Executive Republic

Ask for the upgrade
As in life, there are times in travel when less is more. But coach seats and tiny hotel rooms are definitely not those times. Unless you're an elite player in their frequent travel plan, airlines and hotels generally don't give away upgrades anymore. But you sometimes can get them cheap just by asking. With the rise of premium-economy seating on flights, more legroom is often available for a bump of just a few bucks over the price of your coach ticket. And it never hurts to ask at the gate if there are first- or business-class seats available at reasonable prices. Many airlines have an at-the-gate upsell policy. At hotels, the sweet spot for suites is at the front desk. When you arrive, ask if better rooms are available and politely state your bargaining position. You'd be surprised how often a pleasantly uttered like "Would $20 more get me a suite tonight?" actually works.
Tame the technology
Robert Browning, the poet who first phrased the "less is more" meme, and Mies van der Rohe, the architect who practiced it, would both be shocked by the amount of technological detritus we now schlep. Look at your carry-on bag: Is there a laptop in there? A tablet? An ebook reader? A music player? How many cables and peripherals go with that torrent of tech? It's too much. Most business travelers are far better served by carrying just two devices. Trim down to the basics: a good smartphone and either a tablet or a laptop. They'll do everything you need.
A bag for your carry-on bag
Speaking of carry-ons, carry a few small ziplock storage bags with you. That's all it takes to have a much more felicitous experience at airport security checkpoints. Instead of dumping the contents of your pockets into those annoying plastic baskets that the TSA uses, take a second to plan before your reach the checkpoint. Gather your pens, coins, keys, wallet, phone and the other contents of your pockets and slip them in one of the ziplocks. Put the bag in an outside pocket of your carry-on. It'll be one less hassle to deal with at the checkpoint. A granular tip: I prefer quart-sized freezer bags for this task, but your mileage may vary.
Have a travel 'go bag'
Disaster-prep specialists recommend having a pre-packed "go bag" if the worst happens. Parents-to-be have a go bag for when it's time to hustle to the hospital. So why don't more business travelers have a pre-packed (or at least partially packed) go bag? Make sure your carry-on is prepped with the basics: a change of undies, socks and a back-up shirt or blouse; your fully stocked toiletries kit; your tech bag with cords and other gear; and whatever else you know you're always going to take with your. My carry-on bag has internal pockets that are stocked with pens, notepads and a stash of other office supplies; business cards; breath mints; a fold-down umbrella; and back-up eyeglasses and sunglasses. The key to smart go-bag management: Refill and refresh it at the end of each trip. This way, when the next call to fly comes, you're ready to go without fumbling for (or forgetting) the basics.
Get elite
The more you travel, the more you realize that you're going to get all the points and miles you'll need to score a free holiday. Smarter travelers focus on attaining as much "elite" status as they can manage. Elite status is the fast track to free upgrades, more personalized service and, frankly, a less-dehumanizing travel experience. Back in the day (which may have only been a decade ago), the travel industry was more selective about who got to be an elite. Today, most will happily match your status in another program to get your business or offer you a fast path to elite. Some will even give it to you as part of a package of perks bundled with their affinity credit card. Get as much elite as you can because you never know when you'll need an airline or hotel chain that you otherwise don't patronize.
Say their name
If you think the travel experience is dehumanizing for us, imagine what it is like for those underpaid customer-facing employees at airlines, hotels and car-rental firms. The best way to get them engaged and energized to help you is to connect with them on a personal level. And that doesn't take much these days. Simply addressing them kindly and respectfully by name will often do the trick. Want great hotel service? Make sure to catch the name of the person checking you in. Say thank you when you leave the front desk. When you get to your room, call down to the front desk, ask for them, and thank them again. It works wonders.
Be a big(ger) spender
I've never understood why business travelers--who are, after all, business people first--don't fully embrace the concept of tipping. More specifically, the concept tipping well and often. At some level, we're all in this for the money. The more you spread around, wisely and discreetly, the better service you will receive. Money talks and will be heard even over the day-to-day din of business travel.

source:bizjournals.com