Top Tips for Flying on Business
Business travellers who are flying around the world a great deal will pick up a lot of wisdom about making the trips as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. There's a separate article in this section about getting upgrades, but here are some other top tips that old hands might already know but new air warriors can make use of.
Frequent Flyer Schemes
A lot of business travellers get quite obsessed about frequent flyer schemes but there's no doubt that they make sense; if you're going to be flying the miles anyway you might as well get the most out of them. Join every scheme you are eligible for and read the small print so that you know how to make the best of them. Here are some specific top tips about loyalty schemes.Check occasionally to make sure your points are in date. Most schemes will allow you to extend the life of your points at a cost, so if you have a large amount about to expire, weigh up whether or not it's worth paying to do that.
Don’t join any scheme that asks for a joining fee. There are plenty out there that cost nothing and deliver the same benefits.
Every time you travel somewhere join the relevant scheme if you're not already a member. But decide on one, probably the one that you are flying most with, as your main scheme and use hotels and car hire firms that are on that same scheme.
The others you can keep because you may never know when you might find yourself flying on a member carrier and it's pointless not getting the points for that flight. You may never accrue enough to get anything out of a scheme that you don't use very often but you'll be kicking yourself if you miss out because of unforeseen circumstances.
Before Flying and While You're Flying
Make sure you check up on the current safety and security regulations in force before flying, this can stop time-wasting at the airport. Make sure you turn up on time.Keep as fit as you can while flying. Executive lounges at airports often have mini-gyms and showers, and while flying it's worth getting up from your seat, particularly on a long-haul flight, and going for a stroll and doing some stretches.
It's also worth putting a change of underwear, shirt or blouse and a toothbrush and toothpaste in your hand luggage. Then if your checked-in baggage gets lost you can at least freshen up for that all important meeting while it's being sorted out.
Getting to the Seat of the Matter
Seating positions are a bit of a mixed blessing. If you can get close to the front of a plane then you won’t be subject to the roar of the engines while the plane is flying, but you might be subject to the sounds of screaming children who are up there for the same reason.If turbulence worries you when flying go for seats in the middle or the aircraft, they are less susceptible to the movement.
Get to know the seat numbers that give decent leg room on each plane type and ask for them at check-in or before, if possible. Increasingly internet booking systems are giving business travellers the option to pick a seat when they book, but this has also given the airlines the ability to charge extra for them!
