http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ en-us 2009-02-22T16:09:48-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2009/02/do_i_get_a_refund_if_they_lose.html If airlines have now moved to a pay-for-what-you-use business model, do I get a refund if I pay but don't get the services promised? How about lost luggage? My ticket entitles me and my luggage to get to my destination together, that is, at the same time. Yet who hasn't had the airlines misplace their luggage at least once in their travel lives? But who do you know who ever got a refund for those lost bags? By "lost" I mean delayed, i.e., bags that miss your flight and arrive after you do. Luggage that's lost is something for which you can file a claim. I'm talking about the luggage you are paying $15 to check. So shouldn't the pay-for-what-you-use (i.e., a la carte) model work both ways? And shouldn't it be extended to luggage? If not, why not? If yes, when will we see the airlines change? Shouldn't the airlines be held to a higher level of accountability for not delivering what passengers are paying extra for? From where I sit, the checked baggage fee entitles me to either on-time delivery of my bags or a full refund for bags that get delivered late. But I'm not sure the airlines have thought through that part of the user fee equation. How about you? Have you ever tried to recover the $15 checked baggage fee when your baggage was late catching up to you? Road Warrior • Miami • www.us.amadeus.com 4222@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2009-02-22T16:09:48-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2009/02/will_minimum_stays_stay.html Once upon a time the airlines had this rule called the Saturday night stay, and business travelers hated it because it was aimed at them. Earlier this year, when high fuel prices pressured the airlines to find new ways to raise revenue, carriers tried to revive the Saturday night stay. That effort was short-lived, but carriers said they'd keep trying. The Saturday night stay put road warriors into the position of either paying lots more for their airline ticket or having to stay on the road for an extra night or two. Of course, the one thing business travelers don't want to do is to spend extra time on the road when they instead can be home for the weekend and spend that time with friends and family. In the meantime, carriers have increasingly been seeking to introduce two- and three-night stays where one-night stays had been the rule. The minimum-stay rule originated as a way to separate business travelers from leisure travelers by forestalling business travelers from taking advantage of discount fares. Road warriors typically don't have a lot of flexibility in their travel plans, and the airlines know it. For a while the discount carriers motivated the network carriers to simplify their fares, but then high fuel prices undermined that trend. But recently, with fuel prices lower than they've been in years and consumer confidence declining, the airlines are scrambling like never before to fill seats any way they can. The downturn is keeping a large percentage of business travelers at home, however, as companies continue to cut back on corporate travel. My opinion is that the airlines won't actively pursue the Saturday night stay revenue strategy so long as the economy has the "slows." Right now it is a buyer's market for air travel, and although business travelers still have to contend with a frustrating combination of fees and surcharges, smart road warriors know there are deals to be had. I believe that the minimum-stay rule won't be making a comeback anytime soon. Business travelers have a lot of options right now for saving money simply because so many travelers are just not traveling. Road Warrior • Miami • www.us.amadeus.com 4221@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2009-02-12T16:06:34-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2009/02/fuel_saving_imperiling_safety.html 4220@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2009-02-02T15:56:55-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2009/01/one_small_step_liquids_on_plan.html Technology is changing the security picture for airplane passengers. The TSA (Federal Transportation Security Administration) reportedly will relax its rules on liquids in carry-on luggage by the third quarter of 2009. Although liquids will still need to be placed in a separate bin, the development of an advanced X-ray will enable TSA screeners to tell the difference between liquids that pose a threat and those that do not. Further progress in the screening technology means that most if not all restrictions on liquids in carry-ons may be removed by the end of 2010. In the meantime, one way savvy road warriors have discovered to deal with the ban on taking, say, a bottle of water is to take an empty bottle through the screening process. Once you're through security, you can fill up at a faucet or fountain. An insulated coffee mug works, too. Of course, right now you are limited to carrying on all the three-ounce bottles of liquids, aerosols, or gels you can fit inside a 1 quart plastic bag. But once current restrictions are eased late next year, business travelers will once again be able to carry toothpaste tubes and shampoo bottles larger than three ounces. Then, when the new checkpoint X-ray technology is rolled out the year after that, travelers likely will be able to take those larger liquid containers right in their carry-on bags and right through the screening process. That's one small step in the right direction because it's one less thing that harried business travelers will have to deal with. I look forward to more of those kinds of changes in this New Year. Happy New Year, and happy to trails to you. 4218@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2009-01-27T15:52:23-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2009/01/its_time_fortulsa.html 