Business Travel Advice

Business leader and author of Lead with Love, Gerry Czarnecki gives his advice on the often burdensome undertaking of business travel.

First, if you are going to travel with any frequency, develop a routine and stick to it. If you spend a lot of time on airplanes, you begin to develop behaviors that work and make them a habit. “When I am on a trip,” says Gerry “I am a total creature of habit. Without that as part of your pattern, you will make far too many mistakes, and those mistakes almost always become a financial cost, or worse, a trip where you lose control”.

Mr. Czarnecki goes on to say that if beginning to travel frequently for business, take advantage of the multitude of rewards programs available.  “You'll be certain to find one to suit your goals or lifestyle.”  There are rewards programs for hotels, airlines, auto rental companies, phone companies, credit card companies, dining establishments, and many others.

However, it is also important to be aware of the various partnerships within rewards programs.  Make the most out of rewards points by earning them within the same "network" of rewards programs.  “For example,” says Gerry, “American Airlines partners with Hilton Hotels and those programs allow you to convert earned rewards points from one to the other as needed.”

However, the real reasons for frequently flyer status -- meaning lots of flights on the same airline – are for the privileges when flying such as: preference lines on check in, boarding early (even first) and preference seating & upgrades. Gerry feels that “the points that are gained to buy tickets may be a nice bonus, but the real benefit is all the things that make flying less of a hassle.”

Seasoned business travelers should try to avoid checking their luggage whenever possible.  Gerry’s rule is; find a way to carry on. Packing carefully, and using hotel laundries, etc., all make that possible. Gerry advises that one of the most important reasons for not checking in bags is to have immediate access to everything if and when a flight is delayed. “You can only have the flexibility to change planes, if you have the bags with you.  Carry on”!  Although Gerry concedes that there are those moments when carry-on is not an option.

Gerry’s best advice is to be flexible. Travelers must be flexible at all times especially since recent events (i.e. terrorism) have forced extra measures on security.  This may involve extremely lengthy waits at security checks, being grounded, being forced to discard packed items, repack, or check everything.  Travel plans must be adapted accordingly.

Gerry warns that “where you are going or where the equipment is coming from is what really matters.”  Stay alert to changing facts.  Consider checking with TSA (online) or the aircraft carrier prior to arriving at the airport for any recent changes in security policy and procedure.

Finally, Gerry advises that “allowing delays and flight cancellations to get your emotions boiling, gets you nowhere. Accept the fact that there are going to be times when your trip will not go smoothly. When that happens, you will almost always have more time to burn that you had planned. Make certain you have more work to do on the trip than you know you will have time available.  The seat in an airplane will be some of the best quiet time – you will ever have. Take advantage of it.”

About Gerry Czarnecki

With over 40 years of experience as a leader, C level and senior executive in Fortune 100 companies (like IBM and Bank of America), privately held companies, closely held public companies and large and small non-profits, Gerry has been consistently committed to sharing his experience and vision by coaching organizations to achieve peak performance through effective leadership, focused strategy, superior organization and sound financial management. His enlightening management philosophy has led to the writing of his books: “Success Principles for Leaders”, “You’re in Charge…What Now?”, “You’re a non-profit director…what now?” and his most recent creation, “Lead with Love”, due to publish April, 2010.