My business travel is rarely for less than two weeks so I always like to take a good supply of DVDs with me wherever I go. Some random thought are:

- Have an FF account with one airline in each of the alliances.

-Try to stick to one alliance.

- Above all else, remember that the airline you earn your miles with is not necessrily the airline you spend your miles with (I always try to go for the airline that gives me the most miles for my class of ticket when travelling on business even if the service is worse).

-Join each of the hotel programmes but again try to stick to one.

-Lounge access: There are many ways to get this including a premium Amex charge card (also good for travel insurance), a Diners Club card (not good for travel in the US) or a Priority Pass - I've spent so much time waiting for delayed flights this year so I wouldn't want to be without lounge access.

-Get to know how to use your banks online banking service.

-Ditto for your stock broker (I can manage all my financial affairs using a laptop and a mobile phone).

-If you're travelling outside of your own country then a supply of those brands of medications you know and trust.

-Oh, and the most useful thing of all; a small plastic bag! If I'm travelling in the summer and have packed my coat into the main luggage then I use a small bag (like the one they would put a new DVD into in HMV or Virgin Megastores) to put my glasses, watch, asthma inhalers, coins and mobile phones into. They are all organised into this and then placed into my hand luggage long before I get to the security check.