How to Plan Your Business Travel: 13 Steps (with Pictures)

You may not need a passport if you’re traveling domestically for business, but you will need one for international flights. Even on domestic flights, you’ll need a valid, state-issued ID. Failure to have the proper identification can delay or even prevent your trip altogether.

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If you’re receiving your ticket digitally (like on your smartphone, for example), you won’t have to worry about printing or losing a ticket. If not, you’ll need to get to the airport a little early to print your ticket. Even with self-service kiosks, the lines for printing out tickets do get backed up from time to time.

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Checked bags can get lost or misplaced. Whether you’re on a tight schedule or simply don’t want to worry about finding a suit store before your big meeting, it’s best to stick with carry-on items only.

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Whether you’re traveling abroad or meeting with representatives from another nation, it’s important to remember that different cultures have different values and customs. Saying or doing certain things that you find acceptable, or failing to say/do certain things, can be a sign of great disrespect in some cultures.

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Thanks to current technology, most of us rely pretty heavily on our smartphones and digital devices. However, depending on where you are traveling, you may not have phone or internet reception readily available. If you’re relying on your digital devices for your itinerary, plane ticket, presentation, or paperwork, you may be out of luck if you’re in a dead zone.

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Jet lag is an obstacle most business travelers have had to overcome at some point or another. It can take several days to adjust to any time change, even domestically. If you’re traveling across time zones, you may want to start acclimating before your trip.

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Anticipate security precautions at the airport. Sometimes airport security lines can take a very long time. Arrive at the airport early: airlines usually recommend two hours before your flight for domestic flights and three hours before for international flights. Look into getting TSA Pre-Check or CLEAR, pre-approved security programs that can help you get through the lines faster.