womantraveler

Wi-Fi in United's Skies

I tried out United Airline's new GoGo in-flight Wi-Fi service between New York and San Francisco yesterday. It can be used on laptops and smartphones and other handheld devices equipped with Wi-Fi. What a breeze! United's service is now available in all classes on its p.s. (premium service) flights from JFK to San Francisco and Los Angeles and is already on several other U.S. airlines. Virgin America, which was the first beginning in May, is now offering a free holiday season promotion to all guests through Jan. 12, 2010.

I was planning to sleep but couldn't resist the free offer from the GoGo sales rep at boarding. (GoGo's single flight passes range from $5.95-12.95 a trip, depending on the length of the flight, and a 30-day pass is $24.95, which can be used on all participating airlines.) It works just like any other short-term Internet service -- you go to a login page, put in a special code or your regular subscription information, et voila!

I sent several emails (and received) as well as surfed the Internet for work-related research. I even wrote my previous blog item, "Sorrento, Come Back," but didn't go live from the air because the signal was too slow uploading the pictures. That I had to do once back in the office, but so far, I would call that a minor issue. Here's what the Wall Street Journal's high-tech guru Walt Mossberg has to say about GoGo.

Business Travel: Be Agile

Entrepreneurs are agile, smart businesses in the new (aka recession) economy are agile and we business travelers have to be extra-agile to protect our business and navigate the predictable wacky travel uncertainties.

It's not only airlines.  Here's a familiar tale from a consultant friend  navigating the  East Coast for various clients recently -- arrival at Washington, DC's Union Station from private car service (to avoid taxi hassles) in good advance time only to discover that the Amtrak from Washington, DC, to New York City is delayed due to a freak situation (water main break near Baltimore).

Vital meetings were firmly and tightly scheduled for later in the afternoon and evening in Connecticut. Click, click, click -- brain cells go into action. Call airlines from cell phone, book next flight from Reagan International Airport, call private car service for return pick up at train station, zip over to Reagan, make the last flight before the thundershowers hit in both DC for departures and potential delays at LaGuardia. Whew!

What does it take to accomplish this? Think fast, have alternatives/options always at hand, keep your brain alert and your resources ready for quick action. Of course, such a plan is not foolproof, but it does yield big time in most cases. Scott McCartney's "Ten Rules of the Road for Air Travel" in the Wall Street Journal provides a terrific template for pulling it all together, business or leisure. Quick thinking is crucial -- calling the airline by cell phone while you're walking through the train station or airport and, critically, before even reaching a customer service line.

You have to be working all the channels at once as your own private switchboard. That means, first of all, thinking nimbly and having all necessary numbers loaded into your address book so they can be dialed up instantly on your cell phone. In this unpredictable world of business -- and leisure travel -- delays, the only constant is OPTIONS.

Goodwill's Recessionista Fashion

The story about "Barbie at 50" in Sunday's New York Times reminded me of the "Recessionista" attire recently worn by James David, communications manager of San Francisco's Goodwill Industries stores. Pointing to his $3 shirt and $2 fashion tie during a panel discussion on the economy, he also mentioned his style-conscious new blog SeamsSoGood. (You may recall that last year SF's Goodwill set another smart and sustainable fashion trend by partnering with designer Joe Boxer for the "William Good" clothing line of designer-remade Goodwill donations.)

So all this got me to thinking -- sadly, it's about time. Pardon me, Barbie, but I am done with Carrie Bradshaw shopaholics who for years have shamed the rest of us into buying more expensive clothing that we could really afford. I became one of them temporarily until the bottom hit last fall and I asked myself, "what am I thinking??" Things accumulating in my closet still with the tags on! And a $650 pocketbook (at a steal sale of $250) and a $900 necklace and earrings that I had no reason to buy except the peer pressure in the room. Clearly these wouldn't qualify as expensive luxuries for the shopaholics who set the tone, but in my case, twhile I do love and enjoy them, I've got to break that habit. Fortunately they are made well enough that they will hold up for a long time -- while my $200 jeans develop tatters and become even more trendy.

Like James' example, men are discovering secondhand shopping relief, too. San Francisco is just one city that offers a host of vintage menswear options. Clearly it's a new consciousness. I was having lunch not long ago in upscale Presidio Heights in San Francisco when I spotted a store proclaiming a "Recessionista Sale" with a massive banner. Darn, I didn't have my camera -- but even at its blowout prices, I didn't have the budget. So I zipped up my pocketbook, kept walking and began to feel the relief of re-balancing priorities.

