I often fly for business and thought I’d share with you some travel tips I’ve learned upon the way that have helped me travel more productively and stress-free 😉
1. Scope the airport terminal for someone interesting to talk to be it a oriented business person who may look like someone you can learn business tips from to maybe just cute guy/girl you’d like to get to know, HA! Whatever your networking mission scope out new connections and start talking ahead of time. It’s amazing how much you can learn from someone you don’t even know waiting in the terminal to pass the time away. If you do make a connection with someone, often times you can trade seats with a person on a long flight to sit next to them to continue the conversation where it left off. This can make an 8 hour flight fly by and is much more interesting than sitting beside a sleepy snorer whose head ends up wobbling to the side landing on your shoulder, dropping wet drools on your jacket during the flight.
2. Personally, I like to sit in the exit areas as that provides me with a bit more leg room if I plan to sleep. The chances of a flight going down and me having to direct passengers to the exit door are probably slim to none (or at least I hope so). One caveat to sitting in an exit area, if you want to watch the movie sometimes you cannot comfortably see the screen from the exit seats. With no seat ahead of you, you may also not have an individual TV to watch.
3. Recently many of the airlines are catering to parents of small children which I think is a fabulous idea. Kids can be so sweet as they giggle at you between the seats. After all awhile however you’ll find it becomes a full time commitment to entertain them. Flying is tough on most children and more than likely within about 2 hours of the flight they will all be screaming and wanting to be fed which doesn’t contribute well to my quiet flight. That said, I now totally avoid the last 4 rows specifically on American Airlines (not sure of the other airlines) as that is where they like to seat the babies and small children. It is cute in the beginning but on long flights the crying and smell of poopy diapers plus the throw up spasms is enough to make for an unpleasant flight.
4) If you are on a long flight and want to indulge in a couple of drinks, order two the first time around because the staff seldom come back to give you another one. There is always the flight attendant button you can push to get their attention but easier just to order it all in one shot. If you are heading to Vegas, no worries! They will spoon feed you with booze the whole flight there.
5) I always bring my own food on board as the food is usually pretty shabby in comparison to what you could get at the airport terminal.
6) I like to read the airline magazine you find in the front pocket of the seat ahead of you. That way I can lay out my plan of where my next gate is and visually be ready if I have a bunch of transfers. Also, at the end of each flight during taxi, the Pilot will announce your next gate or baggage claim area so listen up!
7) I love to get a window seat and look out at the world below me. It’s not only breathtaking but humbling too. Plus if I want to fall asleep, it’s not too hard to lean against the window and do just that. I always travel with a beanbag neck pillow.
8) Speaking of pillows, pillows and blankets are not supplied anymore so make sure you travel with a neck rest and blanket. Or at least bring a heavy hoodie as it can get cool flying.
9) I like to have a stash of hard candy, mints or gum when flying to suck/chew on take off and landing which prevents my ears from getting plugged. Sometimes I’ll even pop an antihistamine before the flight which not only makes me sleepy for a long flight but allows my sinuses to breath easily during the flight.
10) I love to network/socialize with the person I’m sitting with as you never know what might come of it. An easy icebreaker is “so where are you flying to? Is that your hometown or are you vacationing?
Flying can be frustrating only if you don’t prepare. Bring plenty to read, your iPad or laptop to entertain yourself. Better yet, practice your networking skills and get to know a new person that may bring forth a business opportunity your way.
Here’s a couple of fun travel videos during my last business trip to Tennessee to visit Lynn Terry of ClickNewz who I’m working on a new project with.
And on a more personal level as I always try to throw some leisure into my business trips:
Have some flying tips? Share in the comment area below…
