Business boost for Plane Pal as kids sleep devices for planes approved

After six months campaigning to have the ban on her kids travel product the Plane Pal overturned, Samantha Cardone is celebrating a "huge win".

Last week Virgin Australia approved the use of Cardone's inflatable cushion which fits between airline seats enabling young children to stretch out and sleep on planes.

Virgin also approved the use of competing sleep devices the Fly Tot and JetKids Bedbox.

​'There must be a better way'

Launching her fledgling business and then having her sole product banned has been a "steep learning curve" for Cardone who started Plane Pal in December last year after a few traumatic flights.

"The reality of travelling with three children didn't meet the fantasy, it was a nightmare to be honest," she says. "I found myself sitting on planes and thought 'there must be a better way to do this'."

Frazzled parents agreed and Plane Pal reached $500,000 turnover in its first six months of operation but in July Qantas banned the use of Plane Pal and other kids sleep devices with Virgin following suit by stopping parents from using them on its flights. Read more