strain on your body.

Luckily, there is plenty to keep you occupied on a modern flight, from in-flight entertainment, movies, games, music, and even WiFi, so you can check email and surf the web.

Many people also choose to sleep through most plane flights, which is especially understandable considering how tiring air travel can be. The only problem is, unless you are a first-class customer, finding a comfortable position to sleep in can be very difficult.

If only you could bring your at-home bedding on the flight with you! But, what if you could at least bring a pillow onto your flight? Is this allowed? Does it count as carry-on luggage? Do you have to pay extra? What are some easy ways to bring a pillow along with you for the ride?

All of these questions, and more, will be answered below, so read on!

Can You Bring A Pillow On A Plane?

Technically, yes, you can. Most airlines will be perfectly accepting of a passenger bringing a pillow onto the craft. This is because pillows do not count as hand luggage, and thus you do not need to pay to bring one on board. This is also why so many people choose to bring a pillow on board a plane with them.

However, you must act well within reason when bringing a pillow onto a commercial flight, as you do not want to take up too much space.

As well as this, certain airlines will not accept pillows being carried on board by passengers and may require that you place yours into the cargo hold along with the rest of your larger luggage.

Thus, you should make a point of checking the carry-on restrictions for whichever airline you will be traveling with.

What is the Maximum Size Pillow You Can Bring Onboard?

There is no definitive size limit that a pillow must adhere to in order to be carried on board a plane, and thus it is difficult to say with absolute certainty how big your pillow can be.

However, you should try to exercise basic reason when deciding on whether your pillow is too big to bring onto a plane. If, when holding the pillow, you feel that it would be too big to be carried safely onto a plane, then it is very safe to assume that it would be too big for a plane.

Aim to bring a pillow no bigger than the one you use in your bed. The smaller the better, as you may still have to stow the pillow during take-off and landing, as most airlines require that hand luggage be stowed during these times so that emergency evacuations are not impeded.

What Airlines Will Not Accept Pillows Onboard?

Though most airlines will gladly accept pillows to be carried on board by passengers without being stowed in hand luggage, there are some that may require that they be stored either within your hand luggage bag or within your suitcase.

There is no definitive list of airlines that will not allow pillows to be carried on board, though we can say with certainty that more affordable and budget airlines may require you to pay to bring a pillow on board with you.

This is because such airlines are usually seeking to maximize space to fit as many passengers as possible, to keep costs down.

Larger airlines may be more willing to accept a full-size pillow, as they have more space to accommodate customer needs.

If you are wanting to bring a larger pillow onto your flight, make sure to get in contact with the airline before you embark on your journey, to find out whether they have any specific restrictions on pillows and their sizes.

Is It Worth Bringing a Pillow On a Plane?

In terms of maximizing your comfort for the duration of a long flight, bringing a pillow on board with you can be very worthwhile. If you are seated next to a window, then you can prop your pillow up against the wall to enjoy a comfortable sleeping position.

However, you should be sure that you definitely require your pillow before you attempt to bring it on board. Not only does carrying a pillow onto a plane mean that you have more to carry, but some airlines may also charge you extra for the privilege of bringing a pillow on board with you.

If you require a pillow for the duration of the flight, then it will likely be worthwhile to pay a little bit extra for the ability to carry more luggage.

How Do You Travel With A Pillow?

Luckily, traveling with a pillow isn’t too difficult. Of course, the smaller your pillow is, the better and easier it will be to carry with you.

A smaller size pillow can fit easily into your hand luggage without taking up an excess of space and doesn’t have an excessive amount of weight. Smaller pillows are also more than adequate to give your head plenty of space to relax, so you may not ever need more.

If you are bringing a larger pillow onto the plane with you, then you may want to carry it externally from your luggage. This will help you to maximize your luggage capacity so that you can carry more of what you need.

