Business Travel Tips
Discussion
hyperblue said:
Resist the massive urge to punch civilians/holiday makers in the back of the head when they do any of the following:
1) Act like its a big f
king surprise that you have to remove liquids//laptops/belts/shoes at security and delay the queue whilst they do so
2) fk up the automatic passport control gates and cause a delay. Just slide your passport in and eyes front, comprende!
3) Stand blocking escalator/moving walkways
This will make your journey through the airport much smoother and reduce the time spent in police custody.
Spot on.1) Act like its a big f
king surprise that you have to remove liquids//laptops/belts/shoes at security and delay the queue whilst they do so2) f
k up the automatic passport control gates and cause a delay. Just slide your passport in and eyes front, comprende!3) Stand blocking escalator/moving walkways
This will make your journey through the airport much smoother and reduce the time spent in police custody.
I've just finished 13 years of 5 weeks travel, 1 week home covering North America and India.
Its amazing how you start reading people in line in front of you, 'who is ready for the security line, who is not'.
The amount of gormless stupid people who stand in front of escalators or meet their family right in the middle of the arrivals exit walkway.
hyperblue said:
1) Act like its a big fking surprise that you have to remove liquids//laptops/belts/shoes at security and delay the queue whilst they do so
I get annoyed about this but the vast majority of the time the scanner is the bottleneck anyway.king surprise that you have to remove liquids//laptops/belts/shoes at security and delay the queue whilst they do soIt's also annoying that now and again the rules will be different - flew through Dallas FW recently and one way they told us just to walk through as we were with shoes belts coins etc. On the return it was back to the usual routine.
mcbook said:
I have also been thinking about the headphones recently but seems like quite a big investment. Not sure if I can justify £300 when I have a pretty decent set of standard ones...
I hesitated for a while as well. However when I eventually gave in and got some, pure bliss.........I now see my time on a airplane as relaxation, just chilling in my silent oasis listening to podcasts
mcbook said:
4. Put a bag in the aircraft hold - these days there are so few bags in the hold (short haul) that the baggage guys can get it to the conveyor very quickly and there no messing around trying find a space in the overhead lockers.
I've just done the opposite after having to wait over 30 minutes 3 times on the same trip coming out of baggage claim. Last instance on that trip was the killer - arrived at Birmingham from Newark at 9am (2 hours later than planned due to take off delays) knackered as I can't sleep on planes, passing through security in minutes and then waiting 40 minutes to claim the last case on the conveyor really put me off.So last trip was a carry on and a backpack - just so much less stressful as it was 7 flights in 5 days and I was nearly home 40 minutes after landing in Birmingham...
Noise cancelling headphones are a must for me - Bose QC25 at the moment but as they are the big, overear design it's difficult to rest properly with them on and they do make your ears hot. I suspect I'll upgrade to Bose or Shure in-ear ones before too long.
Lounge access is also good, much more relaxing place to be than sat in Departures and I've been able to get work completed in comfort which is the most important thing. I've paid for one-time passes when the lay-over has been long rather than an annual fee as I don't travel enough to justify that cost -
Much good advice above and very practical. I have a couple of things for your health and mental well being
- take some time each evening to you. I run and make sure that every travel day has a run in it and I sacrifice tv time or
- work out how much you want to drink that week and stick to it. I have a 2 beers a week rule as I am not a big drinker and despite going out to dinner a lot when traveling if I drank like the locals who go out maybe once a month I would be hammered every night so I almost become teetotal for my health
- buffet breakfasts, I have fruit first, toast and cereal and never the fry up option
- I text home every morning and speak to family every evening by FaceTime or Skype
- choose the healthy options on the menu. It's tough to eat anything healthy if you are out for dinner or out for lunch, so I always choose salads as starters, a tomato based pasta as a main and rarely have dessert.
