Tips for a Noob who travels for work?
#16
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DTW
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Posts: 678
That leads me to a separate piece regarding luggage. JUST CHECK IT.
I know I am the minority I am sure here on this but I am so tired of having to fight everyone for overhead space and the what not, I would rather board last and not worry it does not take much longer to wait for luggage.
I know I am the minority I am sure here on this but I am so tired of having to fight everyone for overhead space and the what not, I would rather board last and not worry it does not take much longer to wait for luggage.
I'll also add another one. If your employer pays you an expense per diem, Try to stay within it, but don't try to bank it either. By banking it, you may find yourself at some point counting on just to cover your monthly bills or pay for some personal expense and at that point you will have become a slave to business travel which then makes it a grind.
Last edited by Ledfish; Feb 19, 2018 at 7:43 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Two things. First, keep the time you are on the plane as your own time, don't let it become worktime. If you can't sleep on airplanes, learn to. This will help you stay charged up, both for work and when your home. Nothing makes traveling for work tougher on a GF or BF than a mate that has to recover from the trip every time they get home.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
OP should also look at rules and systems for Comfort+ upgrades (I never want a Comfort+ middle seat) and snagging inventory at T-24.
#19
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 957
Learn to pack light. First few years of business travel, I'd always come back with a shirt or two on a hanger and pair or two of slacks unused. Now I throw an extra pair of underwear, undershirt, and socks in my bag. That'll keep me for an extra day, and if travel goes beyond that (the one or two times per year), well then that's when I buy a tshirt or extra pair. Packing for the 5% of time is a pain in the rear 95% of time. I lay out my daily outfits, and make sure within those I can change it up- they all match in some way.
Great advice within about food choices. Eat as you would at home. So many people have three huge meals per day on the road. I have eggs or oatmeal in the morning, a salad or light sandwhich during the day, and try to keep my dinners somewhat light. I'll order the salmon at the steak restaurant, I won't get an app/entree/dessert more than once on a trip, etc. I work out religiously before and after my trips, because I find it too tight to do so while on them (it also saves on packing). But I walk places if I can, and during warmer months generally get a decent amount of exercise this way.
Learn your equipment, and know what planes you're likely to fly beforehand. If I'm on a regional, I know what type of baggage I can fit/gate check. Same with a mainline. Be friendly with the gate agents. You will get to know each other, and in smaller markets they make ALL the difference in irrops if they want to. If you're making somewhat last minute plans, check the weather to help with flight times. A 9pm flight in stormy weather or a 6am the next day? Choose the latter if you can. This is an advantage of being single- you make your travel schedule (in concert with your company) to fit your needs specifically. When my kids were young, I walked into the house at 2am a lot of times because they expected to see me when they woke up. It was worth it, but tiring.
Create a routine. When I have a free night in a city, I never just hang out in my room. If I have work I'll often take my computer into the lobby, I'll do a little shopping if in a downtown area, etc. I go to bed around the same time as I do at home, wake up maybe 15-20 minutes earlier.
Great advice within about food choices. Eat as you would at home. So many people have three huge meals per day on the road. I have eggs or oatmeal in the morning, a salad or light sandwhich during the day, and try to keep my dinners somewhat light. I'll order the salmon at the steak restaurant, I won't get an app/entree/dessert more than once on a trip, etc. I work out religiously before and after my trips, because I find it too tight to do so while on them (it also saves on packing). But I walk places if I can, and during warmer months generally get a decent amount of exercise this way.
Learn your equipment, and know what planes you're likely to fly beforehand. If I'm on a regional, I know what type of baggage I can fit/gate check. Same with a mainline. Be friendly with the gate agents. You will get to know each other, and in smaller markets they make ALL the difference in irrops if they want to. If you're making somewhat last minute plans, check the weather to help with flight times. A 9pm flight in stormy weather or a 6am the next day? Choose the latter if you can. This is an advantage of being single- you make your travel schedule (in concert with your company) to fit your needs specifically. When my kids were young, I walked into the house at 2am a lot of times because they expected to see me when they woke up. It was worth it, but tiring.
Create a routine. When I have a free night in a city, I never just hang out in my room. If I have work I'll often take my computer into the lobby, I'll do a little shopping if in a downtown area, etc. I go to bed around the same time as I do at home, wake up maybe 15-20 minutes earlier.
