Savvy business traveller

Geez, I hope I spelled that topic right…
Anyway,
Here’s my question: I will soon be a jet-setting, business traveller, and I’m hoping for some advice. I’ve only ever flown once (a 45 minute flight). I’m looking for tips from people who travel a lot for advice on comfortable travel, what is and is not allowed on planes (video games, walkmans, laptops).

Ideas!
PS- I’m signing up for “Frequent Flyer” miles. Anyone have a brief rundown of how these actually work?
Thanks!
Zette


Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high.

Not enough and you’re gonna die…
Click here for some GOOD news for a change Zettecity

Aisle is better than window - more elbow room, and trust me; you’ve seen one cloud, you’ve seen them all.

Closer to the front is better, because you get off the plane faster.

You can use electronic devices, in general, but not during takeoff or landing. You may not use your own cell phone at any time. Many planes have a SkyPhone at your seat, and you can sign up for a service that permits you to receive calls in-flight as well as make them. It’s very cool.

Frequent Flyer programs all work basically the same way: you earn one mile for every mile you fly. In addition, there are roughly a zillion ways to earn “bonus” miles - credit cards that tie in to the FF program, long distance tie-ins, etc.

Once you have accumulated certain threshold point values (typically 25,000) you are entitled to a free domestic coach flight, round-trip. Some FF programs also let you use miles to free hotel stays, discount/free car rentals, and so on. Higher point values earn you international flights, upgrades to first class… you see the pattern.

I am a big fan of United’s MileagePlus program; I was a 100K member for several years, and got all sorts of perks and free stuff.

  • Rick

Bring a book.

Airport bookshops only sell Danielle Steel, Stephen King, and John Grisham.

I don’t travel myself, but do arrangements for many people who do…I know, like anyone cares…

ANYway, I’ve been told that the Avis Rent A Car Wizard Miles program thingy (makes you a preferred customer) and the different hotel incentive programs (Hilton has one, etc. - kinda like airline miles) are absolutely great things to sign up for.

And they aren’t kidding when they say get to the airport early - they do turn people away who get there at the last minute. Just happened to one of my guys…


Lackey (in no particular order), SRCO

While I agree with much of what Bricker says, I differ on the aisle/window issue. I prefer to request window seats for a couple of reasons. One is fairly simple. Most regular travelers share Bricker’s preference for aisles, which means that you’re more likely to get a seat in a good location near the front if you don’t insist on an aisle (seats over the wing tend to suffer less from rough air, and in some planes there are engines mounted next to or above the rear seats, making them very noisy). Also, I tend not to get up during flights, even long ones, so the advantage of being able to get out easily is, for me, obviated by being required to either move or have the window and middle seat passengers climbing over me to get in and out. If your seat assignment isn’t to your liking, you can always ask at the gate when you check in whether the are any seats that are “better” by your standards available. My ideal flight is one in which I fall asleep at the gate before we’ve even pushed back and stay asleep until we begin final approach, and by having a window seat I’m often able to rest my head against the side of the cabin (unless the window itself is placed so that it’s impossible) and lean that way – minimizes the chance that I’ll lean over on whoever’s next to me (I refuse to recline the seat because I absolutely hate when someone in front of me does it). Took me several years of flying, though, before I learned how to sleep on a plane (never could do it in a car) – finally managed on a red-eye from SFO to ATL after a week at a trade show, and have been snoozing while airborne ever since. And despite Bricker’s comment that all clouds look alike, if I’m awake I do enjoy being able to see the landscape when it’s daylight and clear – there are a couple of routes that I both fly and drive often enough that I can tell exactly where we are if I’m in a position to see the ground.

It often pays to find out what type of plane is being used for a flight and what the exit rows are, and request seats in them (assuming you have no physical condition that precludes it such as blindness, deafness, or inability to move quickly and lift 50 pounds or so), since they typically have more legroom than other rows (in some cases there isn’t even a seat if front of you) to begin with, and the seats in the row in front usually don’t recline, guaranteeing you more space.

It’s also not a bad idea to know what equipment’s being used for a flight when you’re packing, so you can decide between carry-on and checked bags (depending on the length of your stay and the nature of the things you have to take). Generally, you’ll be happier the fewer things you have to carry, but if you can manage everything, not checking bags usually saves some time. However, I become nearly murderous when I’m stuck in a middle seat on a wide body (e.g. L-1011 or 767) where there are few or no overhead bins for the middle seats and everyone around me has decided to carry on all their worldly possessions, especially when it’s a four or five hour flight (ATL<–>SFO or ATL<–>SLC). I generally check items rather than carry them if it would bother me to have them under my feet for the whole flight, but then I also allow plenty of time for retrieving bags from baggage claim, which you may not always be able to do.

