Vogue: This Cushion Could Make Your Coach Seat Feel Like First Class

Last year’s reopening of the venerable Ritz Paris was highly publicized, but one of their plush new—complimentary!—amenities has managed to fly under the radar. Upon request, the hotel will outfit a guest’s bed with a special mattress topper beloved by the likes of Olympic athletes and bunheads at the Paris Opera Ballet School and Royal Ballet, and manufactured by a little-known Japanese brand called Airweave. 

"It is quite possibly the world's sleekest airplane seat cushion and is now available stateside."

Following their respective visits, pros and jet-setters alike who stayed at the hotel “came to us requesting products for use while traveling [for the many nights spent away from home] to promote a consistent sleep regimen that would give them the comfort and wellness benefits they needed to perform their best. In turn, we answered with a travel line,” explains Airweave marketing director Vanessa Rojas. Deemed the Ritz Paris par Airweave Traveler, it is quite possibly the world’s sleekest airplane seat cushion and is now available stateside.

An extra layer of padding on your first-class flat bed is certainly a bonus, but where this portable, TSA-friendly cushion works most ingeniously is on long-haul, overseas flights in coach. Once unrolled from its handy carry-on case, it perfectly covers the full length of the chair—plus some spare room in the width—and the lower back portion is appropriately reinforced to offset the gap in the corner of the seat so passengers are shielded from unevenness and potentially worn-down filling. Because the material is fairly unknown in the United States, memory foam comparison inquiries are frequently posed, but the two are quite different. The material is actually an unconventional resin fiber that allows for primo body temperature breathability and support, and happens to be lighter (the Traveler weighs a mere 5.5 pounds) than traditional memory foam. Additionally, the product is double-sided, with both a soft and firm option, so you can adjust per your bum’s mood.