Say Never to "Always Wear Skirts"

Here's an update to one of Womantraveler's most popular blog entries -- you should now stop wearing skirts if you want to get through airport security quickly. The long skirts I used to wear for airplane and travel comfort are now declared "voluminous clothing" by the TSA, meaning that you'll get pulled aside for a secondary check. Doesn't matter if you are thin as a rail! I asked the friendly female agents about this on my last two flights and got the answer. Even short skirts are a liability because, as they noted with their eyes, things can be hidden "up there."

So, I'm sorry to say that this tip of two years ago is relatively kaput. sadly, so, because it was such a bright idea! Now, if like me, you still hate your pants dragged on airplane bathroom floors, you could pack one of these travel skirts (below) easily and change after passing through airport security.

Here's the original blog of May 8, 2006:

Womentravelers who have succumbed to the dress-down comfort trend of jeans or capris for air travel are making a huge mistake. As my pal who's a former flight attendant put it bluntly -- unlike pants, you can lift your skirt up so it doesn't drag on those often yukky airplane bathroom floors, and heaven knows, she's seen more than she wants to remember. (Skirts are not recommended for men, of course, who have their own bathroom issues -- and one that we particularly appreciate their sensitivity to tidying up these tiny unisex quarters after use.)

Mid-calf or long skirts are the best -- but nothing too full or flouncy as they're more cumbersome to handle or pack. Lightweight or synthetic fabrics are most easily managed. Having a skirt has many purposes and it's easy for a quick change by pulling it over your head. A skirt keeps your legs and ankles warm, in case the blanket that is supposed to be on your seat has been ripped off. (I also tuck in a pair of light-weight knee-high trouser socks in my carry-on handbag or computer bag.) If I'm traveling for business and need office attire at the other end, I slip off the long airplane skirt in the airport ladies room upon arrival and replace it with a wrinkle-free suit skirt or trousers I've also gently folded in my carry-on.

Practicing this travel clothes philosophy consistently, I keep 2-3 basic airplane travel outfits that account for various weather conditions, including starting in one weather pattern and ending up in something totally different (50s on the West Coast and 90 degrees and unbearable humidity upon landing on the East). The other important component is a light-weight pashmina (the kind sold in airport shops for $10 in all colors). Rayon or light-weight cashmere pashminas serve as another layer for wrapping up (neck, shoulders or legs), can be folded into a small bag and add some pzazz. The best skirt options I've found -- and keep going back to -- are Chico's Traveler acetate/spandex mix-and-match series and TravelSmith's poly-nylon Ultimate Travel Skirt.

Bags Here Today, Gone Today

It only takes one lost luggage experience on the way to the first meeting with a new client to change the system for packing. Showing up in jeans and a day-old shirt clearly won't deliver impressions of professionalism and confidence to the president or CEO. So when my flight from California to Philadelphia got canceled in Chicago, and I quickly snagged the last seat on a flight to Newark, NJ, silly me...I had happily managed to actually get to the East Coast -- and to arrive within 90 minutes' drive from my final destination -- and I expected to rendezvous with my bags at Newark baggage claim.

Having to figure out an alternative at 11:30 pm on a Sunday night does not provide a lot of options for the 9 am meeting the next morning. The lessons:

• Always carry on a small bag with a change of clothing, or wear something that can be washed overnight. Business travelers customarily carry on a suitcase for this reason, but carrying on can be a real hassle -- when traveling for a week or in winter and needing multiple outfits, when flying on small commuter jets with little or no storage, when toting a roller bag computer case that is chock full of business papers and when trying not to injure neck, shoulders and back with lots of schlepping. The one solution -- my default travel outfit: Chico's "Travelers Series." I was an early-adopter of this professional-looking wash-and-go line that also has many dress-up options, and the articles can be rolled into tiny spaces relatively wrinkle free. This solution also jives with my "always wear skirts" philosophy for airplane travel.
• Wear comfortable but stylish shoes that can be transformed into business attire the next morning.
• Carry on all make up, a toothbrush, fresh change of underwear, jewelry and other accessories. This is a good idea for a day trip because travel delays can wreak all kinds of havoc on one's appearance -- let alone well-planned calendars. Hotels usually carry some cosmetic items -- and have irons -- but don't expect eyeliner or fresh nylons.
• Remember that hotel shampoos and hair dryers come in very handy if you have to wash out clothing in a rush. To speed up drying, first wrap the item in a towel, twist the towel to squeeze out excess (or stomp on it) and then apply the hair dryer action.
• Always pack a pashmina -- the rayon versions found at most airports for under $20 are indispensable. If nothing else, you can wrap up and hide under a colorful pashmina and look quite professional and stylish.
• Check out 24-hour emergency bag delivery services provided by some airlines at some airports. This isn't always a sure thing. While the helpful United Airlines baggage customer service telephone operators were on the job all night, the local company delivering the bags from the Philly airport had closed down before I got to Newark and did not open again until 6 am the next morning. But I was able to talk to a resourceful and sympathetic sympathetic baggage service operator who put a rush on delivery the next morning.
• Put a copy of your itinerary in your luggage -- in case someone in baggage service has to open it to locate you as the owner.

