Essential Carry-On Items

We all know how uncomfortable flying can be, especially on a long flight. Well, unless you are one of the lucky few sitting in first/business class which I think everyone should try once in their life. On an international flight with flatbeds. It will spoil you forever though. ANYWAY, here's what I like to pack in my carry-on to make flying a little bit more tolerable and to increase my chances of arriving feeling refreshed instead of like death. I encourage you to try any/all of these to enhance your travel experience.

Kiehl's In-flight Refreshing Facial Mist - This stuff is a god-send and perfect for when you're feeling moisture-deprived. The essential oils smell lovely and help soothe the skin in a seriously dehydrating cabin. Comes in a travel size bottle too, which is TSA-compliant, perfect.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - Another saving grace to combat the dryness in the cabin, this amazing hand cream has a very gentle scent so you don't annoy your neighbors, is extremely moisturizing and doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy. It's also my go-to for the winter.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes To-Go - I'm a bit of a germophobe and planes are pretty disgusting. Having a travel pack of these wipes comes in handy for wiping down the tray table, armrests, seatbelt, window shade, touchscreens, you name it. I might look a little crazy wiping everything down but who likes to be sick on vacation?

Emergen-C Super Orange Packets - On a red-eye flight when everyone is drinking their orange juice with breakfast I opt for this instead. You'll need the extra vitamins after being on a long plane ride with little or no sleep and your coughing neighbor next to you.

Beats Noise-Canceling Headphones - Trust me, these make all the difference and you can hear your TV or music selections without having to crank the volume as high as it will go. Plus, they have the amazing ability to make screaming children become silent. Wow!

Inflatable Neck Pillow - The inflatable feature is key for taking up minimal space in your carry-on. A pillow like this one will protect your head no matter the position, even those forward head bobs we all know too well.

Fuzzy Slipper Socks - Our feet tend to swell on flights due to sitting for long periods of time leading us to feel constricted in shoes. These socks are soft and keep your feet warm so you can take off your shoes and be comfortable.

Slip-On Shoes - These get a double shout-out this week because not only are they great for walking around your destination as I mentioned in my last post, but they make it easy to take off/put on for TSA purposes as well as on your flight.

Blanket Scarf - I love that oversized scarves like this one from Nordstrom are so in right now because they are perfect for traveling. Use one as a scarf to dress up your outfit (or cover your nose/mouth incase of any weird smells) or over your body for extra warmth in a cold cabin.

Lastly, I just want to mention this Self-Inflating Seat Cushion. It's popped up lately in a few travel blogs that I read and I'm dying to try it. My hips/butt have been getting angry lately on long flights and I find myself doing laps around the cabin and stretches in the bathroom. It's not fun getting old! This seems like a great solution without breaking the bank to fly business and it doesn't take up too much room in a carry-on.

Do you have anything to add to this list? If so, I'd love to hear it!

The Airline Upgrade Worth Paying For

These days airlines are will charge you for just about anything (bathroom use, Ryanair, really?) and most of it I refuse just out of principal alone. I hate feeling like I'm being nickeled and dimed. But there is one upgrade that I will pay for and that's Delta Comfort+ or Economy Comfort as it was previously known. Comfort+ is similar to what other airlines consider premium economy but for a fraction of the cost. To be offered this upgrade, you must book a ticket in the main cabin. Once you get to seat selection you should be able to upgrade or you can upgrade after your ticket has been booked, provided there is still availability. If your timing is right, you can get an upgrade for as little as $49 on international flights but usually expect the upgrade to cost around $99. And for domestic flights, it can cost much less but will largely depend on the route. Now, the good stuff. Here is what you get when you upgrade to Comfort+:

Sky Priority boarding

Dedicated overhead bins

Extra legroom (3in. domestic; 4in. international)

50% more recline

Free booze and premium snacks*

Premium entertainment*

Seat in the front of the economy class cabin

*Applies to domestic routes where booze, better snacks and entertainment costs you. On international flights these amenities are complimentary regardless of whether or not you upgrade.

So the big question, is it worth it? Personally and for the legroom alone on an international flight, absolutely. I am not a very big person but 6+ hours in a cramped space is painful and totally worth even paying $99. When you're already paying $1300+ for a ticket, what's another hundred or so when we're talking about being more comfortable? But for a domestic flight, it all depends on how much Delta is charging and how long the flight is. Anything over 4 hours is worth considering for me. However if you are tall or have some achy body parts, anything regardless of flight duration might be worth considering provided the price is right.

Lucky enough to have status with Delta? Silver Medallion members can upgrade to Comfort+ for free 24 hours prior to takeoff, Gold Medallion 72 hours prior to takeoff, and Platinum and Diamond Medallion members can upgrade for free at time of booking. Happy traveling!

More info on Delta's site here.

UPDATE: As of Nov. 17, 2015, Delta has made Comfort+ a booking option like Main Cabin or First/Business Class for U.S. and Canada flights departing on or after May 16, 2016. In other words, you no longer will choose Comfort+ on the seat selection page. This also means that Comfort+ will be booked through to your final destination rather than you having to book it separately for each leg.