Some airlines are accepting of larger pillows, and will not consider it to be hand luggage, so you may be able to bring them on board free of charge whereas some may require that you pay an extra fee for more hand luggage capacity.

In order to bring a larger pillow on board, you may benefit from weaving it underneath the straps of a backpack to sit between the backpack and your back.

This not only provides extra comfort throughout the journey but also ensures that the pillow does not cause any kind of significant strain as it will not prove to be too heavy.

You may even be able to find hooks or other attachments that you can attach to your bag and to your pillow so that you can attach the two together.

This way, when carrying your bag, you will also be carrying your pillow, without the pillow taking up masses of space within your bag.

What About a Neck Pillow?

Yes. For the most part, there should be no airlines that have a problem with carrying neck pillows onboard.

This is because most neck pillows are made to be hung from a bag thanks to an attached clip, so that, technically, your neck pillow can be considered a ‘keyring’, or an extra part of your existing hand luggage.

As well as this, neck pillows are perfectly shaped so that they hug your neck so that they can be worn comfortably for longer periods.

This means that you can also wear them on your person as you board the plane, and throughout the flight. The majority of airlines would have no problem with you carrying a neck pillow on board a flight.

Both of these are reasons why neck pillows prove to be so immensely popular amongst frequent flyers, as they offer a compact shape that is easy to carry on board, but are also still incredibly comfortable and can be worn through the duration of the flight, even during takeoff and landing.

Is It Hygienic To Bring A Pillow On An Airplane?

Another concern that is frequently brought up surrounding the topic of pillows on aircraft is whether or not it is hygienic to bring a pillow onto a craft that is shared with multiple other people.

Of course, pillows most definitely can harbor germs, especially when they are frequently used or well-loved by the owner.

However, the likelihood of those germs carrying over to other passengers is extremely low, unless they were to also use it.

Provided you keep your pillow entirely to yourself, it is not entirely unhygienic to bring a pillow onto a plane.

Because of this, you may find that it is worthwhile to bring a newer pillow onto a plane so that there are fewer germs to be found, and so that you are less likely to receive judgmental comments from other passengers.

Just make sure to exercise reason. If your pillow does look significantly used, and perhaps even rather disgusting, it would be worth bringing a fresh and new pillow with you.

Can Carry On Restrictions Change Depending On Country Or Region?

You may find that carry-on restrictions do differ depending on which region you are flying to or from.

Certain countries may not allow you to carry a pillow on board with you as you board, while some may allow it.

It is worth doing a thorough internet search to find out whether or not you can carry certain items onboard or in your hand luggage before you embark on your journey, to save you any drama that could occur before boarding!

Are Travel Pillows Worth It?

Pillows that are designed exclusively for use in travel contexts are definitely worth your attention.

They help to make it much easier to bring your comfort around with you, while also helping you to save money and space.

Many travel-sized pillows are designed to be compact, and can even be reduced in size between uses so that you can store them in hand luggage.

These include inflatable travel pillows which you can inflate just by blowing into a small plastic pipe on the side.

As well as this, you can also purchase travel pillows that are designed to fold away into a compact shape, while still retaining an incredibly bouncy softness.

They’re almost like magic!

Travel pillows will also save you a great deal of money, as their small size ensures that they can be considered as part of your hand luggage.

If your pillow were to exceed a certain size, then many airlines would require that you pay an extra fee to be able to bring it onboard as extra hand luggage.

There are also many travel pillows on the market that are extremely affordable and will not cost you a great deal, so you can also save money by buying an affordable travel pillow that will last you through many future journeys.

Can You Take The Complimentary Pillow Away From A Plane?

Unfortunately, you cannot take away the pillow from an airline after a flight has finished. This is because it still very much belongs to the airline.

The pillow that is offered to you when you board is there for your added comfort but is not free for you to take home.

However, many people do end up taking them home, and most airlines will not kick up a fuss about it.

This is likely because the pillows cost them very little to manufacture and clean, and thus they do not lose much money when they are taken from the premises.

