Ledfish

However, if you decide to follow this suggestion, be aware that you may occasionally have your luggage get delayed or lost. Not saying it is bad suggestion, just be aware that it may happen.

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.

ethernal

This is terrible advice in my opinion (the not letting it become worktime thing). You're stuck in a metal tube.. what else is there to do other than work? I'd rather get some work out of the way so I can enjoy my time not in said metal tube than do nothing for 5 hours.

3Cforme

That is very good advice. An ExpertFlyer subscription to check for availability in purchased fare class is handy.

OP should also look at rules and systems for Comfort+ upgrades (I never want a Comfort+ middle seat) and snagging inventory at T-24.

gold23

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.

MSPeconomist

This would be cheating.

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.

spamkiller

In my experience, the international Marriotts are much better than the domestics. The CourtYard in Tokyo is closer to the AC hotels than the US CourtYards. All of the non-US Marriotts have had the omlet stations. I would consider Manila the best with Bangkok a close second.

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

spamkiller

There is sleep, reading, watching movies, listening to audio.

ethernal

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.

theshortfinal

Get on Tinder or whatever dating apps are around these days. As soon as you touchdown start swiping right. Soon enough you'll have companions in every city You're welcome

vincentharris

FlyingUnderTheRadar

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.

Gino Troian

i don't travel much domestically, but I definitely recommend tinder if you're looking for some company

sethb

Requesting miles for delayed luggage when your luggage isn't delayed? How is that not cheating? I consider it Fraud.

kxc262

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

JinSda

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