3966@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2009-01-07T10:00:34-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/12/superstition_or_discipline.html 3927@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-12-31T10:00:09-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/12/best_shopping_for_the_road_war.html 4068@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-12-11T15:44:05-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/12/how_to_manage_travel_expenses.html Managing your travel expenses is an important way to cut your company's costs. Managing those expenses well is also important in ensuring that you get reimbursed fully and promptly. Although many businesspeople know their way around booking their travel, you'd be surprised how many don't know their way around an expense report. It's just as easy to make mistakes that will cost you big money as it is to do your expense report right. Here is what I do to manage my travel expenses: -- "Book in advance" is perhaps the most obvious and yet most commonly ignored piece of advice anyone can give you about how to manage your travel costs intelligently. -- One caveat to this rule is if you think you may need to make last minute changes to your flight. You need to balance the price of that low fare ticket with the risk of having your travel plans change and possibly paying a higher airfare and/or change fee penalties. -- Think about where you're going vs. the time of year you're going. Mull vacation patterns and how they could affect your own travel costs. -- If you have the choice, you may be able to cut costs by using the "less obvious" airport. For example, in Chicago try Midway vs. O'Hare when you booking a low-fare carrier. Just remember that the airfare isn't your trip's only major cost. Thus if you're thinking of opting for Midway you'll want to factor in the cost of that rental car or taxi before you book. -- On the other hand, if I was in Boston and in a hurry to get to my next destination, I might not worry about saving $100 by flying out of Manchester, N.H. Then again, if I wasn't in a hurry, maybe I'd also consider the fares out of Providence or some other regional airport. -- Engage the services of a travel agent, whether through your company or on your own. Travel professionals can find you the best deal while also providing expertise and assistance when you need it. -- If you have flexibility in your flight planning, consider websites that use "predictive modeling." For example, FareCast.com tracks up and down patterns of certain airfares. It predicts when certain airfare deals will emerge. -- Consider the length of your trip. Does it make sense to rent a car, take a cab, or hire a car service? If your schedule is not too pressing, you can save by taking an airport shuttles or even a shared taxi. -- At the hotel, remember a few basic cost-cutting rules: (1) Avoid the minibar; (2) limit your room service; and (3) be wary of the hotel restaurant, which can be as costly as the first two. -- If you are a frequent user of hotel Internet services (both DSL and wireless), consider investing in a wireless network card, available through your wireless provider. This will enable you to access the Internet from anywhere you have a cellular signal and at a considerable cost savings. -- Eating while en route is more of a wildcard than ever before, in terms of convenience, cost and quality, so it is best to bring your own. Always buy a bottle of water after you clear airport security. Consider buying two -- the second bottle will become indispensable if your flight gets marooned on the tarmac. -- Examine your options for getting back from the airport. Depending on your schedule, you can save money taking the subway or a bus. That is, unless your flight is returning after the bus stops running. -- Don't forget to save your receipts from the subway or bus, taxi or shuttle, tolls or parking lot. This will save you time and hassles with your accounting department. -- Being organized helps in the long run. In fact, before my business trip I create a folder that will hold every important document, including flight itinerary, directions to the hotel, and business meeting agenda. Into this trip folder also goes key items that will accumulate during my trip, including those all-important receipts. -- Actually all of those loose receipts, boarding passes, and so on, are placed inside a large envelope, which I clip inside my trip folder. -- Some travelers prefer those clear plastic envelopes that have a string which wraps around a round clasp. This way you not only can see what's inside, you can be sure the contents won't spill out. -- Another tip: Write on each receipt what it was for ("Business breakfast on Nov. 10; guest John Doe w/O. Wild," for example). Don't take for granted that you will remember the details. After the trip, I sift the receipts into piles that are organized by date and function. -- Do your expense report within three days, otherwise you'll get backlogged and end up losing money. (Think about organizing your receipts and even doing your expense report on the plane, train, etc.) -- If you can keep all of your receipts, boarding passes, and other paperwork organized during your trip, you'll find that completing your expense report will be a breeze when you sit at your computer. -- It's vital to know what your company policy is on reimbursement. Some employers will not reimburse employees for expenses from their house to their home airport, some not for expenses at the home airport. Some won't reimburse for any expenses incurred after you land. Know before your fly so your expense report will fly through your company's approval process. -- Often I will get reimbursed long before my credit card bill is due. Avoid risks of past due fees or having to dig into your own bank account. -- The minute I get my expense check I put it into my checking account. Then I write a check to my