While many people love to travel, no one likes experiencing motion sickness. And since approximately one-third of the population is highly susceptible to motion sickness and another one-third experience it in somewhat rough conditions (e.g., turbulent flights), preventing motion sickness during travel can greatly improve the travel experience.

Before diving into remedies, let’s look at preventive options. For starters, travelers with sensitive stomachs can try several over-the-counter or prescription preventative drugs and devices, such as scopolamine patches worn behind the ear or antihistamines such as meclizine or cyclizine. However, if choosing to take any kind of medication, travelers should first check with their doctor and be aware of any associated side effects.

For those who prefer to avoid medications, seating choice can make a difference—travelers who experience motion sickness may wish to ask for an aisle seat over a wing, as people in this area of the plane often experience the smoothest ride. Avoiding heavy foods and alcohol will also improve the likelihood of avoiding motion sickness. Additionally, travelers may want to pack an easily digestible snack, such as crackers, and have a few every couple of hours to help prevent nausea, as an empty stomach can make an individual more susceptible to becoming ill. Travelers may also want to prepare ahead by packing peppermint or ginger, as these have been shown in some studies to prevent queasiness.

If prevention doesn’t work or a traveler does not take preventive measures, there are a range of options that may help mitigate motion sickness after it sets in. Travelers can drink a cup of tea, as warm beverages tend to be easier on a sensitive stomach than a tall glass of cold water—however, they should choose a decaffeinated option, as caffeinated drinks aren’t a good idea for unstable stomachs. Another option may be asking a flight attendant for some ice, as sucking on ice chips can help calm the stomach and provide an added benefit of distracting travelers who may feel ill.

Travel should be enjoyable, and motion sickness can put a damper on the experience. For travelers who experience motion sickness, the best options are simply for them to know their body and plan ahead. In this way, they can ensure the most positive flight possible and arrive refreshed and ready to go upon landing.

Do you have any motion sickness remedies or prevention tips to share? We’d love to hear what works for you.

Safe Travels!

So I just received an automated message from my travel manager. Can you believe that?  I get one of these every time I book out of policy … Oops!  Anyway, back in March I wrote about how business travelers really can make an impact on their organization’s success by being aware of, and following, their company’s travel policies. I wanted to take the opportunity today to ask: as a traveler, how do you do that? Do you have any tips or tricks to share with your fellow travelers?

Here are a few reminders travelers may want to keep in mind:

• If your company keeps a copy of the travel policy on your intranet or a travel portal, that is likely the best place to access it. If it changes, you’ll be referencing the most current information rather than a potentially outdated printout.
• Remember, even if you break the rules and don’t get caught, your company is still paying the price. This could mean they’re spending more on your travel than they need to, or even worse, it could compromise your safety as a traveler.
• Policies are in place for the good of both the traveler and the organization. If there’s a policy that seems unclear or you don’t understand why it is necessary, ask your company’s travel manager.

Need an example of how your actions can impact your company’s success? Check out the latest press release about CWT Program Messenger. This tool sends automated messages to travelers regarding travel policy or other important travel-related information. In 2010, the use of this tool resulted in 4-7 percent cost savings in total travel program spend for CWT clients using it. Not too shabby!

To learn a little more about how CWT Program Messenger works, view this short video. And if you have helpful tips for your fellow travelers about how to make sure they’re following travel policy, we’d love to hear them in the comments below.

“Your upgrade has been confirmed.”  This is quite possibly the greatest five word sentence to grace the subject line of an incoming e-mail.  Not only does it represent the promise of an upcoming flight with extra leg and shoulder room; a free meal or even an alcoholic beverage; but this tiny phrase also represents the hard-fought culmination of thousands of miles and seemingly endless hours spent in the middle seat of the plane’s last row, sandwiched between two NFL linemen and undoubtedly right across from the bathroom, smelling too strongly of the electric blue rinse that “cleanses” the toilet with each flush.  Yes, finally this loyalty program has paid off. 

For the frequent traveler, the perks that accompany a milestone achievement in a given loyalty program or the redemption of accrued miles/points can go a long way toward increasing the comfort and decreasing the stress of air travel.  But one must also know how to best navigate the loyalty program waters to take advantage of these possibilities. 

Today, there are immense amounts of items and activities that can help you build your bank of frequent flier miles – credit cards, rental cars, hotels, etc. – and  on almost anything that you can earn miles, you can also spend them.  So it’s no wonder that there is often great confusion.  A great comparison and brief description of the major North American carrier frequent flier programs can be found here.

Now,  back to the idea of the upgrade and elite status, how does one really take advantage of a loyalty program to achieve a certain status and/or use accumulated miles to improve the travel experience?  Below are a few suggestions:

1. Do get credit for your travels.  Always make sure that regardless of the airline, hotel or car rental company you are using for a trip, your purchase is counting toward something.  Even if you rarely use that particular provider, you might as well get credit for the trip.
2. Don’t expect to use miles for the large, dream vacation.  More often than not these days, it is very difficult to find an “award-eligible” seat on those dream trip tickets to Europe or Southeast Asia, and the number of miles needed to redeem one of those tickets keeps growing. So use your miles for the short trips within North America.  Also, buying in advance and on off-peak travel days will make it more likely that you’ll get the most from your miles expenditures.
3. Do use miles for other perks.  You can use your miles to upgrade to business class on some transcontinental flights or buy a one-day pass to an airport lounge if you find yourself stuck in a long delay or layover.
4. Don’t obsess about gold and platinum status.  These days there are so many ways to earn miles (even miles that count toward status) that many frequent travelers achieve the entry-level elite status, and the higher statuses are quite difficult to achieve unless you are really a road warrior.  So don’t put yourself through circuitous or more expensive routes just to gain a thousand more miles on your carrier of choice.
5. Do enjoy the small perks of an elite status.  Ultimately the reason we still rejoice at the upgrade is that for the general business traveler it is a unique occurrence.  For that reason, make sure to enjoy the other small perks – separate check-in and security lines, access to exit rows, fee waivers for flight standbys, etc.  Read up on the programs where you have “status” and use the perks as best you can. 

 

In conversations I’ve had with colleagues, many have their own strategies for accruing and redeeming miles.  What are some of your own tips, tricks and strategies?

When flying long distances for business, most travelers look for ways to use their time most efficiently.  It may be work time or rest time to prepare for a meeting, but in either case, the quality of the travel experience can make a difference in your performance at your destination.



Business class offers more amenities than coach classes without the first-class price.  These amenities are generally geared toward keeping the business traveler comfortable and offering the opportunity to be productive.  While features vary by itinerary and airline, some of the additional comforts include:

• Reclining/Lie-flat seats—On many international itineraries for various airlines, business class seats allow a deeper reclining position.  Some airlines offer lie-flat seating and privacy suites, depending on the aircraft and the availability of these amenities.  In some cases, these seats can mean the difference between barely resting while in transit and getting a good night’s sleep before an important day.
• In-seat power—This feature allows charging of laptops and other electronic devices directly from the airplane seat.  This ensures that work can continue while in flight or can begin again as soon as the flight lands and the actual business begins.
• In-flight Wi-Fi—Wireless Internet helps the traveler keep connected and turn what might be idle time into productive time.
• Personal video screens—These are not only available in business class, but personal video screens allow a more comfortable viewing position.
• Priority check-in and access to lounges—Enjoying access to lounges and saving time at check-in can help a business traveler make the most of the time, regardless of actual location.
• Gourmet menu—Offering a finer fare of dining selections allows passengers to start at their destination with a full stomach.  Finding a meal then becomes less of an issue at the destination so travelers can get right to work.

Added comfort and accessibility of business tools during long flights helps take some of the pain out of spending the time traveling.  It may be worth a review of your company’s travel policy to see if business class reservations are an option on some routes.

What are some of your favorite features of business class travel? Do you find it enables you to be more productive or get more rest while traveling?

Safe (and comfortable) travels!

OK, I know Armed Forces Day may not be high on many people’s lists as a holiday—but I think it should be. Armed Forces Day occurs every year on the 3rd Saturday of May. The holiday is meant to honor Americans currently serving in the Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Armed Forces Day was first recognized as a holiday in 1949 by President Truman to replace separate Army, Navy , and Air Force Days. This combined celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department—the Department of Defense. In 1962, President Kennedy established Armed Forces Day as an official holiday.

In the United States, Armed Forces Day is typically celebrated with parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. In Canada, Canadian Forces Day is the first Sunday in June and is celebrated similarly. In fact, almost every country in the world has its version of Armed Forces Day.

As the New York Times said on Armed Forces Day, 1952, “This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces…to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won’t be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty.”

So if you happen to see a man or woman in uniform in an airport or on the street this Saturday, be sure to give them a big thumbs up.