Contour Travel Pillow: Are Airline Pillows Sanitary? : 111 Travel Directory

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Contour Travel Pillow: Are Airline Pillows Sanitary?

Have you ever wondered about the airline pillow you're using while in flight? Who slept on it last? How many people have slept on it since the pillowcase was changed?... or the pillow sanitized? Did they have a cold, the flu... or something worse?

By Charles 'Chuck' Harmon

Have you ever wondered about the airline pillow you're snuggling up to while in flight? Who slept on it last? How many people have slept on it since the pillowcase was changed?... or the pillow sanitized? Did they have a cold, the flu... or something worse?

Many articles and blog entries have been written about the unsanitary pillow someone experienced while traveling - contracting things from head lice to the flu - and worse. A contour travel pillow could be in your future, especially since some of the airlines no longer furnish in-flight pillows. It's not my purpose to bash the airlines or to scare you, but I've heard it directly from a few airline stewards and stewardesses that they don't change the pillows or pillowcases unless it's requested by a passenger.

I don't know how that makes you feel, but it grosses me out. Not to mention that it obviously increases your chance of arriving on your vacation or business trip with a new case of the flu... or who knows what. Since hearing that, I carry a contour travel pillow with me and it's been great.

Carrying your own contour travel pillow has many advantages over using a community pillow that's been around the world a few times without any attention from a cleaning crew. The advantages:

You won't have to wait for one to be brought to you.

Some airlines no longer carry pillows on board.

You have it with you before and after the flight for use in cabs, buses, hotels, etc.

You control the frequency of changing pillowcases or cleaning the pillow.

You know who slept on it last... you!

There are several types of travel pillows available from blow-up pillows to buckwheat pillows to memory foam pillows. My favorite pillow for travel is a contour travel pillow made from memory foam.

It has many advantages over the airline pillow besides the issues with cleanliness:

There is a soft, velour micro-suede cover to keep your pillow clean.

It's attached with Velcro so that you can roll the pillow into a very small size for easy tucking into a carry-on or fastening around your luggage tote handle.

The removable cover can easily be washed, dried, and fresh for the next day.

The cover is anti-microbial and anti-fungal.

The contour shape of the pillow keeps your neck properly supported to eliminate neck aches.

I can roll it up for a change of feel.

It makes a great lumbar support while in flight.

It's great for backpacking, camping, cruise ships, or any other time you need a pillow.

The memory foam always comes back to its shape no matter how it's crushed, folded, or rolled.

A good quality contour pillow will range from $79 to $99, but I feel it's one of the best investments I've made in my travel enjoyment. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com)

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Article added 07/12/07.