If you travel for your job, then you know how difficult and draining travel can be. There was a time when frequent fliers could find some semblance of refuge in their plane seat, before the days of personal videos, earphones, and laptops. Despite masses of fliers indicating on surveys that they would rather work, read, or relax while in flight, airlines are currently conspiring to turn each seat into a high-tech, multimedia entertainment center.

Look out, because video games, on-demand movies, up-to-the-minute financial reports, and other distractions are coming soon to a seat near you.I boarded an airline in the western part of the United States that had the audacity to put a liquid crystal screen on the seatback directly in front of my face. It was illuminated, and carried a fixed message. Before the plane took off, I inquired of the head flight attendant if there was a way to turn off this monitor. She did not know. Thereafter, ten minutes of confusion followed.

Apparently, no one connected with the airline knew if an individual monitor could be turned off or if the whole system would have to be turned off to simply accommodate one person. The short term solution on that short flight was to drape extra cloth headrest, in reverse, over the monitor facing me.

How dare that airline assume that I would be willing to face a monitor and a barrage of messages that I did not ask to see! I suppose that having the option of using high-tech toys in flight is a boon. And, you can always ignore them.

My long term observation, however, is that when more options are presented to you, you end up engaging in them. If you receive twelve stations with your cable connection, you channel surf to see what is on all twelve. If you have 25, you scan all 25. 125? Same deal. The solution, from my perspective, is to limit your options at the outset so that you don’t yield to the time-consuming stress-inducing inevitable temptation.

Travel with (Slightly) Less Hassle

Here are suggestions for mastering your environment while traveling:

• Whenever reserving a ticket with any transportation company, always ask for the representative’s name to increase the probability that he/she ensures that all parts of your reservation are correct. Also, ask about the on time performance related to the trip that you are reserving. This information is readily available to the person making your reservation.


• Pack the smallest amount of toiletries and cosmetics in the smallest containers possible. Don’t bring anything that your hotel supplies. Bring U.S. priority mail packs on long trips, so that you can send back to yourself any papers, information, or items that you have been collecting during the trip.


• Never, never buy tickets at the airline counter. Buy them in advance and have them sent via first class mail or print them off yourself. Get seat assignments 30 days before flight.


• If you book your ticket through a travel agency, review the itinerary included with your ticket. This indicates your scheduled arrival and departure times, stops, and if there will be food. If you book your tickets by phone with the airlines directly, the first page of your packet often has the same information.


• Ask for an aisle seat at the front of the plane to more easily get up, stroll in the aisles, or simply stretch. It’s easier to get the attention of flight attendants, or to get extra blankets, pillows, or other in-flight amenities. Aisle seats are best, particularly, for shorter flights, where you don’t anticipate going to sleep.


• Travel with two bags or fewer so that you can bring them on board. Buy the roll-on carts to avoid toting your bags from the airport parking lot to the plane. Most tote systems are made to fit the airline aisles, the overhead seat compartments, or under the seats. If you have more than two bags, you might as well check all of them, since waiting for one bag at the baggage counter requires roughly the same amount of time as waiting for several bags.


• Wear loose and comfortable clothing while on board. Sitting in an airplane seat is confining–you don’t need to add to it by wearing heavy clothing, restrictive belts, or tight shoes– unless you’re meeting a client immediately.


• If you do want to sleep–regardless of where you’re sitting–don a baseball cap with a sign on the rim saying, “Sleeping, do not disturb,” or “Do not disturb.” When you want to work, wear a cap with the words “On deadline, please do not disturb.” Both messages work well.


• Carry your own small water bottle on board to avoid having to ask flight attendants for drinks. Also, when the meal is served before the beverage, you’re able to wet your whistle while you eat and not wait for the beverage cart to come by 30 minutes later.


• Consider using luggage identification tags that include your picture. This helps cut down the possibility of someone making off with your bags. When traveling with a small child, carry a picture of the child in your wallet, lest he/she get separated from you. Travel vendors offer picture ID bracelets.


• If you need to rent a car, reserve a compact car at a low rate; you are likely to be upgraded at no charge to a larger car because most rental car companies have more larger cars than smaller cars. Join the rental car clubs to avoid lines, get the best discounts, and receive other benefits. Also, check out your car thoroughly before you leave the rental car parking lot.


• When you make hotel reservations, book your reservations directly with the hotel rather than a national 800 number; you’re likely to get a better deal. Ask for the corporate, educational, government, or family rate, any excuse to enable the front desk clerk to give you a discount. Many have been told to do this. Check your membership in car clubs, professional and civic associations, and other groups – you may qualify for a nice discount.


• When you check into the hotel, ask to stay on the third through the sixth floor. Fire ladders don’t reach past the seventh floor, while most thefts occur before the third floor. I use a checklist as a quick reminder of what I like to ask about and/or receive when checking into a hotel. It knocks the check-in clerk for a loop, but it works.

Hotel Check-in Reminder Card

• Express check-in?
• Express check-out?
• Non-smoking rooms?
• Personal toiletries?
• Executive/concierge level?
• In-room coffee maker?
• Non-smoking room, non-smoking floor?
• Room without adjoining door to another guest room?
• Corporate rate, weekend rate, auto club rate?
• Frequent flyer affiliations?
• Shuttle service to and from airport?
• Phone charges for calls from room?
• Pool, gym, health club? Cost? Hours?
• Early check-in, late check-out?
• Did a package arrive for me?
• Fax machine? Modem connection?
• Business center?

I’m also developing a Jeff Davidson policy card. After all, frequently you hear that “it is the policy of the hotel to blah, blah, blah.” In response, I want to give them my policies. Here’s what they include thus far:

Jeff Davidson’s Guest Policies

• I’m staying at your facility for (__) nights with the understanding that you offer your guests rooms in which they can get a full night’s sleep without disruptive noises.
• All taxes and service charges will be explained to me in advance.
• All telephone surcharges will be explained to me in advance.
• Your check in and check out hours are clearly posted. Your late arrival and check out procedures will be explained to me on request.
• I have no interest in the evening “turn down” service.