Flights of fancy...

I was talking to a former colleague of mine from a financial service firm about business travel and the economy. We were reminiscing about the early 2000's, business travel was HUGE. College graduates who were working for consulting firms or banks that were on international engagements were being treated like royalty. Business or first class flights, swanky hotels, 3 star Michelin rated restaurants, expense accounts and per diem allowances. Thing was, companies back then were raking in huge profits and were creating expense accounts to offset for tax breaks. Times were good, and travel was amazing. Then in 2007-2008, things came tumbling down.

My friend was telling me about an engagement he had in Hong Kong. He was saying that in order to cut expenses, his firm was making him fly coach from New York to Hong Kong and had him on a budget of $175 a night for hotels and $40 a day for food. In comparison, he was saying that in 2005 he would fly in business (upgraded to first), stay at the Oriental hotel ($400 a night), no limits on food or drinks and have a per diem of $200 a day. Things really did change!

After realizing that business travel would not be the same for some time, I realized that there are ways to spruce up a coach flight to a flight of fancy. This holds true for a family vacation as well. First, be sure to book in advance and book through the airline itself. Secondly, look for rows by the bulkhead or in the back where the body of the plane curves. It allows you to have a seat configuration where you can have a seat with legroom. Third, stock up on supplies for your trip to make it comfortable: noise canceling headphones, iPhone/iPad/Android for movies or shows, buy a pre-packaged meal at the airport rather than eat airline food and pack a comfortable neck pillow. These few tips can lead to a more comfortable flight experience. Fine, you won't get the plush seats, but you will have the amenities to accentuate your experience...

Legroom for bulkhead seats