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On a recent trip to our one of our offices, I had the pleasure of flying out of the Cleveland Airport. Now, being a techy kind of guy, I travel with more devices than Inspector Gadget has in his hat.
With the holidays right around the corner, I wanted to give my listeners a few tips for the tech-savvy traveler.
Tip 1: Pack it up, but be ready to take it out.
When packing your bag, neatly organize your clothing items so anything you may need to get at is located on the top. Or consider using one of those space saver bags that allows you to either roll out the air or vacuum it out.
Pay close attention to what you are bringing on the flight with you, and have your liquids in their clear quart-sized bag located in a front pocket of your luggage or on top so they are easy to get to. I personally keep mine in the same pocket as my laptop.
Plan to be searched, just in case. There is always a chance you’re going to become that “random search” guy or gal, and in that case it could make you late for your flight. In fact, always plan to be there ahead of time. Besides, you have like, what—50 gadgets to keep you entertained, right? Get your money’s worth!
Tip 2: How to clear security faster.
Keep your boarding pass and ID handy. Put them in your front pocket so when you get to the gate, you can easily have them ready for inspection. Never leave them in your back pocket; this leaves you vulnerable to identity theft issues or pick-pockets. Oliver is always waiting to pick a pocket or two.
When passing through security checkpoints, your laptop must go alone in its own bin; if you put anything else in the bin with it, security will flag it and you will have to put it through again.
Remove your shoes and belt (make sure that when you do, your fly is not unzipped by accident because TSA will let you know—trust me!). You can also just wear a nice pair of comfy sweats instead.
Take out your Wii and your projector, too. Yeah, so what—if I get stranded, at least I can play Mario Kart with others who are in the same predicament. But we can do it in style: 8 foot wide on a wall!
Tip 3: When can I take out my toys on the plane?
Listen for the single “bing” after take off. This means you’re now at 10,000 feet and you can use your “approved electronic devices.” So bring on the gadgets. Instead of having to turn off your smart phone completely before this point, most devices have a “travel-safe” mode. If you’re having trouble locating this option on your phone, here’s a tip that will show you how to do it on BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and iPhone.
Here’s another fun idea: if you have kids traveling with you, bring your portable GPS. They are a lot of fun on a plane, and you get the chance to see how fast you’re really going.
Tip 4: How to have fun when your flight is delayed.
Do some people-watching with your iPod—this can be great! Turn on your iPod to any song and imagine the people passing by are actors in a music video. You can also do this as people are boarding the plane. So far my favorite songs to listen to are “Flight of the Bumblebee” or “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” by Dead or Alive. Man, I love ’80s pop.
Play “Duck Duck Goose” with other business folks at the Southwest kiddie tables (you would be surprised at how many people might just play along).
Get to know the flight crew that is waiting to take the same flight. This can be a great way to get those free extras and better service once the plane finally departs.
Find other people with iPhones or iPods and share games or show off your apps. I can’t believe how many pages of apps people have sometimes. My favorite games are Skee-ball and Yahtzee—you can get anyone to play Yahtzee with you.
Find some cards and start a game of Rummy or poker. Just remember that not all forms of poker are acceptable in public; after all, you’re not in college anymore.
That’s all for this week. If you’ve enjoyed the podcast, be sure to head over to iTunes to write a review for us. And you can always visit us on Twitter @productiveUcast.
Well, until next time: as the the weather outside is frightful and may be causing flight delays, take a piece of advice from comedian Gabriel Iglesias and “Have a little fun.”
See you next time!
Music courtesy of Clayton & Fulcrum