The gods sorted things out so I could be a little late to the first meeting, but that isn't always something you can count on. Oh, yes, and the carry-on options are only going to get worse with all the airline cutbacks. So, stay tuned...

The Most Annoying Airplane Moments

While I love my Mobal world phone ($49 to own it plus competitive call charges per country), I also get a hoot out of the Mobal world phone users blog. Here's an unforgettable series of reflections about the most annoying things people do on airplanes.

Beware of Wi-Fi Hackers

Wi-Fi's spread and convenience bring threats, so be prepared. A helpful article in today's Wall Street Journal offers these tips to minimize the dangerous machinations of hackers. It's good info for general Wi-Fi use in your hotel room, home or office, and especially for Wi-Fi hotspots. The person nearby in the hotel lobby or airport waiting area may be a hacker lurking to steal information from your laptop -- or even take it over:

• Keep all computer software and computer protection software current.
• Name your Wi-Fi network.
• Conduct all financial transactions -- such as banking, stock market trades and purchases requiring a credit card -- at home over a wired connection or wireless firewall.
• Close down your computer when you're not using the Internet.
• Use a wired connection wherever possible.

Comfortable In-flight Gear? Suit Yourself!

In this do-it-yourself era of stripped-down in-flight services, you have to make your own comfort. How to do that without wearing your PJs (or looking like it) and without schlepping too much gear? Remember, these days you're likely to be on a small commuter flight with very little carry-on space.

Here's the list I check off before every trip for, especially as a woman business traveler:

Best luggage:

• Briggs & Riley -- lighter weight than anything else I've tried, lifetime guarantee -- even if damaged by the airlines! -- and discreetly stylish colors that mix well with other black pieces in my collection.

Best shoes:

• Slide-ons, whether flat or well-supported low heels, for passing through security easily, and easy to change or stow under the seat in front of you once you're onboard.

Best gear to keep warm:

• Socks -- tuck in your pocket book or carry-on, then slip on once you're in your seat.
• Lightweight rayon pashmina -- to pack flat or folded in a computer case or carry-on personal bag whether you can find a blanket or not. Available for $10-20 in many colors in most airports.
• Sleeveless vest -- especially quilted or lightweight fleece versions that pack flat and are warm, but non-confining, for layering. (I keep a black cotton quited vest with me and it works at my destinations with most anything I wear, including business attire.)

Best overall clothing:

• Skirts -- always wear them! Mid-calf or longer, they keep your legs warm and they certainly are easier to navigate in tiny bathrooms. However, as of fall 2008, they slow down your trip through airport security, as this link notes.

Best back support:

• After trying many, Pocket Pillow, which packs flat, inflates and was recommended by my chiropractor, is the winner. It moves with you, as opposed to the too-firm varieties. Just let the air out when you're landing and repack.

Airplane Carry-on Updates

Unsure of the latest airport security measures? Bookmark this FAQ for what to carry-on, especially if you're a woman business traveler, and check regularly for updates. Airlines are posting info boldly on their websites or, like Southwest, emailing frequent flyers with updated info. United is one of many loosening checked baggage maximum weight restrictions temporarily and reminding frequent flyers of special flight-delay notification services by cell phone, fax, etc.

Since the cardinal rule of business travel is always carry on, we'll see if the new restrictions motivate airports to beef up checked baggage handling services, which are woefully slow and inefficient at many locations. Philadelphia International Airport is legendary -- instead of cosmetics onboard, take an extra book to read while waiting what typically is an hour for checked luggage there (and that was pre-Aug. 10). To be safe, women business travelers should consider overnighting clothing and other essential items via FedEx, DHL, UPS and similar shipping services from home or hotel.

Already hotels are responding to the carry-on challenge, too. Omni Hotels have announced that effective immediately they'll offer the following complimentary items -- facial skin care products, women's cosmetics, hair care products, sunscreen, toothpaste, contact lens solution and nail polish and remover. Plus, they'll provide a list of nearby pharmacies with their telephone numbers and hours of operations. Watch other hotels to follow suit.

Women Traveling Safely

The Turkey blogs raised some interesting questions about women traveling solo safely. We found this an interesting discussion, along with the comments to our Turkey travel series.