We all know that we should avoid alcohol and caffeine when flying long-haul, and of course do the exercises recommended in the in-flight magazine, but realistically who actually does?
As the crème de la crème of the business community heads to Davos this week for the World Economic Forum, private jet hire business 365 Aviation asked its long-standing clients, which include business leaders, celebrities, government officials and royalty, to share their tips for seamless, productive and enjoyable business travel.
The C-Suite travel secrets revealed offer a new perspective on business travel.
Be uncompromising about service
When you travel for a significant percentage of the year service matters most. Carriers going above and beyond will win repeat custom and set themselves apart from their competitors.
Time is money
365 Aviation commissioned Censuswide to poll 2,145 high net worth individuals in December 2016, and it revealed that the average Brit spends 16 hours a year in airports, increasing to 22 hours annually when factoring in delays, so the cheapest flight is not always the most cost effective. Around 1,500 private jets will land at the airports surrounding Davos this year because these passengers recognize that their time is valuable.
You are what you eat (and drink)
Business travel usually entails a combination of room service and dining out. Eat pre-flight and stick to light meals wherever possible to minimize that sluggish feeling, especially if you need to get some work done onboard. Don’t be tempted by extensive in-flight wine lists and stick to water for a clear head and optimum hydration.
Don’t ask for discounts, but do ask for value adds
Hotels and airlines work on surprisingly small margins so unless you’re negotiating terms for a major business conference you’re unlikely to get much in the way of a discount. But throwing in breakfast, a spa credit or complimentary use of sports facilities doesn’t cost anything and is a far easier way to get more bang for your buck.
Exercise to alleviate jet lag
Not so easy if you’re on a red eye and going straight to a meeting, but if you’re landing the evening before take a swim or go for a walk or run to freshen up and aid a good night’s sleep.
Adjust your body clock early
Set your watch to the time at your destination as soon as you get onboard, or even before, and visualise yourself in that time zone. This will help to acclimatize your mind and body to the new time zone well before arrival.
Personalise your travel essentials
Deep Sleep Pillow Spray by ThisWorks, Ren’s Brightening Eye Lift, La Roche Posay Hydrophase Intense Serum and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream along with make-up wipes were deemed essential by 365 Aviation’s female clients alongside anti-bacterial gel, and cold and flu defence spray.
Travel time is precious time
Build in work and relaxation time into flights to ensure that you are both up to speed, but equally refreshed and ready to do business on landing.
Remember how connected your private charter contact is
Don’t hesitate to request anything that will make your journey more enjoyable. After all, you are paying a premium to avoid an airline experience. Maximize your enjoyment by remembering just how well connected your private charter company is – even small details can make a big difference.
365 Aviation’s chairman, Colin Baker, is no stranger to long haul travel. Based in Hong Kong the former financier and serial entrepreneur has flown thousands of hours over hundreds of flights during his career.
He told Luxury Lifestyle Magazine: “The idea for 365 Aviation came after a series of nightmare flights and endless hours spent trying to rearrange travel plans and meetings. Founding the business came out of a determination to prove that private charter aviation could provide exemplary service and save time for the people whose professions demand a great deal of it.”
