International Business Travel

DRZ

DRZ

DRZ

Soldato
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Do you travel a lot on business? Want to share any tips/stories?

About to travel on business for the first time? Ask away!

I've been 'lucky' enough to travel an awful lot with my current employer. I know some people personally from here that travel a lot, one hated it, the other quite likes it.

Me? I'm sat in Oslo airport, bored to tears but glad to be here as it marks a bit of a milestone for me. I spend about a week to 10 days a month abroad, averaged out over a working year. I've been as far as South Africa so far with work :)

Biggest gripe? Hotel rooms with no power outlets near the bed. Why?!?!
 
Make sure you're collecting miles, they aren't worth as much these days but it's not hard to get reward short haul flights.
 
I used to. I'm so glad I don't anymore. When you're young free and single, it's a great life. However, it's very disruptive and whilst I love travelling I got bored of it. Though it did let me have a lot of cheap holidays around the world, and keep my tan topped up! :D
 
As a regular traveler, here are some protips at the front of my mind:
  • Check that power outlets work, and wiggle them a bit to make sure they aren't loose. Waking up 5 minutes before the meeting starts isn't fun.
  • Buy something to read for the flight, as the 'no PED' time can get extended to a frustratingly long period if something happens or you are at LHR and taxiing for a month.
  • Get a super-duper do-all power adapter and leave it in your briefcase/bag/whatever. It's so much easier never needing to worry about being able to plug something in.
  • Make a list of things to pack that you use for each trip. Have a two-stage 'ticking off' from the list, with the first stage being 'I've taken it from it's location, it's near the bag/nearly packed' and the second stage 'It's on my person or in the bag'. I never fail to pack everything I need.
  • Stick to a single airline if you can. Being able to use priority check-in/security/boarding is handy and can save you queuing behind a billion tourists.
  • If you have a choice of London airports, choose London City - it's much better than the others, and many of the planes only have window/aisle seats, so no middle-seat nightmares.
  • Status with many airlines allows you to select your seat earlier. When you get to a certain level, you will almost never fail to get your favourite seat on a particular plane.
  • If you have an AmEx Platinum and fly Oneworld, apply for the Marco Polo Gold - you get instant Oneworld Sapphire status and can use a bunch of priority stuff, use lounges etc.
  • Check your bags in to the hold. It's much nicer not carrying a mini suitcase around, and at most airports you won't experience much if any delay.
  • Use a personal credit card to purchase flights and cover other expenses if you can, as you can use some kind of rewards/cashback card.
  • Sign-up to every loyalty programme going - you never know when you might be able to use the points/wrangle an extra of some kind.
  • Make a pillow preference with loyalty programmes/make a pillow selection at the hotel. It's so nice having the pillow you want.
  • If you use a regular hotel, get to know the staff a little. You'll get preferential everything as you are the bread and butter of their business.
  • If you use a regular hotel, consider leaving some clothes and wash materials behind in case something bad happens in transit.
  • As a British person it is your duty to always travel with an umbrella - I carry one in my briefcase everywhere. The moment it rains, put it up. Your foreign colleagues will laugh at you, then you can tell the French ones they smell and it'll be a big joke. You'll mean it.
  • Put your personal phone number on your business cards, and dish them out.
  • Don't be afraid to ask; a better pillow, a different room, another glass of wine, using the shorter security queue even if you are being directed elsewhere - whatever it is, most people in the travel industry are more than happy to help, whether it's 'the rule' or not.
  • Keep some foreign currency in your wallet. I carry 16 in mine, it's probably overkill, but I'm unlikely to get stuck unable to buy something.
 
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Use Quidco to book hotels - get cashback AND points towards free / discounted hotel stays.

PMKeates said:
As a regular traveler, here are some protips at the front of my mind:
  • Buy something to read for the flight, as the 'no PED' time can get extended to a frustratingly long period if something happens or you are at LHR and taxiing for a month.
  • Stick to a single airline if you can. Being able to use priority check-in/security/boarding is handy and can save you queuing behind a billion tourists.
  • Check your bags in to the hold. It's much nicer not carrying a mini suitcase around, and at most airports you won't experience much if any delay.
  • Use a personal credit card to purchase flights and cover other expenses if you can, as you can use some kind of rewards/cashback card.
  • Sign-up to every loyalty programme going - you never know when you might be able to use the points/wrangle an extra of some kind.
Click to expand...

