I’ll never be able to afford business class but here are the little luxuries to elevate your cattle class journey

Sunday, 15 March 2026

Josh Martin is a UK-based Kiwi journalist who writes across business and travel topics.

OPINION: I’m currently attempting to book a convoluted, inevitably expensive sequence of airfares that get me from Manchester in the gloomy north of England to the sunny expanses of Western Australia for my brother’s wedding in October.

With stopovers each way. Avoiding the Middle East (can’t have our itinerary upended by a trigger-happy president).

No problem, then? Yes, I’m searching airfares using VPNs, clearing cookies and keeping an open mind about travel dates and staying agnostic when it comes to airlines and their wily loyalty programmes.

But despite what you might hear from click-baity headlines or travel influencer schemes to bribe cabin crew with gifts or charm, one thing is for certain: my party of three will be crammed in near the back of cattle class just trying to make it to the other end.

And, realistically, so will you.

That’s how the overwhelming majority of us fly – in economy class – even if most of the “aspirational” travel content we consume shows fully flat seats, champagne and caviar, duvets, PJs and closed-off suites. I’m here in 58K. You're over there in 43F.

So how do we make it through in one piece? There are a few essentials that can elevate your economy class experience, and while there won’t be a limo waiting for you at the other side, investing in them might help you get to the arrivals hall without feeling like you’ve been hit by a train.

Noise-cancelling headphones

I struggle to think of a better improvement to the travel experience than when these entered the mass market. You can grab a pair for less than $100 now and enjoy years of white noise, podcasts, music collections or binge TV sets at 36,000ft. No longer does that screaming baby across the aisle hold all the cards. Grab a bluetooth adapter to link into the airline’s in-flight entertainment and you’ll be aurally-on-par with those in premium economy or business class.

Luxury eye masks

In any other situation I’d likely be mocked for spending any small amount of money on such pampering. I probably will be in this instance too, but to hell with it. I’m on a mission to switch my circadian rhythm to a new timezone and I won’t be knocked off-course by some glare of action movie explosions or the saturated colour scheme of kids TV two rows up. And if I’m dependent on the whim and militant justifications of the cabin crew to seemingly dim and brighten the entire cabin at their will, then my body clock would be smashed to pieces by the time we land. Instead, embrace the pampered world of luxury eye masks – silk, zero gravity, memory foam – there’s something for everybody.

An elite-tier neck pillow

Why not go all-in with the trifecta of headphones, eye mask and neck pillow. The latter is now pretty much essential, because it’s no longer a given that airlines will have their own in-built moveable neck supports built into the headrest. In fact, airlines like budget brands Ryanair, Air Asia and Frontier don’t have headrests at all. There is a lot of hype around the Trtl neckpillows, but other options also named after animals, like the Snake wraparound neck pillow, are also available. As long as you didn’t pay $40 for an inflatable one from a departure lounge shop, you’re winning.

DIY amenity kit

At this point, I’m now wrapped up like a mummy, with 90% of my face covered to block out the sights, sounds and smells of fellow travellers in order to sleep. So the very on-trend luxury face masks and under-eye patches that resemble botched skin grafts are not necessary (not sure I’m their target market, anyhow). However, a DIY “amenity kit” that could rival anything up the pointy end is still worth packing in your carry on to be stored in your seat pocket. It should include: compression socks, lip balm, travel toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, mini perfumes, face wipes, your own snacks, and any essential medication (essential is subjective: for some it’s heart pills, for others melatonin or sleeping tablets).

That crucial announcement

“Boarding complete” are the two magic words you’re looking for. Then have a scan around you for easily-accessible spare seats, or even an empty row in the middle block down the back. You can either move quickly now, or after take off when the seatbelt signs come off. The pay-off is at least double the space and possibly even enough to create your own budget Skycouch.

And before you start ranting in the comments about weight distribution and safety, I should say: if the difference between safety and destruction on take off or landing is one 90kg person on a 200,000kg flight moving 3m from where I was first sat, then this airline should not be operating.