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Business travel can be a headache before you even deal with fussy clients. Just fighting your way through an airport can cause the business traveler to miss a meeting. There are certain tips and tricks that will help make your business travel that much more successful.

When navigating airports, there are many ways to avoid the pitfalls of a bad travel experience. First, try to check in for your flight the night prior on-line. Most major airlines will allow you to check in and print your boarding pass at home or work the night before your trip. Checking in this early will often get you into the early boarding sequence on a flight. This will help guarantee you a seat on major airlines.

Another time saver is to pack light. Not checking baggage will allow you to travel with all your items and helps you avoid lag time spent at the luggage carousel at your destination. It also avoids any lost luggage along the way. Nothing can ruin a business overnight more than a missing suit or presentation in a lost bag. If you do have to check a bag, make sure you take the essential items with you in your carry on. Remember that hotels will give complementary toiletries to you if they are lost, but you can’t replace that presentation or your laptop if you check it.

Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to make it through security at the airport. Arriving two to three hours before your flight leaves is highly recommended. While this isn’t always an option due to business commitments, it makes travel that much easier. Wireless connections in airport terminals help you stay productive on your laptop when not at the office.

Before you land, getting familiar with your destination airport terminal can help save you time and ensure you are not late for your meeting. The airline magazine provided to each passenger usually has a layout of the airport in the back portion of it. Knowing what gate you are arriving at and where to go when you get off the aircraft is a very good time saver.

Knowing these and other simple tricks can help the business traveler get to his or her meeting on time. Not only will you be able to do your job, you’ll avoid travel headaches at the same time. If you are traveling to a new place, make sure you pick up a regional map at the rental car station or at the airport so you will be able to find your hotel, business center, and other places you may need to travel to when on business. Being late for a meeting because you couldn’t find the building is no excuse. If possible, take a trial run the night before in order to get better acquainted with the area. You will appreciate knowing where everything is before your big meeting. Business travel is stressful enough without having to worry about finding your way.