So i've learnt that i'm going to have to start travelling interstate regularly for business. Economy on a non-budget airline and staying in nice hotels. After my last trip its just tiring at the start and at the end of it all. Dont have lounge access. Any tips on makng things more comfortable so i dont get knackered at the end of it all?
Tips for Regular Interstate Travel
NotAnAudiophile on 03/03/2018 - 09:05
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if you buy a yearly lounge access up front you can claim it on tax :D
sign up for the frequent flyer & hotel programs for places you'll be staying and collect ALL TEH POINTS~!i travel a fair bit for work, a lot of it is give & take. some days i'll deliberately book late flights if i know it's going to be a long night, so i don't have to get up so early (on monday i'm doing a 5pm flight MEL-BNE and staying the night so i don't have to wake up at 4am tuesday and pull a ~17hr day). my work is pretty good with me taking time in lieu if i'm working long hours or doing lots of travelling, so just make sure you take plenty of you time to account for all the time spent away.
probably the biggest advice is to pack some running/walking shoes & headphones. once you finish work for the day, go check in/return to the hotel, get changed, throw your headphones on and go for a walk - get out there and see where you are, experience what our other cities/towns have to offer and make the most of your few hours of 'holiday' each time. tee up dinner with friends or family interstate etc.
Either invest in one year's lounge access or wait until you accumulate enough status credits to get to gold and get free access.
Lounge access doesn't necessarily make things more comfortable - it provides free food and beverages and newspapers and magazines. It depends on you. How do you unwind normally? Try to incorporate that at the end of your day. E.g. do you listen to music, lectures, or read? Then see if you can incorporate it into your travels.
Also, during dead times, try to meditate or just clear your mind.
One of the best things about lounge access is where you can get a shower and change your clothes. Just makes you feel a bit more human after a long day.
And you can take a dump in a clean toilet that doesn’t have piss all over the seats.
There are some advantages to being female, the toilets do tend to be cleaner. (Mostly, the ones I had up in Schilthorn were unbelievable).
Stay hydrated, good music helps pass time, get a nice tablet if you want to do some work in the air or wind down and play some games, Some qantas flights have wifi, get a nice upright luggage case or carry on for ease of movement.
Hi mate, I fly Bris - Perth once a week; red-eyes each way for work and can relate. Make sure you're drinking a heap of water leading up to and after your flights. You need something like a litre per hour flying from memory. Get lounge access if the carrier is going to be consistent. Makes the whole process easier. Consider getting a good pillow to carry with you (cut it in half if need be). I find a good pillow at the other end makes a world of difference. I don't drink much in the days before/after as that will affect your sleep quality and your recovery. Exercise is important to help you bounce back. Also keep up your vitamins (especially vit B). I take Armaforce as well (expensive but worth it) to try and keep the immune system running well. Flying will get you run down and here are always sick people on the flight so I deem it a necessity.
Good luck mate!
P.S: If you're doing later flights, get some sleep on them. Invest in the noise cancelling headphones (Get the QC25/35 - I own both and they do a great job and are worth the premium - only buy them on special though!). Buy some earplugs as well (I prefer them to the headphones). Buy a good eye mask (I use a Cabeau Midnight Magic) and a neck pillow (I'm still trying to find a great one). Make flights sleep time rather than active so you recover a bit easier on the other end. I've done shift work in the past and basically sleep on most planes I get on regardless of the time of day.
I have the QC20i I find the buds easier for travel than the headphones, easier to pack and more comfortable on the flight; particularly if you want to zone out or sleep.
Download the App TripIt.com
Send your flight bookings and hotel bookings to the App.if its on your work coin, fly the night before…. i refused to fly at 5am to go interstate, by time you get there you are wrecked.
lounge access and a mistress in each state (just kidding)
Aim for carry on only if you can. Saves a bit of time especially at the other end, good when you can grab your gear and go.
Keep an eye on the seat selection of you are Qantas. 2-3 days before your flight you'll be able to select the seats at the front regardless of status (if they're available of course.). Again saving 5-10 mins.
Lounge membership is handy too, it will take a while domestically to earn it through status. Especially if you're booked on the cheap tickets.
Sign up to the rewards programs for the hotels you are staying at.
Noise cancelling headphones/earphones are worth getting, I have the QC20 earphones they're great and much more compact to stow than big headphones
Maybe get a a Q Bag tag if flying qantas
Some companies can offer discounted rates if you want to pay for lounge membership for a year, see if your employer has anything similar :)
buy air tickets as far in advance as possible & make sure your credit cards earn you decent amount of Qantas or Virgin frequent flyer points.
When redeeming points tickets on Qantas, try to avoid Jetstar as if there is any flight disruption, they won't put you on Qantas, even if hundreds on empty seats (Qantas staff tend to look down their noses at Jetstar) & yes join a lounge.
If for example, you're booked on a 9pm flight home & there are plenty of seats on earlier flights, they'll often get you on earlier flight if you ask in the lounge.
Might have to ask several times. From experience, I've asked & been told no, so waited til that person took a break & then asked someone else.
Have never been a lounge member, but got in many times, with someone who was.
Buy lounge access.
Get noise cancelling headphones (Bose QC25/QC35).
Consider getting a portable phone battery too (nothing worse than being in transit with a low battery).
Which hotels are you staying at? Have you got membership?