Being light on your feet can significantly destress business travel. My rule is simple: never pack more than you can comfortably carry on board – no matter how long you’ll be away. Why? The most obvious reason is lost luggage. But there are other, more compelling considerations.
As a ‘Type A’ IRO, the last thing you want to do after a long flight is to stand at the baggage carousel and play roulette. Be assured that your travel companions – the CEO or CFO – don’t want to wait for you either. Chances are they already know the above-stated cardinal rule and they’ll think less of you for disobeying it.
Furthermore, time is precious. And while airlines won’t book you on ‘illegal connections’ – those flights that connect seamlessly and get you there faster – they are more than happy to put you on an earlier flight if you haven’t checked your bags.
Making it through airports in a flash requires mobility. In essence, it requires ‘scientific packing’. The ultimate goal is to pack all you need in a bag that fits neatly into an overhead bin and a small one that will fit underneath the seat in front of you. And to do this without sacrificing style.
Start with the right tools. An American Airlines flight attendant suggested I try the roll-on luggage that they use: TravelPro. Okay, so it’s not Tumi, but true style doesn’t mean overspending. My TravelPro has been with me for over 200 roadshows and in over 20 countries. I have not checked it once.
For my personal items, I use a computer bag with lots of extra pockets – so I can fill it to capacity. My computer bag can hold a jogging suit and shoes if I’m careful. And it fits on top of my luggage. I pull up the handle, snap on my computer bag and roll easily to my illegal connection.
Scientific packing means packing exercise clothes that you can wash in the shower and dry overnight. It means filling shoes with socks, and making Sophie’s Choice-like decisions about what to leave behind. I have a basic navy suit, sans pleats since pleats are out – I hope I’m not the one that’s breaking this to you. I drop the jacket, unbutton the top button of my white French cuff shirt and sport a cool look for a hip night out. Okay, so I pack a thicker belt, but that’s a fashion choice that scientific packing can bear. For women, Lindsay Batson from Thomson Financial suggests a black Armani suit with one jacket, matching skirt and pants for convenience and style.
Shoes cause the most problems for the true scientific packer. I wear one pair of black leather business loafers (Prada) and one pair of Timberland gray tennis shoes. These are the coolest of tennis shoes, as they fold into each other and a strap on the heels fits into the toe of the other shoe, forming a tight package that takes up less space. And they are fashionable enough to wear with a pair of jeans.
Mini-size every item in your shower kit. I keep the kit in my luggage outer pouches permanently so I don’t have to repack it every time I travel. If you’re going to be away for an extended roadshow, better to outsource your dry cleaning and laundry. In fact, that’s what ‘valet service’ is for.
Layering is a great idea. It means sometimes wearing your blazer, tying a sweater around your hips and wearing your overcoat onto the plane. The sweater trick saves a ton of room in your luggage.
Along with your laptop don’t forget your IR tools: a CD of the presentation; one hard copy of the same; a current list of shareholders; a hard copy of your contact list; the names and numbers of your senior management team; business cards; and your ‘to do’ file. In addition, you’ll need all electronic accoutrements, including in-flight adapters that will allow you to watch DVDs from your computer. I suggest The Sopranos, The Complete First Season. And don’t forget your latest Investor Relations magazine.
Remember: half the junk you pick up on your trip can be FedExed back to the office. And no matter how much time and money you spent on your annual report, leave all copies behind.
Forgot something vital? Don’t worry. It’s a wide, wonderful world out there and – believe it or not – almost everything you want is available where you’re going. So sit back, relax, and lighten your load.
Lagniappe*
If you have business in Edinburgh, try Kinnaird Estate, an hour’s distance from town. A country house and cottages on the River Tay, it costs less than a downtown hotel and has all the trappings of a Scottish country home – fishing, haggis, bagpipes and all.
+44 (0)1796 482440; [email protected]
*Lagniappe: A French Creole word that means ‘a little extra’