If you gotta work, fine, but I find it cumbersome to use most laptops on a plane. As Bricker says, most electronic devices that don’t transmit or receive radio signals are allowed during the flight, though pretty much everything is off limits during takeoff and landing. You’ll get reminded repeatedly by the flight crew, and there’s typically a list of allowed and disallowed devices in the inflight magazine. I much prefer to take a couple of magazines – I can polish off a New Yorker or Atlantic in a flight of a couple of hours or more, and for coast-to-coast flights (mainly ATL<–>SFO) I generally have a couple in hand. Books aren’t a bad choice but they don’t adapt as well to being shoved into the seatback pocket, stuck between your hip and the armrest, etc.

Frequent flyer programs are great – I’ve managed to make several trips I wouldn’t have other wise made by redeeming miles – but don’t get fooled by some of the affiliate programs that offer bonus miles for buying things that would be a bad deal otherwise. The actual value of a mile in most frequent flyer programs is between $0.01 and $0.05 (taking an average of 25,000 miles required for a free domestic round trip flight and dividing into $250 (low end discount fare) and into $1200 (very high end coach fare). So keep that in mind as you’re calculating whether an offer that includes airline miles is worthwhile or not.

Drink lots of liquids before and during a flight.

One other piece of advice – wear comfortable shoes.

The combination of long periods of enforced sitting and lower cabin pressure will make your feet swell something fierce. You may be tempted to take your shoes off during the flight. If you wear standard-issue dress shoes, you could have a devil of a time putting them back on. Wear something roomy, instead.

Where to be: Aisle, near the front, bulkhead if possible.

What to bring: a book, comfortable layers, and conversation deterrents, if necessary.

Why?

Location: Off the plane sooner for that tight connection, bulkhead has much more legroom. In the aisle, you will have at least one armrest left un-hogged by the inevitable large businessman who sits next to you. Also, when he falls asleep, you don’t need to wake him to visit the restroom.

Clothes: Layers are important for either the runway wait (airless and hot, can last several hours) and the actual flight (cold to frigid, can last several hours). Ditto the comfy shoes comment.

Deterrents: If you aren’t interested in chatting, sometimes a book is NOT ENOUGH. I sometimes wear big headphones that don’t really connect to anything. My cousin wears a giant gas mask, but that might be a little much :wink:

[list][li]A book or magazine of your own is good. (The in-flight magazines are boring drivel.)[/li][li]Wear comfortable clothes, unless you’ll be going directly to a business meeting.[/li][li]Don’t know if they can do this, but try to sit away from children. One of my memorable annoyances was a child behind me playing with toys on the seatback tray. Then when he got bored, he started kicking it. I shot the mother plenty of dirty looks.[/li]
I used to request a smoking area seat just to avoid them. (I don’t smoke, though.) I’d just turn the air vent on full blast, and I wasn’t bothered. Of course, now there’s no smoking on planes, so that plan’s out the window.

[li]If it’s not too much more, upgrade to first class. Airtran (nee Valuejet) upgraded my seats to first class for only $25 each.[/li]

Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination.

Maybe this belongs in GQ:

“Although the bag does not inflate, oxygen is flowing to the mask.”

Those of you that are frequent flyers hear this line, or variants thereof, every single flight.

My question: if the bag doesn’t inflate, why is it there?

  • Rick

Hey, AWB!

That was MY kid! Small world, huh?

“Bored, Rollo? Why not see how hard you can kick the back of the nice man in front of you?”

Where are you going, Zette? USA? International? Use a calling card. Hotels tack a HUGE fee on to long distance calls.

If you’re flying a looooong international flight, an aisle seat is an absolute must. Also, just to make yourself feel better, bring some baby wipes and go to the restroom a couple times during the flight, take off your clothes, and wipe yourself down. Sounds silly, but you’ll be able to stand the smell of yourself when you get off the plane.

Why the bags on the oxygen masks don’t inflate:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_140.html

Always look first to Our Esteemed Host.

[rummaging around in the refrigerator]

Jesus, you’d think Our Esteemed Host could keep more beer on ice.

I like magazines better than books. Once I’ve finished a magazine, I simply abandon it in the seat pocket in front of me - one less thing to carry!

