I'm writing this on a flight from Philadelphia to Boston. Luckily, it's so early in the morning that my flight is ridiculously empty. I have an entire exit row to myself. Here's tip #1: flying ridiculously early sometimes gives you better seating options (unless you're flying to Washington, DC, where everyone gets up before you).
Here are some more tips:
Before You Board
- Sign up for all the various airline and hotel rewards programs. They add up faster than I thought.
- Keep a text file on your phone with your flight confirmation number, your hotel name and address, your airline and hotel rewards account information, and any contact numbers you might need. You might check out the service TripIt, which manages this neatly (even more so for iPhone users).
- Buy a few energy bars and stuff them in your carry on. These always trump the $4 price tag for the same bar at the airport, and they help you make better eating decisions.
- Also, buy a drink before boarding the plane if you get thirsty easily. That way, you don't have to sit there feeling anxious that the flight attendants haven't served drinks yet.
- Getting to the airport really early makes every other choice work better. (More time to maneuver).
- You can change seats at check-in, if there are some available.
- Not sure about the best seat on the plane? Check it out for yourself at SeatGuru.com.
- You can also check with the gate agent before boarding the flight to see if there's a better seat, even if you were denied at check-in.
- Not sure what to do with that extra time you got by getting there early? Remember, A.B.C. = "always be charging." Find power outlets in earshot of your departure gate. (Hat tip to AlwaysBeCharging.com.)
- Related to charging, if you bring along a power strip, you can make friends fast at a busy outlet.
- I don't pay for wifi any more. It was more cost effective to buy my own Verizon EVDO card (mine's a USB stick). Check with your wireless carrier, and even if the company doesn't spring for it, consider it.
On Board
- Using a small enough rollerboard suitcase for travel and carrying it on sure beats waiting at the luggage carousel. When picking one out, I'm finding that the 4-wheel version are much nicer to maneuver than the old 2-wheel ones.
- My version of best seat in the house might differ from yours. I have broad shoulders, so window beats aisle (unless you like being smashed into all day).
- Paying the extra bucks for the extra legroom means you can actually use your laptop. Consider it a business expense.
- Airplanes are the best way I have of catching up with email.
- If you're reading business books on the plane, keep a notebook and pen handy. I get my biggest inspirations while 30,000 feet above the ground.
- Offer your seatmate your magazines or newspapers when you're done (if you're not keeping them). That poor schlub doesn't really want to read the SkyMall magazine. Share.
When You Land
- Even if you don't think you have to pee, go. Getting stuck in traffic in a cab after a long flight is never worth it. (I'm a dad. This advice serves a dual-purpose.)
- If you're picking up your bag, everyone crowds the area where the bags first drop. Yes, you'll save an extra 23 seconds standing there, but if you want better access to your luggage, stand downstream.
- If you're staying at a hotel, have the contact info and phone number ready before you hop in a cab. If you're planning on taking public transit, call the hotel ahead of time and get appropriate routing information from them.
- Know where the following stores are in relation to your hotel: a drug store, an office supply store, a clothing store (casual and professional), an electronics store (appropriate to your profession). The Lord made Google for a reason.
- If you're renting a car, consider the extra $15 for the GPS. It sure beats fumbling with maps and missing client meetings.
Error Handling
- If your flight is delayed at take-off for whatever reason, and you're supposed to make a connecting flight, the flight attendants will almost never have the information you need while in-flight. Stop bugging them. Relax. What's done is done. Just think up your next moves and phone calls for when you land.
- Bags get lost sometimes. If you've checked your bag and there's something mission critical in there (toothbrush?), keep it in your carry-on. Also, don't leave the airport without a phone number and a URL to check on the status of your stuff.
- If your flight is canceled or delayed and you're forced to stay overnight in the connecting city, the airline usually won't pay for hotels if it's weather-related. They might pay or offer a discount voucher if their scheduling has kept you over. Sometimes, their discount vouchers aren't as good as what you can get at Priceline. Consider your options.
Your Turn
What are your tips for the ideal air travel experience? How do you fly the hostile skies? What's made a difference to you as a workshifter in bringing what you need with you on the road?
We'd love to hear from you.
One trick to get around handbaggage allowance is to put the really heavy small items eg batteries, cameras etc into a plastic shopping bag,or use a bum bag or belt pouch, or if you really want to look like a dork a fishing/photo vest witht he pockets stuffed with bits and bobs, they never ask to weigh that at check in
also join the priority pass lounge scheme, i get it as part of my amex platinum credit card deal along with travel insurance, and it really really helps when you have 20 min or more at the airport - many lounges have free wifi and most have some form of free internet on their own desktops, and the money you save on free drinks, snacks and coffee would more than pay for the membership if you fly a lot if you cant get it any other way
Kinda-sorta alluded to above, but worth rephrasing:
If you have the frequent flier miles to burn, sign up for the airline's "club" of choice if available. This gives you three things of value--
1) A more comfy place to work rather than trying to laptop juggle and and hunt for a wall plug.
2) Free snacks (yes, it is trite, but it is the little things some days...)
3) In case of airline emergency (i.e. delayed/canceled flight), running to the club desk to request a re-book is an end-around to the long line of pissed people at the customer service desk.
During my mega-travel years, used 3) at least one or twice to get rebooked.
Great tips for a novice traveler such as myself. Secret tip I've found is always finding an Admiral's club or you airline's equivalent lounge. If you signup for the day join a regular membership it can be a secret haven on long trips.
Elizabeth Hannan
http://is.gd/AU2N
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