The holidays are upon us (according to WalMart and their jingly commercials) and I’ve been pondering what I’d like for Christmas this year.  I’m sure it will come as no surprise that all I want is a first class ticket somewhere, anywhere.  Since that is likely not going to appear in my stocking, I’ve been thinking about what I need to make a coach seat feel like a first class ticket to ride.  I’m leaving for Rwanda on Friday and unless my upgrade clears (not likely) I will be flying for roughly 24 hours in a cramped, miserable coach seat.  I know, I’m a whiner, but red-eyes in the back of the bus are miserable, and no one can deny that.

So, I have my eye on some fab items I saw on www.Magellans.com.  They come highly recommended by my favorite travel writer Wendy Perrin.  They look so appealing in fact that I’m considering treating myself to an early Christmas present.  Wendy swears by the self-inflating seat cushion.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve lost feeling in my nether regions more than once on a long flight.  This magical cushion supposedly makes you feel as if you’ve “flown on a cloud of air”.  My booty could use that.  The other downside to non-first class flying (one of many actually) is the nasty neck crick I always seem to get from trying to sleep sitting up.  Magellan also has the Inflatable Komfort Kollar (what’s with all the k’s?), anyhow, though it looks as if it is meant to be used by a whiplash victim, again Wendy swears by it.  Having spent enough flights with my head twisted in unnatural positions in a useless attempt at restful sleep, I’ll give the hospital looking collar (kollar?) a go.

Last but not least, I freeze on every flight.  First class or no, the plane is always too cold.  While trying not to fantasize about fully flat beds, free airplane socks and complimentary noise control headphones, I’m deciding between a Snuggie blanket (and my pride), just kidding, I have no pride, and the “Cabin Cuddler” from Magellan’s.

In addition to having been recommended by Wendy, who writes for Conde’ Nast and has done her fair share of travel, the “Komfort Kollar” has been positively reviewed by The Wall Street Journal (and who can’t trust them?).  So I think I’ll treat myself to a little early holiday cheer in the hopes of arriving in Rwanda in any condition to get something done.  Don’t feel like I’ve already bought myself everything you might  be considering gifting me, I could still use a first class ticket…somewhere…anywhere.

Costs less than an adult, but you have to ask, more than once

A little bit of obnoxious wisdom gleaned  from my small children just saved me $600, who knew they could be so useful?  We all know that kids have figured out that they can generally get what they want by continuing to ask the same question of mom, dad, babysitter, grandma, big sister, mom again, grandma again until finally someone just gives them what they want.  While this might be annoying, I’ve found it a brilliant lesson in persistence.

I’ve been busy making plans to take my 9 year old son to Rwanda.  Yes, it’s a long story, it’s a post I’m working on, just go with me.  Rwanda is not exactly a highly traveled destination.  JetBlue doesn’t go there, actually, almost no one does.  If you are flying from the US or Europe you get there by way of Belgium (Rwanda used to be a Belgian colony, french is the native tongue actually).