You should still aim not to take a pillow away from an airline, but, if you do find yourself accidentally, or intentionally, taking a pillow from an airline, do not worry, the airline will not be sending their legal team after you!

Can You Bring A Blanket Onto A Plane?

Yes. If you want to take your comfort even higher, you may also want to bring your own blanket onto the plane, and this is well within your rights.

Is It Worth Bringing Your Own Blanket Onto A Plane?

It can prove to be very worthwhile to bring your own blanket onto an airline, especially if it is of a reasonable size.

This is because you can easily wrap it around your person before you board so that there is no excess weight tiring you out, and so that you do not have to pay for extra hand luggage space.

As well as this, bringing your own blanket on board a plane is great for ensuring your continued comfort throughout the flight.

You can use it to keep yourself warm, and having access to your own blanket on a flight is comforting in its own way.

As well as this, you can also wrap the blanket up to allow it to act as a pillow, which gives a blanket an extra layer of versatility that puts it above even the best pillows.

However, it is worth keeping in mind that most airlines will offer free complimentary blankets upon boarding the flight, and thus you may not actually have a need for your own blanket on most commercial flights.

However, those same blankets are often decidedly cheap and thus may not provide as much comfort or warmth as a blanket of your own.

How Big Of A Blanket Can You Bring Onto A Plane?

Though most airlines are fully accepting of blankets being brought on board by passengers, you should still make sure that the blanket is not excessively oversized.

This is because, even when folded, many larger blankets can take up considerable space, and thus you may find that certain airlines will charge you to carry a larger blanket on board as extra hand luggage.

You also have to be sure that your blanket can be easily stowed, if you do not wear it while boarding.

This is because larger items blocking up the aisles can pose a safety risk in the event of an emergency evacuation.

This is why smaller items and hand luggage need to be easily stowed. In order to avoid having to stow your blanket during takeoff and landing, you can also instead wear the blanket over your shoulders, but you must ensure that, when worn, the blanket does not prove to be too bulky.

This is so that the blanket does not prove to be too tiring for you, thanks to the excess weight, but also ensures that you do not receive strange looks from the airline staff when they see you en-robed in a bulky blanket!

Can You Bring a Blanket and Pillow On a Plane?

Provided that the two, together, do not prove to be too heavy, then it should be very reasonable for you to bring both onto a plane with you.

However, you will have to make certain accommodations to ensure that carrying both items does not end up with you having to pay for extra luggage space.

If you want to bring both a blanket and a pillow onto a plane, then you should ensure that the pillow and the blanket are equally small.

This not only saves you the excess weight of carrying them but also ensures that both can be stowed during take-off and landing.

To Conclude

So, there we have it. You are well within your rights to bring your own pillow onto any airline, but you should also be aware that certain airlines have their own unique restrictions over what counts as hand luggage, and what doesn’t.

Thus, it is important to check the restrictions of the airline that you are traveling with before you set off, so as to avoid any awkward moments at the airport.

You should also ensure that you exercise reason when it comes to bringing a pillow on a plane, as an excessively large pillow would prove unreasonable and may be counted as extra hand luggage, which you would have to pay extra for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a stuffed animal on a plane?

If you are traveling with a child that has a precious stuffed animal, then, provided it is not too excessively big, it is perfectly fine for your child to take it on board with them.

However, some airlines may require that the stuffed animal be stowed for the duration of takeoff and landing. Make sure to check this with the airline before your flight.

How do you pack a pillow in a suitcase?

If you want to bring a pillow with you on a journey, a great solution is to place it in your suitcase for extra security.

However, a pillow can take up quite a bit of space, so one of your best bets is to roll it up. Tightly roll up your pillow before placing it into your suitcase, as it will condense it down.

You may also want to vacuum pack your pillow to condense it down to an extreme degree however, accessing the materials for this can be hard.