LPT: If you’re taking a flight and forget your headphones at home, don’t spend $20 to $40 on a pair of earbuds at an overpriced airport shop. Most airlines will give you a free pair of earbuds if you just ask the flight attendant.

I bought a $25 pair of average Sony earbuds at a Hudson News because I would have gone a bit stir crazy on my 6-hour flight without them. The monetary sting wasn’t so bad until I realized I had misplaced them between connecting flights. I didn’t realize until I was on the plane and a flight attendant was observant enough to hear me curse myself for being so absent minded. She let me know most airlines will give you a free pair of earbuds for the flight if you ask. The quality of the earbuds are generally subpar, but it was so clutch I didn’t care. It really helped me enjoy my second flight which was 4 hours long.

Bonus LPT: If you get disappointed like me when the attendant only pours a tiny bit your beverage choice in a shallow cup packed full of ice, simply ask for the full can instead. You will receive a cup of ice and an unopened can :)