If the flight gets screwed up, be polite to the agent - chances are, no one else has been, so they’re more likely to go the extra mile for you.

And always remember:

“In the unlikely event of a water landing, your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device.”

Good luggage is essential. I generally go with a carry on size rolling case though sometimes it gets checked, a shoulder bag and a laptop bag. Good wheels make a big difference, mine uses inline skate wheels.

I fly a lot on small 6-8 passenger piston engine planes which are quite noisy so I carry a fold up set of earmuffs. Look for Peltor brand at a gun shop. Muffs are better than plugs because I can wear ear bud headphones underneath them and listen to my discman.

I prefer an aisle seat so I will have at least one arm and shoulder somewhat free.
I prefer the rear of the aircraft because they board the rear first and that gives you a much better shot at finding a slot in the overhead compartment for your carry-on.
I detest carry-on bags, but more than that I detest not having my stuff for one to three days. In my 30 years of flying 75,000 to 150,000 miles per year, I have learned to distrust any airline’s ability to get my checked bags and me to the same place at the same time.
The last time I did the research (about a year ago), a bag 9 X 14 X 22 inches would fit any domestic airline size requirements. Many airlines now have cutouts in front of the x-ray machine that will only pass bags that meet their guidelines.
Most will only allow one carry-on and a purse or briefcase. Sometimes a purse and a briefcase. A laptop case is considered the same as a briefcase.

Get checked in early and board as soon as allowed. If there is any conflict over seat assignments, my experience has been that the person in possession of the seat usually prevails.
As someone else said, in the event of problems, be the nice guy, not the a__hole. It will pay off more often than not.

I keep a shaving kit pre-packed with everything I need such as shaving gear, contact lens stuff, etc, so I don’t have to think about that when I am getting packed.

I carry earplugs, since I don’t take a Walkman.

Please note that many people consider it bad form to step on small children no matter how obnoxious they are, so you want to avoid that.

Billdo’s airline tips:

  1. Ask for an exit-row seat. They have more legroom and they cannot by law put children there.

  2. Bring a bottle or two of water. I get very dehydrated on long flight, and don’t like to bother the cabin crew (and they don’t like to be bothered).

  3. Wear comfortable layered clothes. On long flights the temperature tends to vary from hot to cold and back again (or vice versa).

  4. ALWAYS pack in your carry on enough clothes, toiletries, and other essentials to stay one night and go to what you’re doing the first day of the trip. I’ve had luggage lost several times, but usually the airline can find it and have it delivered sometime the next day. However, it’s usually considered uncool to show up to the next day’s morning meeting unshaven and wearing the ratty sweatshirt and jeans you’ve been flying in.

  5. When there is a problem, be nice to the airline employees, but firm about getting it resolved. The problem is almost never the fault of the person you’re complaining to, and they usually can do something to make your problem up to you (upgrades, miles, vouchers, etc.). However, they would much rather help someone who is nice, friendly, and a little but understanding that they have a tough job too, rather than a whiney, abusive jerk.

Enjoy your flight.

Billdo succinctly nailed all my suggestions, consider this a hearty “yepper”.

The booking behind the bulkhead is really great. You have soooo much more room.

Also, be sure to carry any prescriptions and essential toiletries along w/ 1 change of clothes in the carry-on. If your checked luggage goes astray, your medications, toothbrush, etc. will still be with you.

I also heartily endorse the bottles of water and a baggie of decent munchies tucked into the purse/carry-on. Even if it’s just gorp or dried fruit, it can tide you over on a no-meal flight or if the meal is too dismal. And the water is essential; the tiny plastic glasses beverages are served in are a joke.

BTW, different sized baggies are the travellers best friend: great for tucking, organizing, etc. and take up practically no room.

Good journey!
Veb

I can’t believe so many of you are recommending aisle seats! I despise sitting on the aisle. Back in the day, cabins were as big as an auditorium, but people were afraid to get up and move around. Now planes are smaller than buses, but people trot up and down the aisle like it’s a gym treadmill. And they all bump against me! Bump…bump…bump…Three Xmases ago, I suffered through a flight like that, and I got home to hear a news story about an Asian flight that hit an air pocket. Manny people were injured, and one was killed, but none of them would have been hurt at all if they’d been sitting down and wearing their seat belts! People, I beg of you, sit down and read your damn book! It’s too late to get back to your seat after something starts going wrong!

:::deep breath:::deep breath:::


Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.
—Red Green