It might finally be time to ditch your lumpy old neck pillow, as Emirates unveils its ‘game-changing’ new aeroplane seats.
The airline has become the first to introduce an adjustable ‘advanced headrest’ that should make poor sleep at 30,000 feet a thing of the past.
The U-Dream headrest features flexible ‘side wings’ that can fold out to support both your head and neck.
These leather-coated padded cushions can move vertically and tilt depending on the passenger’s height and body shape.
That means its wings will be able to ‘cradle’ your head or fold neatly out of the way so you can use it like a normal headrest.
The airline says this will provide ‘full’ support for passengers so that you can sleep or relax without your head flopping forwards or sideways.
The great news is that they will soon be available for all passengers flying economy.
And Emirates president Sir Tim Clark even believes this innovation will be the end of the neck pillow.
Emirates has unveiled its new ‘advanced headrest’, featuring adjustable wings that support your head and neck
Sir Clark says: ‘Emirates never rests on its laurels when it comes to customer experience and we have found a way to significantly improve the comfort for Economy Class passengers, especially those travelling long-haul.
‘The U-Dream changes the game if the person wants to sleep – by supporting the neck in full. No neck pillows needed.
‘It’s another innovation that shows our commitment to customers and cements our Economy Class as the best.’
Emirates says that the U-Dream headrest has been designed so that it is easy for customers to adjust themselves, but cabin crew are also being trained to provide assistance where needed.
Likewise, to ensure the rest stays hygienic, the leather is fully wipeable and will be cleaned after every flight.
Installation of the new cushions is already underway for economy class seats across the Emirates fleet.
Three of the airline’s Airbus A350 aircraft, each with 259 economy seats, have already been fitted with the headrests.
Emirates says that all A350s will have new seats by the end of the year, followed by most A380s and Boeing 777s starting from 2027.
The U-Dream headrest is designed to ‘cradle’ passengers’ heads so that they can sleep without slumping to the side
Additionally, the U-Dream headrest will also come pre-installed on all 270 Boeing 777Xs that Emirates has ordered.
While it won’t make flying as comfortable as Emirates’ luxurious, and rather pricey, business class, it could offer some much-needed relief for long-haul flights.
On social media, frequent flyers have welcomed the innovation, with one hailing the design as ‘brilliant’.
On X, one enthusiastic commenter wrote: ‘I used it flying back from Edinburgh. It helped me to get a good sleep!’
One shared: ‘My travel in Economy Class with Emirates rivals the service in Business Class with many other airlines.’
‘A sore neck after flying will be a thing of the past,’ chimed in another.
While one commenter joked: ‘RIP to entire neck pillow industry, and at least a couple of shops in every airport.’
In the past, airlines have tended to spend more time and effort improving the quality of expensive business class seats.
Emirates president Sir Tim Clark believes this innovation will be the end of the neck pillow, ensuring comfortable flights for all economy class passengers
However, Emirates and several other providers are now investing in big upgrades for their cheaper offerings.
For example, Air New Zealand recently announced that its economy passengers would be able to pay extra to briefly book a flat bed.
The ‘Skynest’ allows customers to buy a four-hour slot in one of six bunk-style sleeping pods that have been installed in the aisle.
These pods include a few small luxuries such as a privacy curtain and fresh bedding for weary passengers.
Meanwhile, the Australian Airline Qantas has removed several seats from its ‘ultra-long haul’ aircraft to create a ‘well-being zone’ for passengers to walk or stretch.
