In my 25-plus years of travel experience, I have learned that being adaptable and well-prepared can smooth out any travel hiccups, which is especially important for business trips.
But it helps even on leisure trips. Last year, when my wife and I were flying from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, I managed to avoid a big setback by thinking on my feet. During my research for the trip, I’d come across information from several major traveling resources indicating that my wife, Erin, would not need a visa because she was a U.S. citizen.
Imagine our surprise when we checked in and learned that she did, in fact, need that travel visa. My error in trusting reputable resources over government websites could not have been more clear. Luckily, we had arrived early for our flight and were able to get an expedited visa delivered in under two hours. Now I make sure to check only the official government websites for information about visas, and never unofficial sources — even if they’re reputable publications.
Ultimately, Erin and I made our flight. But on a business trip, there’s much less room for error, so traveling like an insider is even more important.
Travel Like a Boss
To make your next business trip as enjoyable as the destination itself, it helps to learn how to maximize your chances of an upgrade, get real-time updates of flight information, and relax in some of the best lounges. No matter what pitfalls come up, you’ll never have to panic like we almost did in Singapore. Try out these tips:
1. Make coming home easy with Mobile Passport.
Going through customs can be a big hassle. Try using
Mobile Passport — an app that allows travelers to store passport information and answer required declarations questions upon return to the U.S. — to ensure that your trip is as efficient as possible. It’s accepted at more than 20 airports throughout the U.S., is compatible on iOS and Android devices, and makes reentering the U.S. much easier. Ultimately, the app eliminates filling out paperwork or waiting in line.
2. Use what’s in your wallet to access high-end lounges.
Airports continue to make the traveler’s experience more enjoyable, but nothing quite rivals the high-end lounges that allow access with only certain credit cards. For example, my partner American Express’ Business Platinum or Centurion credit card grants you access to the posh Centurion lounges of more than a doze
American airports. Traveling becomes a lot more relaxing with up to $50 worth of complimentary food and drinks per visit.
3. Collect loyalty points (even if you aren’t a frequent flyer).
Airline loyalty programs let you accrue points and miles every time you travel, and business trips are the perfect time to take advantage. Even if your company pays for your travel expenses, that shouldn’t stop you from accruing loyalty points — for free.
4. Focus on status if you are a frequent flyer.
Points will come easily if you are a frequent flyer. Instead, focus on boosting your status. For example, it can be common for some airlines to offer loyal travelers special perks — like upgraded seats and backup options on missed flights — after hitting a certain level of status. Many airlines fast-track your status if you use a credit card or corporate program that they’ve partnered with, so research which airline and credit card combos work best.
5. Skip the security lines with TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck is relatively easy to obtain — some credit cards even provide it for free — and it allows you to zoom through security. It’s also accepted everywhere, so if you visit an airport where your Mobile Passport isn’t accepted, you can still zip through customs.
6. Pack light (especially if you don’t have TSA PreCheck).
Packing only the essentials into your carry-on is common advice, but it’s even more important if you don’t have
TSA PreCheck. Whether you’re just taking a 45-minute hop a few cities over or flying cross-country with multiple connections, carry the essentials you’ll need for at least the next 48 hours.
7. Keep track of delays and changes to your flight status.
Instead of straining your eyes to find your flight among dozens of others on a large screen, use a flight-tracking app like
TripIt or
FlightAware. My favorite is
FlightStats, which provides lightning-fast updates so I can make sure my flights are on time and that my gates haven’t changed.
8. Take the flights less traveled.
Google Flights can provide invaluable information about commonly delayed flights and times so that you can avoid them. For example, I know that flying through Chicago in July is a bad idea because delays are highly likely. You can avoid an immense headache by researching and choosing the less congested route.
9. Know the plane you’ll be flying on.
Most flight-booking sites will list detailed information about flights, such as the carrier and the jet itself. Though it might not seem like it, there’s a difference between flying business class on a 757 or a 767, and much of it comes down to the seats and amenities. If you’re flying cross-country or internationally, you might want to consider which premium cabin has fully lie-flat seats instead of just recliners. My favorite is the A380, which is extremely quiet for such a large plane, or the smoother ride of the 787-9 when I fly home to England.
10. Compare direct and indirect flights on more than price.
If you’re absolutely price-driven, a connecting flight that’s a little cheaper than a direct flight seems like the obvious option. But for a business trip, the extra hour or more that a connection can add — not to mention the hassle of boarding and disembarking again — can more than overshadow the minor savings on ticket price. And of course, there’s always a risk of missing your connecting flight.
11. Plan for maximum comfort on your flight
Before choosing a flight, I use a Chrome extension called
Legrooms, which attaches to Google Flights. The app shows me how much legroom in inches that the seats on various flights offer. For example, if the choice is betwee
JetBlue and Delta, all other things being equal, the extra four inches of legroom on JetBlue’s seats will be the deciding factor.
Even after 25 years as a travel fanatic, I still learn new things to make each experience better and more rewarding. I also know that you don’t need 25 years of experience to learn how to travel in style. These tips can help make business travel just as enjoyable as any vacation trip.