‘Embarrassing’ Kmart travel hack to sleep on a long flight

Travellers say they swear by this “awkward looking” pillow and Australians can get their hands on it at Kmart.

Heads up! This is the hottest traveller’s must-have for bedding down.

Getting cozy on an aeroplane — namely in the middle seat of a cramped three-person row — is virtually impossible.

But frequent flyers with a penchant for comfort have recently discovered a blow-up accoutrement that’s putting sleepyheads to rest, NY Post reports.

“When you got the middle seat for a 13-hour plane ride,” wrote adventurer Annie Wright, 23, in the captions of a trending TikTok testimonial dedicated to the kooky-looking, yet in-demand inflatable travel pillow.

In the viral video, which has breezed in a whopping 26.6 million views, Ms Wright, a law student in the US, shared footage of herself puffing into the plushy prop that’s offered by Amazon.

But Australians will be pleased to know the inflatable front travel pillow can be found at Kmart for $18.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d like it and omg SO worth it!” cheered Ms Wright in the clip’s caption. “Total upgrade.”

Annie Wright garnered over 26.6 million TikTok views on her post about the inflatable pillow. Picture: TikTok / @anniesright

She said that the cushion allowed her to peacefully rest on a flight to Asia. Picture: TikTok / @anniesright

And this isn’t your mama’s rinky-dink around-the-neck pad.

The expandable cushion, designed with an ergonomic 45-degree angle that offers support to the head and neck, features a 2-in-1 dual valve that allows the foldable nylon to inflate into a 19.7-inch-tall accessory in a mere five seconds, per Amazon.

Once inflated, users are meant to position the pillow — created with a face cutout at its apex and two arm holes on its sides — on their passenger tray tables and lean forward into a relaxed position.

“The hollow design in the middle of the inflatable neck pillow conforms to the curve of the human abdomen, allowing you to breathe more easily while you sleep,” read the site, adding that its unique shape, too, reduces cervical spine pressure and provides optimal support for your upper body.

“The cutouts on both sides allow you to comfortably hold the plane pillow and relax your arms,” continued the description. “You can also listen to music and watch videos while using a plane neck pillow.”

The hot commodity’s details also noted that it can “help you stay away from injury and insomnia, make you rest more comfortable during the journey, easier to fall asleep, and sleep longer.”

The “awkward looking” pillow is sold at Kmart in Australia for $18. Picture: Kmart

Kmart’s description for its pillow is much shorter: “Say goodbye to travelling in discomfort with this inflatable front pillow that allows your head and neck to lean forward naturally.”

In a review titled “I am prepared to be laughed at”, one Kmart shopper said it was “awkward looking” but “really comfortable” and perfect for long-haul flights.

Comfortably catching Z’s during a flight has become a top priority for rest-seeking jetsetters.

Folks under the #InflatableTravelPillow TikTok hashtag have hailed the headrest the “travel hack of the year.”

However, haters of the portable bedding have deemed it an “embarrassment.”

“My back just hurts watching this,” said a digital detractor beneath Ms Wright’s post.

“Yeah I have social anxiety I would be too embarrassed to use it,” penned another.

“I’m too claustrophobic for this,” said a separate naysayer.

But in response to the criticisms, Ms Wright wrote, “People keep saying this [pillow] is embarrassing, but what’s more embarrassing is being caught with your mouth open just knocked out.”

This article originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission