6. Pack Smart

One thing I do to lighten the load is pack one pair of pants for every two tops. Pants can be worn twice, not as easy with tops. I also always pack a simple black travel dress. You can dress it up or down with the right shoes and accessories and it never wrinkles; TitleNine.com has one of the best ones on the market. Wear your heaviest and chunkiest shoes on the plane, saves a ton of space in your bag. I wear my running shoes or clogs on the plane and pack the little flats.

7. Be Informed of the Airport Security Rules

This is for all the pleasure travelers that drive all of us business travelers crazy:

    * Know how much liquid you can take on a plane. Stick in the quart baggy and have it on the outside pocket of your suitcase for ease of getting to it. You can always put it in your luggage after you go through security.
    * Yes, you have to take your shoes, jacket, and heavy sweaters off.
    * Yes, if you are behind that guy that looks like he has stinky feet, he will … stay clear of his shoes.
    * Yes, you have to take you computer out of your bag and put it in a bin all by itself, and No you don’t have to do the same for your camera or phone.
    * Yes, you need to show your ID to that first guy and your ticket to the one on the other side of the metal detector.

8. Rent a Car When Necessary

What can I say, Hertz Gold is hands down the best. For convenience there is nothing like walking up to a board with your name and stall number, walking to your car, and leaving the airport. This however, is not one of my money saving tips, because Hertz is also one of the more expensive car rentals out there. However, I have found them to be competitive with discount brands so give them a look.

9. Stay Calm and Be Polite

Take a big deep breath before you leave the house, your car, the taxi, and try to just be present for the lovely madness you are sure to encounter once you walk through those airport doors. Be kind to each other. I cannot tell you how many times, stopping to look someone in the eye and say, “Thank you” or “Have a nice day” has resulted in a much more pleasant experience for all.

10. Disengage the Talker 

You can tell the minute you sit down if you are sitting next to a talker. I have found that engaging in conversation before the flight helps them to get some of that talking out. I always have my headset and book right in the seat back so I can grab them at any time which allows me to disengage in a polite way. Having the brief pre-flight conversation also sets a nice environment for when you need to crawl over that person later to go the bathroom (or vice versa).

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