The Genius Neck Pillow Packing Trick That Saved £20
As Chelsea Dickenson handed her passport to the gate agent in April 2022, she held her breath like any nervous passenger. But this traveller carried a secret literally wrapped around her neck. Inside her ordinary-looking neck pillow nestled seven pairs of pants, five pairs of socks, one pair of leggings and two T-shirts - all carefully concealed to avoid Wizz Air's £20 extra luggage charge.
The Inspiration Behind the Unconventional Packing Strategy
Facing a five-day trip from Vienna to Paris with just one tiny 40 x 30 x 20cm bag and unpredictable weather, Dickenson needed a creative solution. Inspiration struck days before her flight when she encountered a viral video featuring an American woman stuffing an entire pillowcase with clothes as extra carry-on. "It looked genius, but also absurd," she recalled, noting that while large pillows might be commonplace on North American flights, they'd raise eyebrows on budget European hops.
The video planted a seed that grew into her own ingenious plan. While packing, she noticed the opening on her trusty neck pillow. Unzipping it revealed the perfect opportunity to recreate the viral hack on a smaller scale. "I could whip out the memory foam insides and replace them with clothes," she realised. "Or more specifically, my underwear."
The Execution: From Memory Foam to Mobile Wardrobe
For three intense minutes, Dickenson meticulously rolled seven pairs of pants, balled five pairs of socks, and tightly folded one pair of leggings and two T-shirts before cramming them into the black casing. "It was a bit of a squeeze, but to my shock, it eventually zipped up and actually looked, at least to me, pretty normal," she reported.
Three days later, she arrived at the airport feeling "slightly smug" about her secret stash. Security posed no problems - she remained calm placing the pillow in the tray, reasoning staff had seen far stranger things under X-ray than a pillow full of pants. The real challenge awaited at the gate, where she knew baggage hacks typically meet their demise.
A pre-boarding bathroom inspection revealed her pillow resembled "an over-filled sausage rather than a comfortable cushion" thanks to the jutting lumps of her unmentionables. Realising she'd never get away with carrying it normally, she slung it around her shoulders and used her hair to drape over the bulges.
The Tense Moment of Truth at the Gate
As she inched toward the gate, anxiety mounted. "What if the staff asked me to open it? Would I really have to unpack my underwear in front of an entire flight? Would I become some sort of cautionary tale on TikTok?!" she wondered. To avoid this fate, she prepared all her documents for rapid processing.
The strategy proved successful. "Aside from quickly surveying the bag on my back, the gate agent's eyes only hovered at my neck for a moment before she simply waved me through," Dickenson recounted. The triumph brought "giddy pride you only feel when you've got away with something a little bit silly."
The victory wasn't just about beating the system - it had tangible financial benefits. With extra carry-on bags costing £20 each way, the saved money funded treats including a cheap opera ticket in Vienna and numerous coffees and cakes.
Lessons Learned From the Undercover Luggage Experiment
After a trip filled with walking, stair climbs and a dramatic dash for her sleeper train, Dickenson reloaded the neck pillow with dirty laundry - though she draws the line at wearing soiled garments around her neck on the return journey. "Even I have my limits," she admits.
While she's tested other packing hacks over the years - including stuffing a large bra ("too hot and sweaty") and using a fishing vest ("surprisingly effective") - the neck pillow method has gained the most popularity among those recreating it. The hack's beauty lies in its accessibility, as most travellers already own the necessary equipment.
Since airlines generally don't count neck pillows as part of baggage allowances, it exploits an existing loophole discreetly. The method works best with soft items like clothing and isn't suitable for toiletries, but otherwise represents a solid strategy for budget-conscious travellers wanting to pack extra pants without paying premium fees.