corporate credit card to pay the bill. Better yet, see if your company offers a direct deposit option for expense reimbursement. -- To keep your finances organized, you might consider separate accounts for business vs. personal expenses. Some have separate ATM cards representing their separate business and personal checking accounts, and of course separate business vs. personal credit cards. Checklist. Remember these key how-to points: -- Book early. -- Search for the lowest "logical" airfare. -- Consider the impact of schedule changes. -- Factor in the travel season. -- Consider alternate points of departure. -- Engage the services of a travel professional. -- Remember that your time has value. -- Weigh your ground transportation options. -- Bring your own food, for both comfort and cost savings. -- Invest in your own wireless connectivity. -- Never assume when it comes to public transportation schedules. -- Save your receipts. -- Stay organized and create a trip folder. -- Safeguard your receipts in an envelope inside the folder. -- Write down the details on your receipts. -- Start your expense report before your trip is over. -- File your expense report within three days of the end of your trip. -- Know your company's reimbursement policy. -- Use your reimbursement money to pay off your trip's charges. -- Keep your personal and business finances separate. Check Out These Links: When Managed Travel Isn't How to Work While Stuck at an Airport Hotel Booking for Business Travelers The Secret Is "Don't Assume" Top 10 Business Trip Bloopers Saving Time on Your Flight Starts on the Ground 3972@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-12-10T10:00:08-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/12/in_a_time_of_fear_some_perspec.html Turn on the television, pick up a newspaper, or stop by your local water cooler and it's all around you. There are a lot of Chicken Little's predicting financial doom and gloom--most mistakenly given a pulpit on television. If you are not worried about your financial future, you are a stronger person than I am. I train the financial institutions that are being shelled right now, and my business is right in the cross hairs of companies that will be seriously impacted by the economic crisis. Yesterday I was getting ready for a different trip. Rather than a trip to the airport, it was a trip to Southern Maryland to a small piece of property that we own. It's a magical get-away on the water in a small town near Solomon's Island, Maryland. My older daughter had surprised us and drove with a friend from Syracuse, New York, where she attends school to be home for a few days. Imagine that? She cared about us enough to not only take the six hour drive from Syracuse, but to surprise us in a well planned sceme worked out with my younger daughter. I needed a few items so I drove to our local mall, and moved through as quickly as I could. While I was there in that mall, my mind was somewhere else. It was in a dark place. It was reminding me of the decades of travel to acquire enough wealth to put aside for my children's education and my retirement. This dark place seemed to delight in reminding me of the delays I had endured. It seemed to enjoy showing me the lonely nights I had spent in so many hotel rooms, and the disappointments I had experienced from time to time. This dark place was powerful, and because it rarely puts its hands on me, it made sure to whisper in my ear just how much harder my life would be, and how much harder I would now have to work. I feel for anyone who walked by me during those few minutes because I'm quite sure the picture of the man they were looking at would not be a pleasant one. And then I saw her. Almost on queue, out of nowhere, a little girl in a wheel chair was pushed directly in my path. She was about ten years old, and she was so beautiful I froze in my tracks. Her hair was combed with pretty little hair clips, just like the ones my girls wore when they were her age. She had some significant handicaps, but she wore none of this on her face. What she wore on her face was joy. She was going into the Disney store where the princesses and fairies were waiting to greet her. She wore her blessings on her sleeve. As this wheel chair, and this darling little face, moved on I began to think. What was it I had been sulking about? In a blink of the eye I was no longer in a dark place at all. I was jolted back to reality, and a place that does not tolerate dark places. My daughter came home from school for four days to be with us. My younger daughter could not wait to be with us too. We are healthy. We are happy. We are heading to on oasis to be with each other. Lesson: Do me a favor. Walk away from your computer, and take a true account of your life. My guess is, no matter what our economic crisis is, or will be, you will find it laughable to even care if you have your health and family. 3925@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-12-03T10:00:26-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/11/these_cities_offer_the_best_wa_1.html 3924@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-11-27T10:00:29-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/11/the_palin_effect.html 3926@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-11-20T10:00:30-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/11/5_eco_products_you_need_to_tra.html 3912@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-11-13T10:00:50-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/11/the_airlines_giveth_and_they_t.html 3898@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-11-06T10:00:27-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/10/keep_your_eyes_on_the_real_pri.html 3820@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-10-30T10:00:09-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/2008/10/oh_those_nasty_bags.html 3819@http://blog.inc.com/business-travel/ 2008-10-23T10:00:24-05:00