Essentials for comfort, sleep and entertainment worth packing so your long-haul flight flies by

• Travel essentials: eight items to pack for your next trip – and what to leave at home

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Airline seats feel more cramped as the years go by. Nosy seat neighbors seem interested in your life story just as you’re about to drift off. For long-haul flights, it takes real preparation to arrive at your destination rested and unscathed.

Whether or not you can spring for a business class upgrade, we’ve tracked down nine air travel upgrades to help your flight feel restorative and even spa-like, transporting you to that nebulous “better place.” Here are essentials for comfort, sleep and entertainment worth packing so your long-haul flight flies by.