The nice sounds like no fun but travelers do tend to eat worse, weigh more and generally be less healthy from my 10 years travel experience
- take some time each evening to you. I run and make sure that every travel day has a run in it and I sacrifice tv time or
- work out how much you want to drink that week and stick to it. I have a 2 beers a week rule as I am not a big drinker and despite going out to dinner a lot when traveling if I drank like the locals who go out maybe once a month I would be hammered every night so I almost become teetotal for my health
- buffet breakfasts, I have fruit first, toast and cereal and never the fry up option
- I text home every morning and speak to family every evening by FaceTime or Skype
- choose the healthy options on the menu. It's tough to eat anything healthy if you are out for dinner or out for lunch, so I always choose salads as starters, a tomato based pasta as a main and rarely have dessert.
The nice sounds like no fun but travelers do tend to eat worse, weigh more and generally be less healthy from my 10 years travel experience
mcbook said:
I have also been thinking about the headphones recently but seems like quite a big investment. Not sure if I can justify £300 when I have a pretty decent set of standard ones...
I've got Bose QC3's but bought a bunch of Sony and JVC £25 noise cancelling headphones when the family went to the US. I can't really quantify the difference, but there's not a lot in it. I guess with Bose even getting 10% difference is exponentially more expensive.Some good tips here. My addition to this is how to always have crease free shirts without the worry or hassle of ironing them.
1. Put a couple of disposable clothing hangers (the wire ones that dry cleaning come with) in your suitcase. You need these as many hotel hangers are the ones that can only be used within their wardrobes.
2. When you arrive at the hotel, whack the shower on full blast as hot as it'll go.
3. Hang your shirts in the bathroom, close the door and leave them to it.
4. 10 mins later venture into the fog and turn the shower off. You have (slightly damp but) wrinkle free shirts/polos/t-shirts/blazers.
1. Put a couple of disposable clothing hangers (the wire ones that dry cleaning come with) in your suitcase. You need these as many hotel hangers are the ones that can only be used within their wardrobes.
2. When you arrive at the hotel, whack the shower on full blast as hot as it'll go.
3. Hang your shirts in the bathroom, close the door and leave them to it.
4. 10 mins later venture into the fog and turn the shower off. You have (slightly damp but) wrinkle free shirts/polos/t-shirts/blazers.
I do Belfast to London every week for 2-4 days then around 3 or 4 time a year transAtlantic.
- invest in good quality light travel luggage. I am on my second Gate8 bag. Built for 2-3 night but with some judicious picks can stretch to a week easily.
- i got to QC35s the long way. Started off with some nice Seinnys, had GoldRings, then finally bit the bullet, bought the priciest Bose's. It is now my idea of hell being in a plane when they run out of charge.
- came to an arrangement with my local dry cleaner as she gets 4-5 shirts a week. TM Lewin/Twythritt specials. I have 10+ so always have 5 pressed and starched ready to go and the wife is less resentful of my travel.
-kids allowed to iPad before dinner only to message Daddy. Cant always fit in a call but if i can i can FaceTime one or two of them.
- Amex BA airmiles card gets me an extra companion voucher every year.
- outside of hotel loyalty points get to knownthe staff. I have a few ongoing informal arrangements with Mercure & Novotels that if i do so many days a month they give me anotger 10% off.
- if your company use concur(or any other expense mgmt system) download and use the app. It used to kill me sufdenly finding 30-40 quid of taxi receipts in a ling forgotten nook or cranny 3 months later.
- invest in good quality light travel luggage. I am on my second Gate8 bag. Built for 2-3 night but with some judicious picks can stretch to a week easily.
- i got to QC35s the long way. Started off with some nice Seinnys, had GoldRings, then finally bit the bullet, bought the priciest Bose's. It is now my idea of hell being in a plane when they run out of charge.
- came to an arrangement with my local dry cleaner as she gets 4-5 shirts a week. TM Lewin/Twythritt specials. I have 10+ so always have 5 pressed and starched ready to go and the wife is less resentful of my travel.
-kids allowed to iPad before dinner only to message Daddy. Cant always fit in a call but if i can i can FaceTime one or two of them.
- Amex BA airmiles card gets me an extra companion voucher every year.
- outside of hotel loyalty points get to knownthe staff. I have a few ongoing informal arrangements with Mercure & Novotels that if i do so many days a month they give me anotger 10% off.
