long haul business travel checklist(1)
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Make sure you've got everything covered for any long haul business tripsTRANSCRIPT
Long haul business travel checklist
Business travellers often rack up the miles and live out of suitcases and it can be easy to forget certain things that will make a difference to whether during a long-haul flight, you hardly notice the time or whether you agonise over the slow-moving hands on the clock.
Here is a checklist of things to do or bring to ensure long-haul flight comfort and safety.
PRE-BOARDING:
Choose a good seat
If you want maximum room to stretch your legs, choose an aisle or exit row seat. Window seat is the best bet if you don’t want to be disturbed while using a laptop or plan on catching up with sleep during the flight. Avoid seats near lavatories as you will find a constant stream of people filing by, and some of them may be too loud and knock or bump your seat. The noise, light and smell coming from the lavatory every time someone uses it is also annoying. However, don’t go for an exit row seat if you’re travelling with a child.
Do some research on the airline’s food
Most of us have experienced bad airline food at some point. If you’re up several thousand feet in the air and have no other choice, make sure that what the airline serves satisfies your religious, health or personal requirements by giving a special meal request to the airline before the trip.
You can also read reviews on www.airlinemeals.net to see if what you’re going to be served is worth your money. Otherwise, pre-cook your own food or buy it at the airport (but make sure to enquire if it will be allowed through security).
WHAT TO PACK:
If you plan on doing a lot of sleep, be prepared with a travel pillow or head restraint and eyeshades if you’re sensitive to light.
Fight the boredom of long queues or wait times by stocking your smartphone and/or tablet with your favourite music, videos, films, e-books and games. Don’t forget the headphones!
Bring only necessary items and choose luggage that will easily fit in overhead bins or under the seat. Make sure your checked luggage provides adequate protection from rough handling and tampering and fits your carrier’s size and weight requirements.
Medicines. Yes, even if you’re strong as a bull and can’t remember the last time you even caught a cold. You might run into unpredictable weather along the way, be seated next to someone with a viral infection, or consume contaminated food and water. It’s always better to be prepared the moment you begin to feel discomfort, irritation or pain and there’s no doctor in the immediate vicinity.
Toiletries. The hotel you’ll be staying at will probably have some prepared but it’s still handy to bring your own if you prefer using a specific brand (I hear you ladies) or need to go straight to a meeting or presentation when you arrive. Just make sure to bring only approved items packed following regulations. Check www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/overview to see if what you have is allowed.
Clothes appropriate for the weather in the city you’re going to and the purpose of your trip.
IN-FLIGHT:
Smile, nod or say kind words to people around you. If you’re going to be seated around random strangers for the next 12 hours you might as well make the atmosphere pleasant. However, don’t overdo it by being too chatty with someone whose eyes are obviously drooping or getting too close to someone else’s private space (you’ll know you’ve gone too far when they start shifting in their seats or looking past you).
Do stretching or move around. DVT, anyone? This, as well as body aches and fatigue resulting from poor blood circulation due to long periods of inactivity are every long-haul traveller’s bane. Don’t want to look like a fool in front of other passengers? Strolling up and down the aisle, standing up and reaching for something in your overhead baggage are simple moves that do not attract unwanted attention. You can also do some leg and back stretches at the back of a cabin, while some airlines provide an in-flight exercise video that you can follow.
Protect yourself from dehydration. The air circulating in the cabin is very dry and can easily make one dehydrated during long flights. Buy bottled water after going through security checks or request one onboard. Use eye drops when your eyes feel dry, saline nasal gel if it makes you uncomfortable breathing dry air, and lip balm to protect your lips from getting cracked or chapped.
Let the cabin attendants know when you feel any discomfort, traveller’s sickness, nausea or pain.
Stop looking at the clock! Else the whole trip will feel a lot longer and you’re bound to get more irritable.
