Have you ever met someone and it seems like they’re always setting off on a business trip? You think to yourself, ‘they have this business travel thing down! I’m going to be like that someday!’
The good news is, you can be! You’re going to rock your first work trip, and then you’re going to keep traveling, and eventually be an even better traveler than that person.
There is one thing that you can do to make sure that your work trip goes well, and that is to ask questions before you go. This will allow you to start your work traveling on the right foot. However, knowing which questions to ask can be tough, so I made it easier.
Questions you’ll want to know the answer to are:
- What is and isn’t covered by the company? such as:
- Lyft rides to the airport
- Lounge access at the airport
- Seat upgrades
- Daily meal budget
- Can they extend a trip and maximize personal travel?
- What is expected of them while at the work event, trade show, or client meeting? Are we allowed to take freebies from vendors?
- Can I come home with extra money in my Uber account?
- Can I keep the money I don’t spend on my food budget?
- How will you track expenses or be reimbursed?
- Who is in charge of my bookings?
If you have these questions or others, there are a couple of places to go to have them answered.
- First, refer to your intranet at work. There is likely a set of policies around business travel
- Then, if you still have questions, ask your supervisor. They’ve likely traveled before and will be able to let you in on the company’s preferences.
- Ask the person you’re traveling with. Chances are, they’ve done this before as well and will also give you a feel for what traveling with them will be like.
If this is your first trip, first time going to a new location, or first time traveling with a new company, you should ask all of these questions before leaving to ensure that you are well supported on your trip. Plus, if your meal allowance is higher than you thought, it could be a perfect excuse to try something off the dessert menu 🙂
Of course, you’re asking these questions to avoid making any mistakes while on the road. To avoid making mistakes while packing, check out the following articles: