We are the mighty business traveler. We fly from coast to coast on a moments notice, not to ride Space Mountain or shop at Saks Fifth Avenue, but to do the job, close the deal, save the client, and make the company successful. We rack up frequent flyer miles the way other people rack up cubicle time.
We are… the Road Warriors.
And for you, my fellow road warrior today’s episode of NextFlightHome features my top 3 picks in travel tools. Ready? Well let’s get started.
Number 3 = Google Calendar
Yes I know you’ve already got a Google calendar, or an iCal calendar or a calendar in your Outlook thing that work makes you use, so why do you need another calendar? Because you want to rise above, to be the Chosen One! Or just to simplify your traveling life, which ever.
Looks like this, mmm hmm.
Wait a few moments for the text from SkyNet Google has become self aware and enter the code. Blammo. Now your Google Calendar can text you to remind you of important things like, you know, that flight to Seattle this afternoon?
Which leads me to the next tool on my list: Number 2 = SMS Reminders
They are so easy, yet so elegant, like a simpleton at the ball. And they can be set up right in your Google Calendar. OMG, it’s like this whole list is coming together somehow!
Tell it to tell you
I have mine set up to remind me with a email three hours before a flight, and follow up with a text message two and a half hours before. Why do I have my reminders so far in advance you ask?
Well I’m the neurotic type that likes to get to the airport two hours before a flight, so if there’s any difficulty I’ll, and as importantly my luggage will still make my flight. (I can run from gate A2 to gate D32, wheezing all the way, my luggage however is left to the capricious whims of underpaid and under appreciated baggage handlers – love you guys!). So if I’m at the airport at 0700 for a flight at 0900 I’d like my text to arrive when I’m about to get into the cab or, say 0630. Ain’t life grand?
As that great philosopher, John Waters opined:
“Militant time-management will enable
you to ignore how maladjusted you
would be if you had the time to notice
it in the first place. Discipline is not
anal compulsion; it’s a lifestyle that
breeds power.”
I’m not as disciplined as Mr. Waters, but by the Buddha, I’m working on it.
Number 1 = TripIt
TripIt is pretty freaking awesome, and no despite my good looks I’m not a paid TripIt spokesmodel. Below you’ll find an ugly screen cap of the TripIt home page. Right from there, I can see where I’ve been and where I’m going. I’ve only been using this thing since mid March, so two and a half months, but I already find it indispensable. And it could not be simpler to use.
Take the itinerary that the airline emails you and forward it to plans@tripit.com, and within minutes you’ll get a confirmation email back that your itinerary is ready. Kapow! How’s that for awesome? Not enough? Ok, well there’s also a companion app for iPhone and Blackberry that makes it stupid simple to see your upcoming trips on your phone, like when you’re in the cab on the way to the airport and don’t remember what airline you’re on for example.
Ok, so below is the screen cap, but keep scrollin’ on down pardner, ’cause I’m fixin’ to ‘splain what them blue numbers and ovals I put up on there is a for.
Don't be Trippin' -- Without TripIt
- 1) Well duh, that’s you’re (or in this case my) upcoming trips that you’ve submitted to TripIt. Right there on the Home page, viewable at a glance. Ahhhh, luxury thy name is TripIt.
- 2) It knows me, where I am, and allows me to add connections. These aren’t flight connections though, these are the social media type connections, so if I’m connected with some fellow workers warriors, and they use TripIt I can see what their itinerary looks like. Maybe we can meet for a drink at O’Hare. (Perish the thought).
- 3) This is just fun, but hey I didn’t know I’d flown that much in the last two months, because I had to take some time off recently, so that number is actually a good bit higher than I’d have guessed. Well both of them are higher than I thought. Just like my cholesterol.
- 4) iCal feed? Frackin’ A you Cylon son’s o’ bitches! Having the iCal feed is awesome especially if you’ve connected your iCal with your Google cal and have that all synced with your phone. You do have that done right? Hell I might have to write an eBook about that and sell it here for $19.99 because it’s so awesome. Order now, operators are standing by. (Well not really, I haven’t written the eBook, and if I did, I’d probably just give it away here, because I suck at selling things apparently. Damn.)
- 5) The little map with the blue and red dots! It’s so cool. Show’s you your upcoming trips in Red and your past trips in Blue. Just more fun stuff, but hey, even Road Warriors need fun stuff right?
Oh, and all that? That’s in the free version of TripIt. I can’t even imagine what the paid version does (I don’t have it), but it probably mixes a perfect margarita and sends it to you poolside. Just guessing.
