Smooth Ride: How to Avoid Business Travel Snafus

When you're traveling for business, you need the trip to run smoothly. You have meetings, you're probably spending half your "free time" on your smartphone and you just don't want added stress. Whether you're in charge of booking your own trip, or you're working through someone else's itinerary, the following tips help you avoid business travel snafus.

Gone are the days airlines with blanket policies. Each airline has their own set of policies about what you can bring on the plane, how much luggage you can check and lost luggage reimbursement. Check ahead of time to ensure you won't have to check your satchel or pay for your suitcase.

Reviewing policy ahead of time is especially important regarding reimbursement claims. Airlines rarely lose luggage, and they almost never lose it permanently. However, if you travel a lot, the odds of it happening to you are increased.

According to Condé Nast Traveler, many airlines don't reimburse costs for lost cameras, jewelry, medicine or electronics. If you know this ahead of time, you can purchase supplemental travel insurance.

Sure, you could queue up for a taxi or even a charter bus. However, this can add stress to a trip that's already packed with meetings and a long hotel stay. Wouldn't it be much nicer to have a car meet you at the curb, handle your luggage and drive you straight to your hotel or meeting?

The advantage of booking executive transportation means you know ahead of time exactly how you're getting to your destination. After all, you probably didn't show up to the airport without knowing which flight you were taking to your destination.

Likewise, you'll be traveling around an unfamiliar city. If you book black car service before hand, the company sorts all your transportation for you. The service is reliable, and the drivers are well-trained in the geography of the city. They know the hidden short cuts that might just give you the spare 30 minutes for you to indulge in a quick Jacuzzi dip at the hotel.

Granted, you may not have a lot of time for shopping during a business trip. However, in the event you do purchase a valuable item, put it on your credit card. This is especially important if you're having the item shipped home.

Unfortunately, unscrupulous merchants exist. Likewise, items get lost in the mail. If you've made the purchase on your credit card, though, you can file a claim with the credit card company. Once you put a hold on a payment, the credit card investigates what happened to the missing item. They want their money and, let's face it, they have a lot more clout than an individual.

Many credit cards also insure an item in case it's damaged during shipping.

Whether you're getting ready to embark on your first business trip or 1,000th, you want your travel to run as seamlessly as possible. Plan ahead by researching airline policies, booking executive transportation and bringing a credit card for personal purchases. Then, sit back, and enjoy the smooth ride.

Your smartphone is already attached to your hand, so you might as well utilize it to make your business travel run more smoothly. According to The Suit Magazine, the following apps will help alleviate some travel issues:

• TripIt: This app is akin to an electronic personal assistant. Load the details of your trip into the app. Not only does it compile your itinerary, but it also alerts you about delayed flights and gate changes. The app can even help you find alternative flights if necessary.
• GateGuru: It's tough to eat healthy when you're traveling, but GateGuru provides detailed information about the restaurants and services available at any airport. So, not only can you peruse the menu before eating yet another airport meal, you can also discover where to purchase unique gifts or toiletry necessaries when you're pressed for time.
• Concur: The company's footing the bill of your business travel, which is great until you lose a receipt for that working lunch or copy order. Concur is designed to itemize and even submit all of your travel expenses so that repayment is never an issue.