As a business Traveler, you have no time to waste. Use these five business travel time-saving tips during your next trip for a more efficient, seamless and convenient experience.
You’ve probably heard the oft-repeated adage, “time is money.” There’s no time when this is perhaps truest than during a business trip. Every moment spent waiting, delayed or otherwise unproductive due to elements out of your control is money lost. However, there are things that you can do as a business Traveler to cut down on wasted time while on the road — even if you don’t think that you’re necessarily wasting any time at the present.
Here are some of our favorite business travel time-saving tips.
1. Stop Wasting So Much Time in Security Lines
Standing in line at TSA can take hours on the wrong day. You wait your turn to even get up to the first agent and show your travel documents. You wait your turn to take off your shoes and belt, and empty your pockets. All the while, infrequent Travelers around you are making the entire process take longer than it should. It’s extremely frustrating, to say the least.
If you’ve yet to invest the minimal time and small fee necessary to bypass these security lines, now’s the time to do so.
You have a few options, though. Examine them all and pick the right fit for your travel habits and needs.
TSA PreCheck, of course, will get you through U.S. airports fastest, so is a good pick if you travel within the United States most often. Global Entry is great for those who travel internationally on a regular basis. NEXUS is ideal for those whose business travel takes them between the United States and Canada regularly. SENTRI, meanwhile, is a similar option for those traveling between the United States and Mexico. CLEAR Plus, meanwhile, is a good complement to TSA PreCheck, helping negate the need for ID checks.
Beyond applying and paying for these passes individually, you can sometimes get them for free, if you have certain travel rewards credit cards, or if you’re a member of certain travel loyalty programs (more on those later!).
2. Avoid Over-Packing
We all have been there before. You’re staring down at your checked luggage and you know you’re bringing too much on your trip, but you’re unsure what to remove from your bag. You need your business attire, obviously, for meetings and similar events. You need after-hours attire for corporate parties. You need gym clothes for a quick morning workout at the hotel. The list goes on.
However, checking your bag just adds more time to your travel process. There’s waiting in line to tag and check the bag. There’s waiting to get the bag at baggage claim. And if your bag is lost—well, good luck.
If you struggle with over-packing on a regular basis, take some of our favorite business travel time-saving tips from another recent article we published, specifically on how to travel with just a carry-on bag.
3. Enroll in a Loyalty Program
If you’re not yet a member of an airline loyalty program, make sure that you take the time to enroll. It’s a simple, free process that can save you headaches in the future, especially if you travel frequently enough to really start racking up the miles or points. (Just make sure that your business travel will count toward your loyalty program status. You can discuss this with your Travel Manager to make it happen.)
What are the various time-saving perks that you can expect after enrolling in a loyalty program? Priority boarding is one valuable perk that comes with many airline loyalty programs. Priority check-in and priority security line access are also available with some loyalty programs, as is the case with Delta, which also provides you with expedited baggage service, a CLEAR Plus membership and more.
4. Learn Your Travel Policy Inside and Out
If you’re not that familiar with your organization’s travel policy, consider brushing up on that documentation in the near future. Doing so can help you avoid time-wasting habits and make your trip overall more seamless, as well as safe.
Your travel policy likely has specific instructions as to what to do during unexpected occurrences such as a flight delay or cancellation, for example. If you know exactly what to do in these instances, you can act accordingly, get your Travel Manager’s help ASAP, and avoid any wasted time.
5. Avoid Jet Lag with Healthy Habits
Lastly, don’t fall prey to the time-wasting excruciation of a bout of jet lag. While sometimes jet lag seems impossible to avoid, you can actually make a few healthful choices to reduce your chances of enduring days of brain fog and sleepless nights.
For example, while traveling and especially while on the aircraft, stay hydrated and avoid alcohol, which can interrupt your sleep patterns. Blue light from screens can also interrupt your sleep, so try to keep tech usage to a minimum. When choosing your in-flight meal service, opt for healthful, light meals that won’t leave you feeling weighed down.
Additionally, while flying on long-haul flights, attempt to time your night’s rest or nap with the time zone that you’re headed toward, so when you land, you’re more adjusted to your new schedule.
Once you arrive in your destination, make time for a few activities that will help your body adjust to the new time zone, such as getting as much natural light as possible, and engaging in some light exercise.
Need More Business Travel Time-Saving Tips?
Looking for more business travel time-saving tips and other business travel tips to make your next flight more enjoyable? Check out the JTB Business Travel Waypoint Blog for insights on everything from what to do when you’re stranded at the airport to what you need to know about the most current per diem rates.