- if your company use concur(or any other expense mgmt system) download and use the app. It used to kill me sufdenly finding 30-40 quid of taxi receipts in a ling forgotten nook or cranny 3 months later.
Uber and Grab Taxi (the main uber equivalent in Asia) are invaluable for getting around. I like being able to rock up at a random airport and not have to worry about cash.
I always shoot for status on airlines and am currently gold on Emirates, gold on Star Alliance and Silver on BA. Status don't mean much if you're travelling J, but the ability to use the lounge, fast track security and premium check ins on Y legs is invaluable.
Hotel chains, I'm less worried about. I hold status with Marriott and Shangri-La but, wherever available, I'll book a Club room to take advantage of the free breakfast and evening happy hour to save some money for the company.
I always shoot for status on airlines and am currently gold on Emirates, gold on Star Alliance and Silver on BA. Status don't mean much if you're travelling J, but the ability to use the lounge, fast track security and premium check ins on Y legs is invaluable.
Hotel chains, I'm less worried about. I hold status with Marriott and Shangri-La but, wherever available, I'll book a Club room to take advantage of the free breakfast and evening happy hour to save some money for the company.
Dick Dastardly said:
Some good tips here. My addition to this is how to always have crease free shirts without the worry or hassle of ironing them.
1. Put a couple of disposable clothing hangers (the wire ones that dry cleaning come with) in your suitcase. You need these as many hotel hangers are the ones that can only be used within their wardrobes.
2. When you arrive at the hotel, whack the shower on full blast as hot as it'll go.
3. Hang your shirts in the bathroom, close the door and leave them to it.
4. 10 mins later venture into the fog and turn the shower off. You have (slightly damp but) wrinkle free shirts/polos/t-shirts/blazers.
You beat me to this one. But one tweak. If they have those wardrobe only hangers then you can use a belt and loop this through 3-4 hangars and wrap/buckle round the shower rail. Voila! No need to take your own hangars.1. Put a couple of disposable clothing hangers (the wire ones that dry cleaning come with) in your suitcase. You need these as many hotel hangers are the ones that can only be used within their wardrobes.
2. When you arrive at the hotel, whack the shower on full blast as hot as it'll go.
3. Hang your shirts in the bathroom, close the door and leave them to it.
4. 10 mins later venture into the fog and turn the shower off. You have (slightly damp but) wrinkle free shirts/polos/t-shirts/blazers.
Great thread this and some good tips so far.
I do somewhere between 100-130 flights a year - 70% short haul / 30% long haul. Most in economy except for Asia which are business and sometimes to the US although airfares to the US are often high and my company policy is business > 6 hours and < 2k.
Some of these tips have already been mentioned but here we go;
- For 2-3 days away get something like a Tumi Shirt Carrier (foldable cover that holds 5 shirts strategically folded) as you can put other clothes in it and it still slips insides a backpack or laptop bag
- Airline status is great if only for the priority boarding, free economy comfort (Skyteam) and lounge access
- Invest in a fast border exit / entrance program if your airport has one. My home airport (Amsterdam Schiphol) has a program called Privium - iris scanning for faster exit / entry and avoids the passport queues when travelling to / from a non Schengen country. A real time saver for me.
- Bose noise cancelling headphones for a long haul flight are a must. You wont regret the expenditure.
- My liquids bag contains - paracetamol, anti-diarrhea pills, electrolyte / rehydration powder sachets, nose spray (aircraft / air conditioning is very drying), indigestion pills, small travel deodorant, toothbrush with bristle protector, toothpaste, band-aids, foam ear plugs in a little plastic holder
- If / when you travel business class keep the small amenity bag you get as it makes an ideal holder for chargers, cables adapters etc
- Try to eat healthily and at the regular meal times for the country your in
- Keep fit and exercise regularly - it does help with jet lag
I do somewhere between 100-130 flights a year - 70% short haul / 30% long haul. Most in economy except for Asia which are business and sometimes to the US although airfares to the US are often high and my company policy is business > 6 hours and < 2k.
