How to Commute from the Office to the Airport

Traveling for business often means starting your day at the office, commuting to the airport, and ending up in a hotel in a different city. It sounds simple enough, but the change in routine can often cause hurdles that throw you off your game. Follow our business trip tips to keep your workday focused and productive and your travel smooth and pleasant.

Tip #1: Packing Efficiently for Business Travel

Eliminate extra stops. One of the least efficient uses of time is returning home before heading to the airport. Instead, pack your luggage and bring everything with you to the office. Business trips are often short. You want to pack a small to medium-sized bag that is easy to manage and avoid hassling with large or bulky suitcases. Check out these 7 packing tips to minimize your luggage even more.

Pro Tip: If you use a business travel credit card, you may have access to airport lounges. That card allows you to earn more points for upgrades, free flights, and more.

Tip #2: Use a Business Travel Backpack

Modern backpacks have come a long way in both function and style. When traveling for business, you want a professional-looking bag that protects your items, keeps things organized, and gives you easy access to everything needed to work on the plane, in the lounge, or wherever you have time to put in some work time.

Using your backpack as a personal item keeps it tucked conveniently under the seat in front of you and helps you jet through the airport to make those connections. For style with serious substance, the Travelpro® Altitude™ Collection is hard to beat and even includes backpacks that can expand enough to hold a couple of days’ worth of clothes.

Pro Tip: Pack some noise-canceling headphones so you can focus on your work and not other distractions.

Tip #3: Packing for the Day and the Night

Business trips rarely come without the after-hours networking component. Your clothing options should include business or business formal attire during the day, which can transform into business casual attire for evening networking. Minimize packing space by taking items that can be used for both day and night with minor tweaks.

Pro Tip: Use travel cubes to separate daytime clothing from evening wear.

Tip #4: Travel from the Office to the Airport

Commuters today have more transportation options than ever. Avoid long-term parking fees and trying to find a spot, if public transit or ridesharing is a viable solution. You should also be able to expense the cost. Choose your ride based on how much luggage and time you have. More luggage will be easier to transport via rideshare; less luggage is easy to carry on and off a bus or train.

Pro Tip: Professional luggage, like business backpacks and carry-on-sized Rollaboard® or Spinner luggage, makes mobility a breeze.

Business travel doesn't have to be hectic, but it takes extra planning to ensure it all goes smoothly. When you're efficiently packed and ready to tackle work-related duties while on the fly, you can make the most of your time away from the office.