By Charyn Pfeuffer
As I get older, I've grown a bit persnickety about air travel. Once a fierce proponent of the red-eye flight as a way to sleep and get somewhere (I'm a natural born multi-tasker), the thought of having to sleep in a slightly tilted upright position makes me squirm. Throw in the possibility of being stuck in a too-small middle seat with limited legroom, and well, the joys of air travel start to look a lot less glamorous.
As a preemptive measure, I've learned to stockpile frequent flyer miles and do whatever I can to maintain almighty elite status with my preferred air carriers. When I'm faced with a long-haul flight or dreaded red-eye and cannot finagle an upgrade though, I've been known to bite the bullet and buy a first or business class ticket. For me, it's not all about warmed nuts and endless glasses of Chardonnay, but the comfort, convenience and arriving at my final destination feeling like a human being.
On a recent red-eye flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Lima, Peru (LIM), I was beyond grateful to be flying LAN Business Class. The first leg of my flight from Seattle touched down in at LAX with 10 hours to spare before I headed to South America. The desk clerk at LAN was kind enough to let me check my bag hours and hours in advance and allow access to the Oneworld Lounge. Located on the 5th level of Tom Bradley International Terminal, this lounge serves all business and first class passenger from several airlines, as well as Oneworld alliance carriers.
There, I spent a very productive day working via complimentary Wi-Fi. I also took advantage of the lounge's extensive food service, which rotated throughout the day. Coffee? Yes, please. A bowl of soup? Sure. A little something sweet? Absolutely. As my flight grew nearer, I freshened up with a quick shower in the spa-like facilities, which featured Molton Brown products and big fluffy bath towels. And then, I sipped a few glasses of Champagne from the self-serve bar (there was also a well-stocked and staffed bar with beer, wine and spirits).
If you're like me, you plan your flight itineraries carefully, taking layover destinations into consideration. There are regional meals I don't want to miss, bartenders I'm on a first name basis with, and retail adventures to be had. Travel isn't all about getting from Point A to Point B, right? It's about the journey, the adventure, and the shortest TSA lines. (I kid. Well, kind of.) So instead of sitting in a hard plastic seat texting your friends and watching CNN, don't miss these 20 "must" things to do on your next layover. 
Flying can (and will) take a toll on even the best cared for of complexions. Take the stress of air travel coupled with altitude and recycled air in a confined space and you've got the makings for potential skin problems. As a gal who's been known to log 100 flights a year, my stressed-out face can attest. 