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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oh and this advice goes for all, after you land and are waiting go to the DL 20 minute baggage guarantee and pre fill it out. Wait about 30-60 minutes and submit it. The system is ALL over the place and gives you the 2,500 miles I am convinced out of sheer randomness and not based on the 20 minutes. Its a great way to get bonus miles and takes 8 seconds every time to fill out, worst thing that happens is the system says you dont get them.
That leads me to a separate piece regarding luggage. JUST CHECK IT.
I know I am the minority I am sure here on this but I am so tired of having to fight everyone for overhead space and the what not, I would rather board last and not worry it does not take much longer to wait for luggage.
That leads me to a separate piece regarding luggage. JUST CHECK IT.
I know I am the minority I am sure here on this but I am so tired of having to fight everyone for overhead space and the what not, I would rather board last and not worry it does not take much longer to wait for luggage.
BTW, I agree with the advice to really know your employer's travel policy. You might discover some things that make your life easier and are considered SOP. It also helps to know the exceptions, such as whether you're allowed to stay at a destination over the weekend or even take a weekend side trip from your business destination for fun.
#21
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: California
Programs: DeltaSilver/MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 494
One person mentioned workouts to avoid jet lag. That helps, but being out in the sun in the new time zone would help more. I also use AM/PM essentials which help quite a bit. https://billsilverstein.jeunesseglob...m/pmessentials
#22
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: California
Programs: DeltaSilver/MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 494
There is sleep, reading, watching movies, listening to audio.
#23
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
To each his or her own I suppose. For me at least sleep in a plane is never equal to that on the ground (regardless of whether you're in J, F, or Y) so I'd rather try to clear work backlog to reduce late nights on the ground.
Reading is fair enough - although take the best of both worlds and catch up on whatever you need to read for work...
As for movies.. never understood people who watch movies on planes. But I'm clearly in the minority there so I'll let it pass.
Reading is fair enough - although take the best of both worlds and catch up on whatever you need to read for work...
As for movies.. never understood people who watch movies on planes. But I'm clearly in the minority there so I'll let it pass.
#24
formerly PHLGrump
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: PHL
Posts: 99
Hi guys, first post but I have been lurking here for a while. I'm a recent college grad and been working only 2 years where my company pays for my travel (Delta, hence why I'm posting here. It was fun to fly everywhere at first and get status/perks but I feel like my social life has gone down the drain. I assume most of you here travel frequently for work, so I would like some tips. The work load is fine for me but I find myself with no friends in strange places and cant keep a gf because of work (I dont even blame her lol). Any tips would be greatly appreciated. OTOH, I admit it makes me feel good inside when all my friends think I must be some millionaire due to being Delta gold and having a metal credit card
#26
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,786
When I travel I try to do something for myself. Sometimes it is hanging with friends, other times it is searching out a really good beer, other times it is seeing something. Depending on where I am traveling I might tack a day or two on, or more. As for food, I tend to find a grocery store for breakfast food. If lunch is good, I'll might eat big then have a light dinner. Or the opposite. That said, traveling does get old.
#28
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Location: MSP
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#29
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
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Posts: 1,988
Get a durable luggage. My TravelPro seems to always get its zippers pulled off since it gets checked pretty often. However, it gets repaired for free under warranty since it is a Plat Magna 2.
Take impromtu trips and enjoy the experiences. Flew down to Puerto Rico 4 times and met my brother there once. Fares were cheap and we went scuba diving.
Consider noise cancelling headphones if you will be on a plane a lot. It makes quite a difference.
Sync your statuses with partnerships between hotels/airlines. SPG Plat -> Marriott Plat -> United Silver, Uber/SPG/Delta
Take impromtu trips and enjoy the experiences. Flew down to Puerto Rico 4 times and met my brother there once. Fares were cheap and we went scuba diving.
Consider noise cancelling headphones if you will be on a plane a lot. It makes quite a difference.
Sync your statuses with partnerships between hotels/airlines. SPG Plat -> Marriott Plat -> United Silver, Uber/SPG/Delta
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Delta, Marriott, SPG
Posts: 22
Thank you guys, these are actually very helpful tips. Another question, is the "upgrade" list supposed to be taken care of before anyone on "standy"? Does it affect my upgrade chances if I'm GM and let's say a DM is on standby? I ask because there were 3 times that I did NOT get upgraded, even as 1st