As the days get shorter and falling leaves leave trees naked to the elements, it can only mean one thing. Winter is looming. And before you people in California and Florida get all smirky on us, remember, if you are a business traveler, you are going to have to contend with inclimate weather, no matter where you live and no matter what your destination.
Yes, winter travel means delays, cancellations, and a snowball's chance in you know what to get to your destination on time. In part, you can blame the hub system. For even if you are flying non-stop from Miami to L.A., you may be delayed becuse the inbound flight to Florida is coming from, say, Chicago...and O'Hare can be a bit hairy from December through March...or April. Nonetheless, if you follow Jane Air's travel strategies, your wintertime odds of getting from here to there on time may be enhanced.
- Take a cue from Santa Claus and hire your own transportation. Of course, Santa is hopelessly behind the times; instead of a sled led by reindeer, he really should be traipsing around in a corporate jet. But just because Santa's stuck in a time warp doesn't mean you need to be. Put a corporate jet on the company holiday gift list.
- Given the 99.9 percent chance that the aforementioned gift wish may not be granted, best to come up with alternative strategies designed to keep you from pulling strands out of your lovely couiffure. Bad weather has the nasty tendency of screwing up air traffic across the country. And as the day goes on, the more screwed up it becomes. So wake up early, girlfriend, and take the first flight of the day. By traveling at the crack of dawn, the likelihood that your plane (which has been overnighting at the airport) will be at the gate ready to go is far greater.
- Whenever possible, fly non-stop. If you can't, try to hop direct flights where you don't have to change planes en route.
- If you absolutely have to change planes, try to select a southern hub like Dallas or Atlanta (and believe it, it pains Jane to have to recommend either DFW or ATL) versus a snow-bound hub such as Chicago or Detroit. True, you have to deal with the occasional ice storm in the South, but that winter weather phenomenon is less likely than Midwestern snow.
- When your flight is delayed or cancelled, don't wait in line like all those others. No ladies, whip out your cell phone or computer or Blackberry and rebook the flight yourself. If your company works with a travel agent, have the agency do the work for you.
- Schedule all of your winter business trips to places like Phoenix, San Diego and Honolulu.
- If you simply can't avoid that winter trip to Denver or Des Moines, the best advice is to chill out. Expect delays, bring a good book, wear comfortable clothing, and don't schedule meetings for the minute you are scheduled to arrive at your destination. Also be sure to carry on any overnight necessities just in case.
- Furthermore...Jane finds nothing cures winter travel woes more quickly than a tropical cocktail sporting a little paper umbrella. Of course, it helps if you are sipping said cocktail on a balmy beach somewhere in the Caribbean. Now, while it may seem counterintuitive to plan a trip to thaw out from traveling, a little mid-winter break can be just the ticket. For example, Jane is a big fan of the Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa, a Wyndham Grand Resort on Puerto Rico. Breathtaking ocean views are rivaled only by the elegant tropical décor of its guest rooms and suites. Eat up--there are 11 restaurants or lounges on site. Tee up--there are both Greg Norman and Tom and George Fazio designed golf courses. Jane prefers to improve her tennis game at the Peter Burwash International Tennis Center. After a good work-out on the courts, Jane can then don her bikini and wander along the secluded beach, or take a dip in two oceanfront swimming pools. Jane is feeling fine, ladies.
But Jane digresses. For her point is, if you want to avoid crowds and get decent rates, plan a winter break between early January and February. With the holiday rush over, and spring break yet to come, many warm weather resorts reduce prices during this "shoulder" period, and airline seats come with a lower price tag. And Jane can guarantee that after a mid-winter holiday, you'll once again have the energy to take on the challenges of traveling for work in winter, which will almost be over.
