No matter where you are going, there are always ways to make your journey that little bit easier. With everything from what to take with you to checking in online, you’ll discover some of our top tips for business travel below.
Check-in Online Before Your Flight
As technology continues to evolve, checking in at the airport is easier than ever before. You can now check in online, making those dreaded queues a distant memory for many. This not only helps you to save time, but it also means there’s one less thing to worry about when setting off on your journey.
You’ll need to check with your airline for how far in advance you can check in online and those travelling with luggage, other than a carry-on, will need to drop off their bags.
Check Internet Connection
There’s nothing more frustrating than a bad internet connection when you need it the most. For those who are travelling for business, you’re likely going to need a good online connection. We recommend checking the wifi at the places you are staying, alongside anywhere you might stop off in between.
For those with a layover, it’s also worth checking that the airport has a good internet connection so that you can make the most of your time whilst waiting for your flight.
Save Files and Important Information Offline
If you’re struggling to find places during your trip with a good internet connection, a great alternative is to save your important files and documents offline. This means that you will be able to access them even if there’s no wifi in sight!
Alternatively, another business travel solution is to go old school and print off your important documents. This means you can still work on those meeting notes in the event of no internet and low battery on your device.
Pick Your Seat on the Plane Before Travelling
When booking business travel, we recommend picking your seat on the plane before you travel. This is especially important for those flying long distances, as comfort will be key. You can discover an array of great websites that will help you find the best and worst places to sit on your flight.
There are also some excellent places to go for those pursuing corporate air travel or are travelling with multiple colleagues on the same trip. This means that you can spend your journey resting comfortably and arrive at your destination feeling ready to go.
Try Opt for Non-stop travel
Layovers can be a pain, even for leisure travellers. With this in mind, we would also suggest opting for a non-stop flight wherever possible. It’s also likely that you will have meetings or arrangements for when you arrive at your destination and layovers may cause delays.
Flying non-stop also helps avoid other potential issues such as lost baggage and cancellations, so a direct journey is always best for those looking to take the stress out of business travel.
Plan Time for Security Checks
To help your business travel experience go as smoothly as possible, it’s also important that you plan and make time for security checks.
Make sure your liquids and electronics are packed properly and be sure to review the security criteria beforehand so you know what you can and cannot take in your hand luggage. This will help ensure that your time at the airport is stress-free, creating an all-around better travel experience.
Think about Comfort when Travelling
Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, comfort is always key. You must wear clothes that are comfortable for your journey, especially if you are on a long-haul flight. We also recommend bringing good luggage that is easy to carry, snacks and drinks, skincare and a good book or tablet to pass the time. All of these things will help make your business travel a little more enjoyable.
Choose Carry-on Luggage Where Possible
Opting for carry-on bags instead of heavy suitcases is a much easier alternative. Not only will this help you save time during your business trip, but it also minimises the chances of your luggage going missing.
Plus, you could also pack your essentials for your flight in your carry-on bag, great for those planning to work on the plane.
Keep Important Documents to Hand
With plenty to think about during your business trip, the last thing you need is to misplace your important documents. We recommend always having them to hand in your carry-on bag or hand luggage. This means you can save time when going through security and checking in at the airport and also ensure you always have your documents available if you happen to need them at the last minute.
Research Business Etiquette
One thing that people often overlook when business travel planning is interactions when travelling to other countries. Respecting differing cultures and traditions is not only the right thing to do when you’re exploring somewhere new, but it will also help you build relationships for business.
We recommend doing your research before your trip to ensure you know the country’s customs, this way you can conduct yourself in a way that is both polite and respectful.
Look Up Your Company’s Travel Policy
If you are going on business travel and are employed, you will want to follow your company’s travel policy during this time. Make sure you read this document so that you are representing your organisation in the best way possible. This also often provides travellers with key information for their journey such as where to book, how receipts and payments work, plus much more.
Make the Most of Loyalty Schemes
Rewards programmes are great ways to make the most out of your business travel experiences. There are plenty of great loyalty schemes for frequent flyers or regular hotel guests. You’ll find an excellent selection of perks with these programmes, providing you with lots of added benefits during your trip.
Ask Your IT Team for Travel Requirements
There’s nothing more frustrating than technical issues, especially when you’re travelling for business. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure you have access to all of your servers and files before your trip. It’s worth checking with your IT department before you go as they will be able to guide you on security measures and access approval whilst you travel.
We also recommend having a contact number or email that you could use during your business trip if there happen to be any technical issues during your stay.
Collect Your Business Receipts
Business travel expenses soon stack up and many companies are happy to reimburse these after your trip. However, it is important to keep all of your receipts so that you can claim your money back when you return. Without these, there’s no way of knowing what you spent and what you are owed, which could result in a very expensive business trip if there’s no way of getting the money back.