Some of these tips have already been mentioned but here we go;
- For 2-3 days away get something like a Tumi Shirt Carrier (foldable cover that holds 5 shirts strategically folded) as you can put other clothes in it and it still slips insides a backpack or laptop bag
- Airline status is great if only for the priority boarding, free economy comfort (Skyteam) and lounge access
- Invest in a fast border exit / entrance program if your airport has one. My home airport (Amsterdam Schiphol) has a program called Privium - iris scanning for faster exit / entry and avoids the passport queues when travelling to / from a non Schengen country. A real time saver for me.
- Bose noise cancelling headphones for a long haul flight are a must. You wont regret the expenditure.
- My liquids bag contains - paracetamol, anti-diarrhea pills, electrolyte / rehydration powder sachets, nose spray (aircraft / air conditioning is very drying), indigestion pills, small travel deodorant, toothbrush with bristle protector, toothpaste, band-aids, foam ear plugs in a little plastic holder
- If / when you travel business class keep the small amenity bag you get as it makes an ideal holder for chargers, cables adapters etc
- Try to eat healthily and at the regular meal times for the country your in
- Keep fit and exercise regularly - it does help with jet lag
I do approximately 40 flights a year and i have nothing to add to the above, only to reiterate, get some Bose QC's, first thing i pack every time!
I use a North Face rolling thunder bag, it is hand luggage size so fine for short trips but i can easily pack ten days worth of clothes in it if i decide to check it in for a longer trip.
I use a North Face rolling thunder bag, it is hand luggage size so fine for short trips but i can easily pack ten days worth of clothes in it if i decide to check it in for a longer trip.
cavey76 said:
I
- if your company use concur(or any other expense mgmt system) download and use the app. It used to kill me sufdenly finding 30-40 quid of taxi receipts in a ling forgotten nook or cranny 3 months later.
This is a good tip. As soon as you get an expense receipt, take a photo and email it to Concur or upload it to the app. I still keep my receipts as a backup in an envelope but if I lose any or the lot, it shouldn't matter.- if your company use concur(or any other expense mgmt system) download and use the app. It used to kill me sufdenly finding 30-40 quid of taxi receipts in a ling forgotten nook or cranny 3 months later.
I mostly work from home but I have stints of working away for weeks or months at a time so my perspective is a little different from some of the more frequent travellers.
I never take check in luggage, for all the times it is faster I have had far more times when it is much slower or even worse the chance of losing my luggage puts me off. I can pack 2 weeks worth of clothes in my largest carry on bag assuming I have access to an iron at the other end.
Speaking of bags, if you have to travel using some of the budget airlines that have more restrictive carry on bag size limits it is worth investing in a couple of different carry on bags that push the limit of what each of the airlines allow.
If I'm staying for a while I do not bother taking any consumables with me, I buy them when I get there as I find the size limits on liquids too restrictive for longer stays. It also saves packing space and time at security. For shorter trips I have refillable bottles to save cash on the expensive smaller bottles.
If work will pay for breakfast and evening meal but not lunch a trip to a local supermarket to pick up lunch, or on smaller trips take it with you (instant porridge in a packet for me) saves a small fortune. I fill up at breakfast as well as I'm not paying. Usually worth asking for something custom for breakfast like an omelette to get it cooked fresh rather than getting something that has sat under the heat lamps for who knows how long.
A roll up able water bottle is another good investment, I fill mine up once I'm through security.
For longer stays I push for a serviced apartment, being able to cook for yourself rather than eating out all the time has saved my sanity more than once. If you can get a longer term deal then you can usually wangle an upgrade to a multi room apartment, I have had the family over before now to stay on the weekends.
I never take check in luggage, for all the times it is faster I have had far more times when it is much slower or even worse the chance of losing my luggage puts me off. I can pack 2 weeks worth of clothes in my largest carry on bag assuming I have access to an iron at the other end.
Speaking of bags, if you have to travel using some of the budget airlines that have more restrictive carry on bag size limits it is worth investing in a couple of different carry on bags that push the limit of what each of the airlines allow.