Agreed with these EXCEPT signing up to every loyalty program. I made this mistake and realised that I could have used some of the points on shared schemes instead (e.g. OneWorld, Star Alliance etc.). Now I have a bunch of points "stuck" with various obscure / less used airlines and hotels.
 
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Invest in some noise cancelling headphones! I spend about 10 weeks a year in various places around the world and couldn't fly without them now!
 
Travelling with work is a mugs game and I'm glad to be out of it. Far more important things in life than spending hours per year sat in airports or on some form of public transport. If that sounds like you, your company owns you......
 
Sign up for frequent flyer programmes and use an Amex reward card (I use Virgin Atlantic's AMEX) for maximum win.

I get Gold every year and loads of points, enough for a few 1st class upgrades a year
 
So far this year I have been to Italy twice, France, Spain, Switzerland twice, Slovakia, Holland twice and a few others I have no doubt forgotten. Off to Slovakia again soon then South Africa for a week. Sometimes at a few days notice.

Do it whilst young free and single.
Get out of it as soon as possible.
Noise cancelling headphones
5 plug extension and a multi-country adaptor
long hdmi cable
Always ignore the unofficial taxi drivers and go to the main taxi rank
Ask at information office what the cost of a fare would be, use this to argue with taxi drivers
Never admit is your first time in a country to taxi driver
Know your agenda and have hard and soft copies on you

A million other things I can't think of right now.


Buy a decent bag, always check it in.
Take a book regardless of any other entertainment devices you may have
 
Django x2 said:
Travelling with work is a mugs game and I'm glad to be out of it. Far more important things in life than spending hours per year sat in airports or on some form of public transport. If that sounds like you, your company owns you......
Click to expand...

Perhaps in your case, some of us have good enough jobs that travel turns from a chore to quite fun.

I usually pack a multiplug, small extension lead and on occasion a small wifi router :p
 
5 years, Between 6 and 10 longhaul trips per year, many more around Europe.

Should have been in Pakistan last week, missed out because the visa process has changed, was gutted cause I booked my fav Emirates flights and I love the A380 configuration they have.
 
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Will be flying to San Diego next month for four weeks. My company will probably fly me direct with BA in Club World but if there is no seats available, I'll fly Upper Class with Virgin to Los Angeles. Can't wait.*


* I'm young, free and single. :)
 
I used to travel extensively; went all over the world and lived in some exotic and remote places. It was fun but I'm glad its over. Got paid well too for travelling as well as expensing everthing. Now I earn more and do no travelling except short business trips, suits me perfectly.
Enjoy it whilst you can DRZ.

4 things I always think are important as well as the usual passports, tickets and money:
I always pack my own medication
My noise cancelling headphones + ipod
Copies of all my documents.
Company credit card in case I ever get stuck anywhere.
 
If you go on a 747 make sure you get a seat on the top deck. Only 20 seats up there and a great way to travel. A380 is also nice. I went to Sydney on one 2 years ago. The film choice and in flight entertainment will be fine, no need for iPad but I do load iplayer with some stuff invade I'm bored

Also when you get silver status you can push past all the poor people on your way to free food and beer in the lounges.

I enjoy travelling with work. Just got back from a 10 day trip, week conference in Phoenix and San Antonio, weekend in New York then two days in New Jersey office. Luckily a mate was on the same trip so that makes it much less lonely! Good way to see a bit more of the real America too. Eg trying to find a dollar tree in some random towns is an experience :D

Oh and week before I had to go to the Portugal WRC

Only problem is this kind of travel spoils you when you go on the package holidays with the gf :(
 
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Firestar_3x said:
5 years, Between 6 and 10 longhaul trips per year, many more around Europe.

Should have been in Pakistan last week, missed out because the visa process has changed, was gutted cause I booked my fav Emirates flights and I love the A380 configuration they have.
Click to expand...

How does it compare to Singapore? The BA ones look crap. I hate those middle seats they do. Looks like your in a double bed with someone, luckily I've never had the pleasure
 
Depends who they stick you next to I suppose!

The Emirates pods are good, you have a bar coolbox thing plus table and wifi controllers between you and the next person. You sit quite low so privacy is good, beds a good size too. It's about the only plane I can fall asleep on, which for me is the acid test, I find it hard to sleep in moving objects.
 
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