I just started a new business which will mean a lot of traveling (for me at least) if things go to plan. Prior to Covid the fun of travel was beginning to wear off. Maybe it's age (earyl 40s), maybe it's missing being home with the kids, but who knows. Travel became a lot more tiring and nothing really changed.

Now post-covid things are probably worse. Less direct flights means more connections (based out of LAX and will be flying all over). No food, no alcohol and minimal drinks in economy, FC is not really much better apart from the seat. I'm airline agnostic and will take whatever get's me there at the best time and with minimal connections. Usually pay for PE if not F.

I just don't have that excitement I used to have when I traveled and I'm wondering what I can do to make things more comfortable, convenient and fun. What are your go to tips and must have items to take with you?

Hi,

Depending on your route I would consider if a lounge pass programme ( or access with your credit card ie Amex Platinium for the American Express Centurion lounges) might be useful or financially beneficial With a layover the opportunity to relax a little in a more comfortable chair with opportunity for drinks ( Coffee/ Soft drinks etc) can make the journey more comfortable.Not all airports may have a lounge
I would also look to see your likely destinations and whether one airline might be a preferred option ( ie with some status ( or through an affiliated credit card) you might get preferred seating, luggage, priority boarding all of which helps a little). One airline programme may not cover all destinations but might cover a lot.

Also a Kindle/tablet with downloaded books or movies with good noise cancelling headphones may be of benefit

Regards

TBS

I have the CSR so Priority Pass which is pretty useless flying out of LAX given the layout. I could be loyal to one airline but then I can't buy based on optimum time or non-stop necessarily.

Centurion also wouldn't really work there. Gotta use the Kindle more! Maybe use the flight as a time to log off and read, good idea.

Lounges make trips more tolerable but do they make trips fun?

I do admit on trips I look forward to trying out a lounge or the business class product of certain airlines or new aircraft.

But the trip itself is the main focus. A bad flight shouldn’t ruin the trip.

I didn’t fly much on business so the vast majority of flights I’ve taken over the years have been for leisure and all paid for by me, mostly international trips too.

I might feel the burnout that the OP describes if I flew a lot for business and most of it was domestic.

You have a work vs. pleasure dichotomy there. And planes on international flights tend to be nicer than those for domestic flights, though obviously they’re longer flights, which can wear you down.

I might have enjoyed trips and flights paid for by my employer but the novelty would wear off if it was constant travel like those characters in the Up in the Air movie. Though of course having a ton of points would be nice.

this, x1000 … if you can use the hours in transit to disconnect and enjoy the outside view from 7 miles up, you’ll likely be in a *FAR* better psychological state on arrival

How to make flying fun?

- Don't do it for work purposes.

My home airport's PP restaurant is my godsend. There's rarely a line to get in. Eggs, hash browns, and meat with a cocktail for breakfast. A place to sit. For the plane, audiobooks and Netflix downloaded to the phone. No need to pay attention to all of the other nonsense around you.

The other tip I'd add here outside of the actual flying is try to make a moment of each trip "for you" especially if you are visiting lots of different places.

The flights and airports all just become one and the same week in and week out. However, the chances to be in different parts of the country mean there is always something different from back home.

Obviously, on a business trip you're not going to have days/hours to your around but I found what always energized me for a trip even to remote/industrial areas was spending time in the airport on the way there finding something unique.

Then while on the trip finding that evening/morning/moment to do that one new thing. Sometimes it was as simple as a cup of coffee from a local coffee roaster, or a beer from a local brewery. Other times I was able to sneak over to a local park and walk around. In bigger cities if the schedules lined up I'd go see a pro sports game, etc.

It really never mattered what it was, but at least I tried to take a moment on every trip to find something unique about where I was and since I had to be there anyway try something new.

Now going on 2 years working remotely and mostly away from my clients I can't wait to get back to the weekly business travel grind.

My best suggestion would be some sort of guilty pleasure that you would enjoy that is available only on the plane. Doesn't have to be exotic. Just something you can't do anywhere else (oir at least easily elsewhere). So depending on the flight length, maybe you like to listen to show tunes or watch mockumentaries or disconnect from the world.... something you won't let yourself enjoy on the ground or at home.

As for convenience, I am trying to pack a travel kit that has some creature comforts I will need in the air that I can quickly remove from my backpack without moving around. So it will have a few snack things, cables and a fan/hand warmer (if I happen to get the exit row). When I get to my seat, I pull out three things... the kit, my tablet and my headphones. I shove my backup in the bin and I'm all set to zone out.