Red Eye: Tips for Business Travellers

• Make a list. No, I’m not your mother, but a quick checklist ensures that you won’t be standing in line with your passport, while your lucky suit is hanging at the drycleaners.

• If possible, carry on. Eliminating checked bags eliminates the chance that they’ll be lost, and gets you out of the baggage claim chaos.

• When packing, roll up clothing into cylinders—it saves space.

• Always carry on toiletries, a change of clothes, your laptop and any important documents. This way you’ll at least be able to get to your meetings and out for a drink afterwards should your checked bags go missing.

• Put a copy of your itinerary in an outside pocket of your checked bags. This way, if your luggage gets lost, it will be easy for someone to track down where you are.

• Use a travel wallet to carry your passport, boarding pass and any other important travel cards together in one place.

• Bring some cash in the currency of your designation. This will make grabbing a taxi, or a good coffee, much easier once you land.

• Bring a bottle of water for the flight (after you go through airport security). Planes are dry, and staying hydrated will keep you feeling and looking better.

• Check in advance if your hotel offers internet connections in your room and bring your own Ethernet cable, as the hotel may not have enough working ones to go around.

• Wear clean socks as you will likley have to remove them when going through airport security checks. Having your shoes, belt and jacket removed before comming up to the conveyor belt will help speed up the process.

• Stop airplane food boredom by switching to a specialty meal: try the fruit platter, or go Hindu, kosher or vegetarian.