South Africans take their holidays pretty seriously.
Which is understandable after a year of hard work that often involves long hours and arduous commutes. But even as many people are packing mountain-bikes and suntan-lotion rather than laptops for their next flight, others will be travelling to meetings and presentations right through to the end of the year. So how can you stay sane and organised when it feels like you’re the only one boarding your flight for work? I spoke to Dawn Weir, head of kulula work, and asked her for some advice on how to cope with work travel during the holidays.
Give yourself plenty of time
This holds true for any travel, but especially so when your time is less flexible than anyone else’s, and when you have meetings scheduled. If you’re a regular traveller you probably know about online check-in, having a valid proof of identity ready, and not carrying cutlery or power-tools in your pockets. But, it’s also good for your stress-levels to accept that other travellers might not be as prepared as you are. You might arrive at the security screening area with your laptop out of its bag, your pockets emptied of keys and your boarding-pass ready, but travellers ahead of you in the queue might not.
Find your zone
You can’t wear headphones while the aircraft’s seatbelt lights are on and it’s taxing, taking off or landing, but apart from that, they can be useful to block out cabin noise. You might choose to listen to music or a podcast or watch a movie on your portable electronic device. Binaural beats are composed at frequencies to promote creativity and concentration and improve memory, and many people find them very useful for eliminating distractions. Download some before your flight, especially if you know you’ll be working on a presentation or heading straight into a meeting, the moment you land.
Be patient
The holiday season may be the only time that many leisure travellers fly, so you might encounter passengers who sit in the wrong seats and are puzzled by how parts of the aircraft work, like tray-tables, seatbelts, window-blinds and overhead baggage bins. It may also mean that you’re more likely to encounter travelling families, the very young or elderly. Be prepared to sit next to the parents who’re taking their infant to see its grandparents for the first time. They’ll be hoping desperately that the little one stays quiet throughout the flight. That won’t always be the case and showing your irritation will only upset all.
Know your resources
Lounge access, seat reservation and bag-drops can all make air-travel easier. And while the primary task of the aircrew is your safety, they’ll do all they can to make you comfortable. Reserving your preferred seat can also make your flight more comfortable. A good book to escape into will do wonders too.
Lounge access, seat reservation and bag-drops can all make air-travel easier.
** This post was made possible by kulula with Dawn Weir. Head of kulula work, Dawn has more than 28 years of corporate travel experience and her career has included work for blue-chip companies such as HRG Rennies Travel, Carlson Wagonlit and Medtronic where she implemented tailor-made corporate travel solutions for their customers including Barclays, Pfizer, Sasol and Barloworld. As a specialist in corporate travel management, Dawn connects with corporates for seamless business travel.
