Business Traveler’s Guide to Streamlined Air Travel

Let’s face it, no one has hours and hours to spend in the car, in order to get where we need to go.  The 7am business meeting is not going to wait, nor will the client that is 500 miles away. Modern business travelers rely heavily on the airline industry to get them from Point A to Pont B. Air travel allows us to achieve greater productivity and makes sure we hit the ground running when it is necessary that we get in that old-school, face-to-face meeting time.  Sometimes a phone call or an email just isn’t enough and even though a client or business partner maybe on the other side of the country, or the other side of the world, thanks to modern day air travel, we can get there. The trick is, not letting the travel process bog you down. Try some of these suggestions to help make your next business trip hassle free.

Assigned Seating

Although some so-called “discount” airlines do not assign passengers a specific seat, many find this to be a stress-producing hassle.  In many instances, passengers are not really saving any money by going this route and it can also lead to a big waste of time. When it comes to boarding and deplaning, non-assigned seating may force travelers that are seated toward the back of the aircraft to spend copious amounts of time waiting to be one of the last passengers on or off the plane.  Additionally, choosing an aisle seat, a window seat, or whatever seat makes you happy, will result in more comfortable travel and leave you fresh and ready to step off the flight and into the boardroom.

First Class or Business Class

Upgraded seating can completely alter a person’s in-flight experience.  There is more leg room, better service, and way more of a chance for a peaceful, quiet flight.  Passengers with business or first-class tickets are typically the first to board and the first to deplane.  For long flights, the seating is more suitable to reading, working on the computer, eating and even catching a few hours of sleep.  Flight attendants are much more attentive to business and first-class travelers which makes the entire experience much more enjoyable.  Contrary to popular belief, upgraded tickets are an option that is often not much more expensive than the price of a standard ticket.

Do Not Check Luggage

The last thing you want to do is land and realize your luggage is lagging, or worse, it is completely lost.  When travelling for business, itinerary is usually planned down to the minute and there is no time for hiccups.  Plan carefully and pack accordingly. Make sure everything you need fits neatly in a carry-on suitcase and there will be no worries about not having the suit and tie you need for that big meeting.  There will also be no time wasted staring at a luggage carousel while you check your watch and phone, impatiently waiting for your bags to come around. Just step off the plane, into your Uber and on to more important things.

Direct Flight

Time is money, especially for business travelers.  Keep this in mind when booking your flight and whenever possible, book a direct flight.  Eliminate the hassle of changing planes or the chance that delays could cause you to miss your connecting flight.  A business trip should be planned carefully in order to arrive on time, preventing missed meetings and/or deadlines.  Direct flights are by far the most fool-proof way to travel and are an important detail to remember when making reservations.

Clear

So as you are standing in that long airport security line, feeling like you’re in line for a Disneyland ride, and you see airport employees escorting certain passengers to the front of the line, you must be wondering, why?  Chances are your fellow travelers signed up for a program called CLEAR. Travelers can simply sign up online, pay a fee and then spend about 10 minutes getting verified at one of the onsite airport locations. After you are all set-up, you simply proceed to the CLEAR booth, scan your boarding pass and thumbprint or eyes, and then be escorted to the front of the security line.  CLEAR is currently expanding its network in California and is available now at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), as well as several other airports across the US. CLEAR can be used in conjunction with TSA PRECHECK to make travel even easier. Visit https://www.clearme.com for more information.

TSA Precheck

This has been around a while and most of us have seen the separate TSA line designated for TSA PRECHECK passengers.  Travelers can sign up online, pay the fee, and if approved, you will no longer have to deal with removing your shoes, belt, laptop, liquids, and jacket when going through airport security.  And the TSA PRECHECK line usually has its own dedicated TSA agent to keep expedite the process. If used in conjunction with CLEAR, you will have the best of both worlds, be whisked to the front of the line and not have to deal with removing any items from your bag or articles of clothing from your person.  Visit https://www.tsa.gov for more information.

Global Entry

For international business travelers, the Trusted Traveler Program, Global Entry, is a must-have.  Save immeasurable amounts of time going through security and customs. Be issued a PASSID number, which is a known traveler number that includes the TSA PRECHECK service.  Instead of ending your international trip standing in line for hours at Customs, make sure you have Global Entry so you can glide through the process in no time. Even for infrequent international travelers, since Global Entry includes everything that TSA PRECHECK provides, it could be a very wise investment.  Visit https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov for more information.

Get Your Bearings

Whether you are flying out of an airport that you are super familiar with or one you’ve never been to before, make sure to get your bearings.  Don’t trust the boarding pass to get you to the correct gate, especially if you are catching a connecting flight. Double-check the Arrivals and Departures board, verify the gate number and whether your flight is on schedule.  As an extra layer of security, opt to receive text updates from the airline. Most carriers will advise you about delays and changes through their texting platform. Once you are sure you’re heading in the right direction, and are on time, grab a drink at the bar or a magazine from the gift shop and relax until it is time to board.  

Hopefully, these suggestions will help you ensure less time waiting in airports, more stress-free flights, and more highly productive business trips.