I thought the viral blow-up travel pillows were ingenious. Then, I traveled with one on a 15-hour economy flight.

• I purchased a blow-up travel pillow for two long-haul flights between the US and East Africa.
• I had seen the pillow across TikTok and thought its design was smart.
• But the pillow was too large for tiny economy seats, and inflating and deflating it was a hassle.

I knew I would look ridiculous, but I was willing to sacrifice dignity for sleep on a long-haul flight.

So, on a 13-hour Ethiopian Airlines flight from Washington, DC, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I settled in my window seat and shamefully started blowing up my inflatable travel pillow.

Three weeks later, I was boarding an even longer Qatar Airways flight between Doha, Qatar, and Dallas.

Once again, the embarrassment of blowing up the giant contraption set in. I did catch some Zs, but I knew by the end of the flight I’d never fly with the travel pillow again.

I’d eyed the travel pillow for years

I’ve spent the past few years watching TikTok videos, chatting with frequent flyers, and reading travel pillow roundups — and one product always stood out.

The $21 Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Pillow, shaped like a cube, allows sleepers to lean forward. A hole on top creates a nook for the face, and two holes on the sides welcome the arms.

I’m someone who hasn’t had much luck with traditional neck pillows. I’ve never found one that sits high enough to support my head. Instead, I’m stuck bending my neck in uncomfortable positions or ditching the pillow altogether.

I hoped the blow-up pillow’s position might make it easier to sleep. Plus, I loved its packability. I’m far from a germaphobe, but most travel pillows give me the ick.

Each time I go to the airport, I cringe as people throw their neck pillows onto security belts, set them down on airport floors (or worse, airport bathrooms), and prop them against unfamiliar walls.

In just a few minutes, that same pillow will be pressed against a face.

That thought is horrifying, so I know I need something that can be compressed and stored in a bag. That was the case with the inflatable pillow.

I did sleep with the pillow but ultimately found it too bulky

Before leaving, I blew the pillow up to ensure there weren’t any holes and to air out its plastic smell.

It looked great when inflated in my bedroom. I tested it leaning forward and wondered if I could squish it into other shapes once I was on the plane.

I did think that the compressed pillow was slightly larger than I imagined — about the size of a Nalgene water bottle and made of heavy plastic — but it was still easier to pack and carry than a traditional travel pillow.

A few days later, I boarded my 13-hour flight and quickly realized I had forgotten just how tiny economy seats were. My knees pressed against the seat in front of me, and I stored a few belongings on the plane floor.

Then, I braved the embarrassment and blew up my travel pillow. In my small economy seat, the pillow felt enormous.

With other travel pillows, I’ve been able to leave them wrapped around my neck or squished near my legs for easy storage. But that wasn’t the case with this one.

The inflated pillow couldn’t fit underneath my seat or near my feet, so there was no place to store it if I wanted to read or eat during the flight. Instead, I’d need to inflate and deflate the pillow each time.

However, I was lucky. I had an empty middle seat for the flight, so I could store the pillow next to me when needed.

As for the actual sleeping part, I did think the pillow was comfortable. I passed out, and thanks to the extra space in my row, I could also squeeze it against the plane wall and rest my head to the side.

Fast-forward three weeks, and I was embarking home — this time, on an even longer 15-hour flight. I wanted to be excited to use the pillow, but instead, I dreaded pulling out the monstrous contraption.

If someone were in the middle seat, I’d feel even more claustrophobic with the large inflatable on my lap. Plus, I didn’t see a situation where my seatmate wouldn’t be bumped or bothered by the pillow at least once during the flight as I maneuver around.

Thankfully, I was once again lucky with another open middle seat.

But I know my long-haul flight luck is bound to run out someday. So, before that happens, I hope to find a smaller pillow that won’t risk bothering seatmates or creating embarrassment.