(For Illustration Purpose)
It has been almost 3 months since my last entry in regards with exam…
Alhamdullilah I managed to score an average grade…
My other 2 peers manage to be an excellent scorer…
In matter of fact they already leave IED for good after receiving a promotion…
Back in a title of today’s entry…
Suddenly I came across an article by BBC under Life Well Travelled series entitled Frequent Fliers…
Indeed it is a simple entry but I do felt not all of us aware about the issue…
I might not be a frequent traveller when talking about my working environment…
However being raise in a family that working with an airlines industries, I do have experience it…
Kudos to my dad for all the exposure that he did highlight to us, his daughters…
So here the entry and do enjoy and take whatever goods in it…
Business Traveller Perspectives on Living Out of a Suitcase
Being well travelled is one thing, but travelling well – and actually enjoying the journey – is another. For every employee whose job it is to stay in the office, there’s another out there on the road wishing they were back behind their desk, or better still, at home with their family rather than red-eyed on the other side of the globe.
A road warrior’s life may seem glamorous to those stuck behind their computer, but being able to hit the ground running after a long-haul flight takes stamina, practice, a good flight, and a basic understanding of physiology and aviation.
Travelling well means travelling smart and a first tip is to pick your flights carefully. Where time zones and journey distances permit, most long-haul flights will go overnight. If there is a daytime option, think about how you will use this valuable time – as you probably won’t be able to sleep. You also need to carefully consider your arrival time, particularly if it means having to work through the day while your body keeps telling you it’s bed time.
Get in the zone
Now that all business-traveller focused airlines offer flat beds in business class, overnight flights mean you can travel when your body is most amenable to sleeping and in a time-managed manner, something your boss would be proud of.
Setting your watch to local time as soon as you board is another must, according to veteran road warriors and airline crew, as it’s all part of being “in the zone”.
Some frequent fliers also have a “journey before the journey” – not just a packing ritual, but one that for some means sleep deprivation, or a long walk, run or gym session beforehand, to make sure they can properly rest on board.
Prepping for a good rest extends to when you arrive at the airport. Simply being in the sleep zone mentally as well as physically is a big step to travelling well. Many frequent fliers’ pre-flight ritual will include dinner in the lounge – again, pre-flight dining is something higher end airlines now offer in order to maximise sleep. Follow this with a shower, change out of the work clothes and into something more comfortable, and you’re all set.
To eat or not to eat
Opting out of dinner on board and putting the bed out to maximise the shut-eye seems an easy choice, but here’s the problem: airline food is a whole lot more tempting than it used to be, particularly in business class, so while few allow themselves rich food at 3am when they’re at home, some see fit to gorge themselves in the air. Investment banker and frequent flier Darius Naraghi has a simple rule:
“When I’m flying, I keep super-hydrated and I eat normally, so I skip a meal and I don’t eat dessert. It’s about being sensible and avoiding snacking – it’s best to treat the plane like the home or office. On my way home it’s different. I unwind in the lounge and allow myself a cocktail and a drink on board.”
Pack it up
Packing for a business trip is an art in itself. Roll it up, layer it, take shoes that match with formal and casual wear and never, ever, check it in is the frequent flier mantra.
Les Liddiard runs the Asia/Pacific division of a UK-based hi-tech metallurgy company and travels monthly between London, Asia and Australia. “People take too much stuff away with them that they don’t wear,” he says, adding that there’s always a laundry service in the hotel or down the street.
“I get everything in a carry-on bag, including exercise gear. Something I always carry is compression socks – get them from a good running shop. They really help to stop your feet swelling.”
Cabin crew tips
If all this seems daunting, take heart that even the professionals struggle sometimes. Cynthia Lam has been a flight attendant for Cathay Pacific for almost three years. “My first long-haul was from Hong Kong to Amsterdam and it took me all of my four days off to recover from the jet lag,” she recalls.
“Now I find myself adjusting a little bit faster, I only need one or two days. When I finish work I take a shower and rest well and I go to the gym on my days off.
“Sometimes I take a little melatonin (prescription only in the UK), but I don’t want to rely on it.”
She adds: “The key after a long-haul flight is to look fresh, to look like you haven’t even flown, take a shower and make an effort with your appearance. If you expose yourself to sunlight it helps. I try to get out in the daytime even if I’m too tired, it helps me to cope with the time zones better.”
Keep it personal
For some passengers, the best way to get over a trip is just to ‘feel the love’ that being back with the family brings. Yakov Moses, a Sydney-based fashion executive puts it succinctly:
“When I get home, I really have to be on my feet – I have a 6-year old and a 10-year old and they want the attention. That keeps me awake until it’s time to go to bed.”
He is a great believer that relationships are just as important in working life.
“I’m on a plane every month at least. Our suppliers are predominantly in Asia and I’d rather negotiate across a table than a video conferencing suite or email,” he says.
In the end, personal relationships are the reason behind most business travel and if you do it regularly, you’ll know that the secret to a good journey is a combination of canny scheduling knowledge, careful preparation, choosing a good airline and “being in the zone”.
Taken in isolation, a monthly long-haul trip might not seem too arduous, but add it up over the year and it’s a lot of time out of your life. If you’re going to be well travelled, it would be wise to learn how to travel well.
(Source: BBC - Frequent fliers http://www.bbc.com/capital/sponsored/story/20151022-frequent-fliers)
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