Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it always makes sense to plan ahead and travel smart to avoid the crowds. Here are top tips for avoiding the crowds when traveling for business:
Don’t delay and prepare ahead. Book air travel in advance to secure the best ticket prices. Use an online fare tracker, like the new Bing Travel website, that allows you to easily compare, sort and narrow down flight results for over a hundred websites.
Travel during off-peak hours. According to American Airlines, the major airport hubs tend to get most crowded in the early morning and late afternoon. Try to travel during off-peak times: mid-morning through early afternoon (or in the late evening) from Monday through Thursday.
Get there early. If you’re flying, industry experts recommend arriving 60 minutes before your flight if you are not checking any luggage, and 90 minutes if you have luggage to check. For international flights, allow two hours. There’s nothing worse than stressing in the security line, especially when you have a big meeting waiting for you on the other side of the flight.
Use your preferred carrier. There’s a reason people still enroll in airline rewards programs. Free flights, preferred seating, upgrades and priority boarding are just a few of the perks. Use WebFlyer.com to conduct a head-to-head comparison of popular rewards programs.
Join the club. If you’re an American Express Platinum cardholder, you can access a number of airline clubs for free, including American Airlines Admirals Club, Continental Airlines Presidents Club, Delta Crown Room Club and Northwest Airlines WorldClubs in airports around the world. Simply present your card, ticket or boarding pass, and government-issued ID at the front desk, and you’re on the way to cleaner bathrooms, savory snacks, TV and Wi-Fi. You can even bring along two traveling companions!
Escape the holiday madness. If at all possible, avoid scheduling business travel close to popular holiday weekends like Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. I don’t have any documented proof of this, but it seems to me that long weekends usually mean over-sold flights, inexperienced travelers clogging up security lines and lots of families trying to squeeze in a visit to Grandma’s house.
Drive at dawn or dusk. If you’re making your trip by car, leave early or later than usual to avoid rush hour. I always try to schedule my meetings for late morning, lunch or early afternoon, so I don’t have to waste critical time in the car.
Get in the fast lane. When traveling by car, it’s always worth investigating whether electronic toll collection is available to you. My Massachusetts-issued transponder works in all bordering states, including New York, New Hampshire and Maine. According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, even if line lengths are the same in electronic lanes as in manual ones, electronic tolls save registered cars time. Not to mention there’s great psychological satisfaction that comes with breezing through a toll booth.
Take the train. Whenever I head to NYC from Boston, I almost always take Amtrak’s Acela service. Sure, the 3.5-hour ride is longer than the Delta shuttle, but door-to-door it’s about the same. And the experience is so much more enjoyable! No security line, easy parking at the train station and disembarking at Penn Station are just a few of the benefits. The trains can be crowded at peak hours, but I always find a seat and usually meet some very interesting and entertaining passengers along the way.
So what are some of the ways you try to avoid crowds when traveling?
