Following up on Tuesday's article about jet lag, and considering I'm flying across the country to meet my parents in Florida next week, I thought I'd share with you my in-flight essentials to make my air travels as comfortable as possible:

• Essential oils roll-on - I like to massage a little oil on my temples to help me fall asleep and prevent migraines. Use with moderation so the scent does not inconvenience your fellow passengers.

• Earplugs - Constant captain announcements, babies crying, neighbor snoring, you name it. My earplugs are the first thing I put when I get on board. I even sometimes only wait until I've left the plane to take them off. It makes the transition to the outside smoother.
  Update: I've since invested in a pair of noise-canceling headphones and my life will never be the same! Don't forget to bring the cable to plug it into the screen should you want to watch a movie.

• Sleep mask - I still do not get the logic of the blind opening and closing policy of the airlines I've traveled with. So my face mask is my best ally to trick my body into thinking it's sleeping time.

• Neck pillow - I never thought I'd be one of these people but I am. The little straps in the back of this particular model are amazing to keep your head straight!

• Cashmere throw - I'm always cold on airplanes, no matter how hot it is. So socks and a soft throw are a must. I usually repurpose my throw as a big scarf or a picnic blanket according to my destination. And it's so much more comfortable than the ones provided by the airplanes (which are usually wrapped in plastic!).

• Collapsible cup - This one is my latest travel purchase. I used to only fly with a stainless steel canteen but realized that a cup is pretty handy for the occasional tomato juice (say no to single-use plastic cups!).

Here's a list of more of my travel essentials.

What's the one thing you always pack for a long flight?