Aeroplane footrest: hanging, inflatable or foam, from £14.90 to £65.90
An aeroplane footrest raises your feet a few centimetres when the seat is too high for your height or there's no room in front of you, so your legs can rest on long journeys. This Bagiora selection brings together the two formats that slip into hand luggage, the hanging foot hammock and the inflatable cushion, plus a faux leather footrest and a children's travel bed. The materials and uses mentioned are those on the listings.
The hanging footrest, or foot hammock
It hooks onto the tray table in front by an adjustable strap, and your feet rest in the fabric loop. Folded, it takes very little room. The foam hanging model (£14.90) is the cheapest on the page; the adjustable hanging footrest (£23.90) comes in black, red or blue. For two travellers, the set of 2 hanging footrests (£24.90) also equips your neighbour.
The inflatable footrest
An inflatable aeroplane footrest sits on the floor in front of the seat: it inflates to the height you want and packs away empty in your bag: an inflatable footrest can be deflated in a few seconds at landing. The inflatable footrest cushion (£22.90) is light and compact according to its listing. The 3-level inflatable model adjusts in height and folds; it comes in four colours and can also be used on the train.
The other formats
- Faux leather footrest: the Bear model, light, foldable and adjustable, for plane or train.
- Oxford fabric footrest: the Confort Plus, designed for the plane as well as the office.
- Children's travel bed: the travel bed for aeroplane seats (£29.90) turns the seat into a resting space where the child can stretch their legs, in six colours.
How do you choose a good footrest?
For air travel, any travel footrest is judged on three points: the room it takes in your luggage, how the height is adjusted and how well it stays in place during the flight.
- To travel light: a hanging aeroplane footrest, the most compact once folded.
- To adjust the height to the centimetre: an inflatable footrest, inflated more or less.
- For children: the travel bed, until they are big enough to put their feet on the floor.
- For office use too: the Oxford Confort Plus.
Remember the rules on board: some airlines restrict accessories placed on the floor or hung from the seat, especially near emergency exits. Find out before your flight.
Frequently asked questions about aeroplane footrests
What is the point of a footrest?
It brings the floor closer to your feet when they don't reach it well, which changes the position of your knees, legs and back on a long journey. Using it is simple: you hang it or inflate it once seated. The listings for our models state that they relieve the legs on planes or trains.
Why do our feet swell on planes?
Sitting for a long time without moving slows the return of blood to the upper body, and the ankles swell. Getting up from time to time, moving your feet and drinking water help. A footrest lets you change position; for any health question, ask a doctor before you leave.
What is the best footrest?
The one that suits how you travel: a hanging aeroplane footrest if you want something tiny in your bag, an inflatable one if you want to adjust the height, the travel bed for a child.
What is the best seat on a plane?
For sleeping, the window lets you lean; for moving your legs, the aisle. The rows near the emergency exits offer room, but objects on the floor are often forbidden there.
To complete your flight luggage
For your neck, add a travel pillow; for quiet, a noise-cancelling headphones for flying; for your phone, a power banks for flying. As for luggage, see the cabin bag, TSA locks and travel toiletry bag for flying, as well as our pages wash bag, vanity case and travel make-up bag.
