Travel

[peaches2160]

Its official.  Boss wants me to travel to HQ with him in a couple of months for his big meeting with his direct staff.  I haven't flown in about ten yrs and know domestic travel has gotten pretty strict.  Any tips for packing for a business trip, laptop security tips, etc?  I will make the arrangements,so will try to coordinate with his schedule in order to catch a ride to a and from the airport, etc.  I am excited to go and meet people I have only talked to on the phone.  Nice to put faces with names.  Any tips are welcome. 

[Jackie G]

Great news! Depends how long you're going for, but would recommend getting small versions of your regular toiletries or decanting into small bottles where possible.  If you're putting luggage in the hold you've no worries about what's in your toiletry bag.

If hand luggage only toiletries which are liquid need to be in specific sizes (can't remember, and US may vary from the UK/Europe) but airline will have that info on their website.

Again rules about laptops will vary, and your airline is best to advise.

Take non iron or as uncrushable clothes as possible, and take clothes you know you feel / look good in - great confidence booster when in a strange environment.

And for downtime, unless you're going to be doing lots of work things at night, and even if you are, take a good book/s with you to relieve potential boredom.  Amazing how you miss your home surroundings when away.

Most of all, enjoy!

[Sunflower]

Oh that's great - what a compliment, especially if there is a clamp down on travel.

I am guessing that this is an internal flight within the US - and how many nights are you going for?

Jackie is right - check the airline website (they all differ) re security, hand luggage, weight allowances etc. Full sized toiletries will have to be put in hold luggage. Small quantities (think under 100ml in UK) can be taken through in hand luggage. But they will have to be put in a small see through plastic bag (you can get these at the airport) and put through the Security machine. The last thing you want is to see your 'bought for this HQ occasion as a treat to myself Chanel' lipgloss get thrown into the rubbish!

To make life easier I would wear loose comfortable clothes and most importantly, comfortable shoes - airports normally mean lots of walking. Also you will probably have to take your shoes off at Security - so ones you can take off and put on easily are best. Belts, coats, change, keys - put these in your handbag - anything that could set off the walk-through machine I would pack away or not wear (large bangles/bracelets are also culprits.)

For phones, laptops and the like - ensure they are fully charged before you fly and also remember to take your chargers (and your boss's) with you.

If you are staying overnight - I would pack some spare essential clothing items in your hand luggage, just in case the hold luggage goes missing. I always think - if my luggage went missing, could I cope for a day or two?

Also if you are staying in a good hotel, they normally keep a stock of standard supplies like toothbrushes, cotton wool, etc - indeed anything you might want, they can give you (or for a small charge).

Remember to take business cards - for both you and your boss - you never know who you might meet.

Take at least one USB/Memory stick with all the necessary paperwork - as well as having a copy with you. Hopefully, if you need to, you can print out anything you might need at your HQ.

I hope this helps.

And finally, enjoy and have fun, it will be lovely for you to meet all your 'phone' and 'email' friends. :-)

Sunny

[gee4]

A friend of mine who travels regularly always has a bag and a toiletry bag packed and ready to go so she can travel at the last minute without having to shop for anything she might need.

Ensure equipment you are taking can go through a security scanner without being damaged or confiscated eg. laptop, memory stick etc.  I have had some of these taken from my travellers and damaged by security staff at the airport.  Needless to say we now give that airline a by ball.

At the end of the day, only you will know what you need to pack, and for how long eg. is it purely a business trip or will certain aspects be more casual?

http://www.deskdemon.com/pages/uk/travel/traveltips/btchecklist

http://www.deskdemon.com/pages/uk/travel/traveltips

[Atlanta Z3]

I agree keep a baggie of travel size and just leave that in your suitcase.  Also make up keep in mind travel sizes there also.   I would keep make up and beauty supplies, night gown, and spare shirt in your carry on just in case your luggage gets lost or arrives differently from you.  My boss had to replace about $400 worth of make up when her bag was lost, since then I've kept my make up with me.  (Not that I spend that much on make up, but total up everything for basicis that we daily wear and it adds up!)  Many companies are making solid shampoos and conditioners, a small chip will go a long way and take up less space in your luggage.  I also roll my clothese rather than fold, fits neater in suitcase and less wrinkles.  Anything you can do to lighten the bag will make your life easier.  I plan out my wardrobe for the week. letting suits do double duty splitting tops and bottoms with other pieces.  If you can travel in jeans for comfort go for it - they take up too much room in my luggage.

[Atlanta Z3]

Opps one more thought, make sure you sign up for the freqent flyer or hotel points! 

[countrigal]

On my last flight, I kept my makeup in my carryon, but my cleanser and other items that come in a larger bottle was packed in my checked bag.  You normally have to power up any electronics, so be prepared there.  Also, something I learned, Kindles cannot be turned on during take-off and landings, so if you are like me and like to read to take your mind off of leaving the surface of the earth or returning to it, take an old-fashioned hard copy book for those times.  I tend to wear slip on shoes, because shoes go thru the scanners.  Keep accesories to a minimum for travel, again due to those pesky security scans.  Pack in your checked backage any liquids and such in ziplock bags, try to keep from layering them with hair dryers or curling irons or each other, as these can look odd going through scanners.  Be prepared for your checked baggage to be searched, as well.  I saw one lady who packed her underwear and bras in ziplock bags, so when her bag was searched, these didn't scatter or get flipped through.  Thought that was a good idea.

Basically, know that whatever you are carryinng or wearing will go through a scanner, so be prepared.  My last flight, I didn't take a laptop but instead took my Kindle Fire, because it was one less thing to have to remove and send through separately, only to put it all back together on the other side of the scanner.  Didn't have to deal with a laptop bag AND my carryon.  Main thing to remember is, the less you can carry on with you the better.  Our days of our carry on being like another checked bag is over, due to the whole security mess (IMHO) so it's now KISS mentality when packing my carry on. (Keep It Simple Stupid = the less the better!, again IMHO).

[peaches2160]

So far the trip is still a go.  Have booked hotel and flights should be finalized next week.  Bought a bag today that will hold the laptop and other items for the plane, will need to check a bag.  Looking forward to this.  Will be gone four days. 

[peaches2160]

Quick update, trip went well.  Very successful and productive.  A few travel hiccups, delays, but that goes with business travel.  Enjoyed meeting folks and putting faces with names.  Feels good to be part of a team again.:-)   

[countrigal]

Congrats Peaches!!! So.... any embarrassing issues during check-in and security processing? 

[peaches2160]

I did get the body xray and have my right leg searched:-)   other than that, the travel delays were delightful:-)   7 hours, so glad to have been traveling with my bosses.  They are so cool about stuff and gentlemen.  All in all it was a great trip. 

[Jackie G]

So your left leg wasn't thought worthy of a search?!!!  How odd!

Glad it went well though.  Maybe you'll get a bit more travel with bossie in future?

[Chatham Lady]

Glad you had a good trip and it went well for you.    Perhaps we could start a thread of where people have been on business trips in their working lives?

[peaches2160]

Great idea.  I told my boss today I appreciated the opportunity and enjoyed traveling with them.  With all of the changes and delays, they were so cool and took it in stride. Participating in the meeting and having the opportunity to go to HQ and meet people was awesome.