10 Ways to Improve Your Business Travel

By Martha Lynn Craver, Associate Editor, The Kiplinger Letter

April 3, 2008

For years, Kiplinger forecasting has provided advice to business travelers on ways to hold down costs (especially important to small business travelers) and eliminate delays and annoyances. Here's a list of 10 ways you can improve your travel:

• Sign up for the Registered Traveler Program to cut down on the time you spend in security lines. This program is finally swinging into full gear, with at least 25 major business airports expected to participate by year's end. Applicants submit to a background check, with fingerprinting and iris scans, and pay up to $128. But if you're approved, you'll receive a card that allows you to use special lanes at airport security checkpoints, guaranteeing speedy processing every time.

• We prefer airline Web sites when it comes to shopping online for cheap seats. Yes, travel Web sites such as Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia do a good job, but the airlines' Web sites can be easier to navigate and often have the lowest fares. You can book hotels and car rentals there, too.

• Fly out of secondary airports rather than busy hubs to avoid big delays and undue hassles. For example, use Stewart Airport in the southern Hudson Valley of New York, rather than JFK or LaGuardia; Sanford Airport instead of Orlando; Allentown Airport instead of Philadelphia, or Long Beach Airport rather than Los Angeles International. Driving an extra hour or so to get to and from the airport is often a good investment, especially during peak flying hours. An added bonus: More low cost carriers fly out of secondary airports.

• Take the first flight of the day if you can. That way, if there's a problem at the airport, you have more opportunities to take another plane. Never book the last flight out. It's a recipe for disaster. Whenever possible, avoid peak flying times and days. That means staying put on Sunday, Monday and Friday, since those are the busiest days for air travel. And always try to get on a nonstop flight; there are fewer chances for delay. If your meeting is critical, go a day earlier or have a backup plan to take a train or car.

• Take advantage of technology. Use advance check-in options over the computer and the electronic kiosks at the airport. And get updates on your flight from the airlines via cell phone. But make sure they have checks in place so your cell phone number doesn't get onto lists for spam text messages.

• Try to get a bulkhead seat or one on the emergency exit row. There's more legroom, and you don't have to worry about the seats in front of you reclining into your lap.

• Bring only a carry-on bag and pack lightly. You avoid the chance that your luggage will be lost, and any security search will go faster. This will reduce the amount of liquids you can take with you. Just make sure you know the rules before you pack.

• Consider ground transportation such as buses and light rail, instead of renting a car. Not only are they cheaper, but they can whisk you through rush-hour traffic and spare you the stress of negotiating unfamiliar downtown streets. If renting a car, go to an off-airport location. Car rental rates at airports are substantially higher. So, take an airport limo to your hotel and get the car from a nearby rental outfit.

• Look out for extra fees on your hotel bill. It's not uncommon for hotels to tack on maid service and bellhop tips to a bill. They may even try to charge you a resort fee, even if you did not use it. Most properties will remove these items from the bill if you raise a fuss.

• Think twice before eating in. Sure, it's convenient, but hotel food will cost you more than dining at a nearby eatery. And avoid the minibar or other in-room food options. unless you want to pay $7 for a bag of nuts and $5 for water. In fact, unless you plan to indulge, don't even touch it -- there are some with sensors that will charge you if you move the items.

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