If I'm staying for a while I do not bother taking any consumables with me, I buy them when I get there as I find the size limits on liquids too restrictive for longer stays. It also saves packing space and time at security. For shorter trips I have refillable bottles to save cash on the expensive smaller bottles.
If work will pay for breakfast and evening meal but not lunch a trip to a local supermarket to pick up lunch, or on smaller trips take it with you (instant porridge in a packet for me) saves a small fortune. I fill up at breakfast as well as I'm not paying. Usually worth asking for something custom for breakfast like an omelette to get it cooked fresh rather than getting something that has sat under the heat lamps for who knows how long.
A roll up able water bottle is another good investment, I fill mine up once I'm through security.
For longer stays I push for a serviced apartment, being able to cook for yourself rather than eating out all the time has saved my sanity more than once. If you can get a longer term deal then you can usually wangle an upgrade to a multi room apartment, I have had the family over before now to stay on the weekends.
Dick Dastardly said:
3. Hang your shirts in the bathroom, close the door and leave them to it.
Not much to add.
Bose QCs as covered many times. I don't regret the expense.
Hotel chain status - upgrades are far more common than with airlines. I like the Hilton scheme which lets you choose your room with an online checkin. Ensuring you're away from busy roads and away from the lifts. Also you tend to be put on a floor which is for loyalty customers. Much quieter than other floors.
I echo the OP's comment about checking in luggage, but on the proviso you know the airports you're using. Some are VERY quick at providing the luggage (Edinburgh, take a bow). For long haul, you need status which gets your luggage out first, otherwise hand luggage!
Most hotel TVs have USB or HDMI slots that you can plug in to. Load up your laptop or USB stick full of movies! Occasionally they can be locked down (Crowne Plaza, Manchester airport - grrrr). They can only be unlocked with a full remote (not the restricted hotel remotes). I haven't reached the point of carrying my own remote - just investigated possibilities online
Hotel bars are often full of similar solo travelers, conversations can be interesting!
BA Club class on short haul is currently a very reasonable price when booked early. I haven't been picked up on it yet. I wouldn't say the value is great, but the tier points are.
Bose QCs as covered many times. I don't regret the expense.
Hotel chain status - upgrades are far more common than with airlines. I like the Hilton scheme which lets you choose your room with an online checkin. Ensuring you're away from busy roads and away from the lifts. Also you tend to be put on a floor which is for loyalty customers. Much quieter than other floors.
I echo the OP's comment about checking in luggage, but on the proviso you know the airports you're using. Some are VERY quick at providing the luggage (Edinburgh, take a bow). For long haul, you need status which gets your luggage out first, otherwise hand luggage!
Most hotel TVs have USB or HDMI slots that you can plug in to. Load up your laptop or USB stick full of movies! Occasionally they can be locked down (Crowne Plaza, Manchester airport - grrrr). They can only be unlocked with a full remote (not the restricted hotel remotes). I haven't reached the point of carrying my own remote - just investigated possibilities online
Hotel bars are often full of similar solo travelers, conversations can be interesting!
BA Club class on short haul is currently a very reasonable price when booked early. I haven't been picked up on it yet. I wouldn't say the value is great, but the tier points are.
Another one for the health/well-being side - if you have the option go for a serviced appartment rather than a hotel.
Sure hotels have their place and are fun to start with but if you're travelling every week you enter even the best with a feeling of dread and depression. Having the extra space so you don't feel like you're either sleeping in your bed or sat on it to watch TV makes a big difference but more important is the ability to make your own food. Eating out on expenses every night is great fun - till you realise not only do you not need a belt any more but actually need a bigger pair of trousers. Being about to have a non-restaurant sized portions of food is great.
Sure hotels have their place and are fun to start with but if you're travelling every week you enter even the best with a feeling of dread and depression. Having the extra space so you don't feel like you're either sleeping in your bed or sat on it to watch TV makes a big difference but more important is the ability to make your own food. Eating out on expenses every night is great fun - till you realise not only do you not need a belt any more but actually need a bigger pair of trousers. Being about to have a non-restaurant sized portions of food is great.
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