| Topic Name: |
business travel packing question |
| Message Name: |
Status is key for overhead space |
| Date Posted: |
03/20/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
That's all good stuff here. I'm surprised there aren't any blogs / sites mentioning these kinds of tips and advice for the travelling consultant. Do you guys know of any ?
Also, nowadays even the carry on baggage is becoming a pain. I've had many instances, especially on continental where the overhead compartments were full even before the flight was half occupied. I guess you have to either get elite status or get the later rows to secure some baggage space.
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| Message: |
Status is definately the key to getting overhead space actually above you. You can try calling up the airlines to try and get them to give you status without having earned it (I'll be travelling alot, blah, blah, etc.). Sometimes they'll go for it, sometimes they won't. Depends on how persuasive you are and the mood of the person you get I guess. Regardless, there's no harm since it's not like there's a downside... worst thing that happens is you stay without status which you already didn't have. Only thing about that though is that it's typically a one-shot deal. Meaning if they give you status early and you don't end up earning it (and thus losing the status next year) they typically won't give you status again until you earn it via flight segments/miles. Still, if you know you're going to be flying with them it's definately worth a shot.
If you still can't get status, try and get near the back of the plane since they board right after the people with status (which mostly won't be sitting near the back of the plane anyway probably) and you'll more than likely end up with room in the overhead. It's the people in the middle and definately the ones in the front of the plane without status that have problems finding overhead room...
I agree whole-heartedly with the suggestion to keep a separate toiletry kit for travelling. It makes things alot less of a hassle not having to pass a toiletry kit every week...
I've gone the dry-cleaner-in-the-destination-city route before and it's not a bad idea... I don't do it anymore as it's a bit of a hassle sometimes, but it depends on what hassles you more, carrying a bag around the airport (which doesn't really bother me that much) or finding a dry cleaner. The time or two that I've ended up in apartments for longer-term engagements I certainly did end up liking the fact that I didn't have to carry a bag around the airport and didn't have to find a dry cleaner :-)
Overall, on my current travel schedule (Monday - Thursday), I can fairly easily pack in:
3 pairs of pants
3 dress shirts
3 pairs of underwear
3 T-shirts
3 pairs of dress socks
3 pairs of athletic socks
1 pair of blue jeans
1 pair of tennis shoes
1 pair of shorts (mainly for working out)
1 t-shirt (mainly for working out)
1 toiletry kit
It's all in how you arrange things :-) I could easily fit in another dress shirt and pair of dress pants, I just don't need to. If I need to bring a blazer I just wear it on the plane. For going out at night I just change into jeans and wear whatever shirt I wore to work.
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