Some flyers might soon be able to ditch their dorky neck pillows once and for all.
This week Dubai-based carrier Emirates announced it will retrofit most of its planes with “U-Dream” headrests, which feature adjustable side wings that can be folded down laterally and curved up horizontally for use as a cushioned pillow.
That’s a significant improvement from the foldable headrests that have become standard on other aircraft. Those may offer some horse-blinder-style privacy from your immediate neighbors, but not much actual neck support.
As seen in a promotional video released by Emirates, the U-Dream can be adjusted in several different directions to accommodate passengers of different heights.
And the headrests will be part of the economy cabin, where comfort-enhancing innovations are not often a high priority in commercial air travel.
“The U-Dream changes the game if the person wants to sleep—by supporting the neck in full,” said Emirates president Tim Clark in a statement. “No more neck pillows needed. It’s another innovation that shows our commitment to customers and cements our Economy Class as the best.”
The headrests will come preinstalled on all 270 Boeing 777X aircraft that Emirates has ordered and, from 2027 onward, on the airline’s Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 planes as well.
We’re glad to see the headrests are made of non-absorbent leather instead of fabric. The airline insists they’ll be cleaned between each use, but you’ll probably want to give your seat a once-over with an antibacterial wipe just in case.
We also love that this feature is a standardized offering instead of a paid add-on. Airlines have gotten pretty stingy lately about implementing upgrades without charging extra (see: the new basic business class on United and Delta flights), so it’s nice to see an across-the-board experience improvement that isn’t sold separately.
You know what else would be nice in an airplane seat? Some lumbar support.
Airlines seem to be in a competition to create the skinniest seats imaginable, combining chunky headrests with curved, paper-thin seat backs.
They look sleek, weigh less, and save on space, but create a weird middle-back gap that’s only made worse by cushioned headrests.
The next innovation in plane seating that we’re holding out hope for is some cushioning for the lumbar that doesn’t require jamming a hoodie behind us.
