Sponsored by IHG Business Advantage

It’s the same routine for every business traveler: check in at the airport, pick up a rental car, and arrive at the same hotel you’ve walked into a thousand times before.

Over time, frequent travel becomes second nature and seasoned business travelers breeze through airports, land those elusive upgrades, and walk into their meetings completely energized despite having spent a tedious day in transit. Though infrequent business travelers  may not be aware of the different tips and tricks which make it easy to survive life on the road.

These are important, as training yourself to be a better business traveler will save both time and money, make you more productive, and lessen the stress on both your mind and body.

The following tips and tricks will help even the most seasoned business traveler survive life on the road.

1. Sign up for Global Entry

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that pre-qualifies certain travelers for expedited customs.

Intended for frequent international travelers, participants enter the US via automated kiosks located at selected airports and speed through what is otherwise a long and often tedious wait.

Skip the long queue with Global Entry. Photo CC by David Morris

You proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present your machine-readable passport, place your fingertips on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and make a customs declaration.

The kiosk then issues a transaction receipt and directs you to baggage claim and the exit. Eligibility is a little restrictive, open to only citizens of the US, Panama, the Netherlands, South Korea and Mexican nationals.

2. Record room numbers.

For incredibly frequent travelers who are on the road for extended periods of time, it can be difficult to remember if you’re staying on the second floor, or if that was last week’s hotel.

When you park in a numbered spot or check into a new room, create some kind of note to make it easy to quickly remember where you should be. Do not underestimate the value of this tip – it might just save you a lot of confusion and grief.

3. Ask for the Upgrade

Upgrades can make the life of a business traveler a lot more comfortable, and often it simply comes down to asking.

Cheap upgrades are often available at the last minute, and always worth the few extra dollars if it means more legroom, additional space and added comfort. And it never hurts to ask if there are first or business class upgrades available at a reasonable price.

Suite upgrades – often it just comes down to asking.

A lot of airlines have ‘at-the-gate’ upsell policies, so consider even trying this directly before boarding.

Different tips for landing an upgrade include dressing nicely, building status/loyalty rewards with a specific airline or hotel brand, and never forget you’ll always get further being nice to airline ground staff.

Often this can come down to simply acknowledging someone by name, and you’ll be surprised at how willing front desk clerks are to upgrade customers who use “please” and “thank you”, especially when it’s slow.

4. Charge Everything the Night Before You Travel

Make sure everything you are going to need for the day is charged the night before you travel.

There’s nothing worse than having to delay boarding the plane until the very last second because you’re charging your computer or cell at the departure gate. Boarding the plane with everything at maximum charge ensures a stress free flight.

 5. Open a Hotel Business Account

Managing a continual string of accommodation bookings can be a nightmare, though having one hotel business account makes the booking, payment and expenses process of accommodation much easier.

For instance, IHG Business Advantage is a free, easy to use and secure travel management system allowing you to manage, control and organise your company’s expenditure.

Available over 300 hotels in the UK, it can provide free credit on stays, corporate hotel discounts, traveller rewards and also manage the expenses.

Have a look at the top 9 benefits of IHG Business Advantage account:

Meg Jerrard is an Australian Journalist who has been travelling and blogging around the world for the last 7 years to inspire others to embark on their own worldwide adventure!  Her husband Mike is an American travel photographer, and together they have made the world their home.

Follow their journey on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

Featured Photo CC by LASZLO ILYES