How to Micro-Nest in Economy

Travel Tips To have a comfortable flight, many economy travelers rely on their own ingenuity and, increasingly, specialized products. When Martha Rose Ormerod, an engineering student from Wales, travels by air, she has a ritual. As soon as she is seated in her tiny economy-class seat, she sets out to personalize the space. Ms.

Ormerod, 29, arranges a blanket and pillow, and the other essentials — “water bottle, book, lip balm and moisturizer” — are stored close at hand. It gets more complicated when she travels with her boyfriend, who is much taller and sometimes asks to store some of his things in her space. Bernadette Berger, a designer of airplane interiors for Teague, a Seattle-based design company, calls this “micro-nesting. ” It happens a lot on airplanes.

Travelers in the premium cabin have more space and more flight attendants. But for economy travelers to have a comfortable flight, many rely on their own ingenuity and, increasingly, specialized products. “There’s a whole industry trying to support the passenger with products that are not being provided by the airline,” Ms. Berger said.

Fionnuala Browning, 51, a librarian in Greenwich, Conn. , travels each year to Australia. On such long flights, she uses several products to help doze off. “When I settle in to sleep, I do it all,” she said.

“My feet are in the hammock. I have compression socks on. I have the blanket and my own wrap. ” A neck pillow, ear plugs and a contoured eye mask round out the preparations.

“It’s a 10-minute setup, but then I’m ready. ” Each passenger group micro-nests in different ways, Ms. Berger said. That person wiping the tray table?

First-time parent, Ms. Berger said. Business travelers are sending their last emails before takeoff.