Business Travel - Your Habits?

[jyl]

Various "how do you handle this" questions relating to business traveling. I'd be interested to know what's the norm here. [I put in my practice in brackets.] Feel free to add your own questions too. Thanks.

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

[yes, 10% or so]

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

[yes, to get it up to 20% total.]

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

[a couple-few bucks, if I happen to have it, I'm not too scrupulous about this stuff.]

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

[yes, every night, for $350/night or whatever ridiculous rate we're paying, I think the sheets should be nice and crisp all the time.]

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

[A bit, but it is more personal quirks than any real economy. I take the light rail to/from airport or have my wife drive me, instead of a taxi. Often eat at hole-in-the-wall ethnic places or food carts, just prefer to wasting hours in a nice restaurant. Don't use the mini-bar etc, the prices just bug me.]

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

[On flights more than a couple hours, I'll definitely change airlines. Will change flight times to some extent.]

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

[A small carry-on shoulder bag. Don't like rollers. Never check anything.]

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

[Never.]

ADDED-ON QUESTIONS

9. Do you unpack your clothes in the hotel or leave them in your suitcase?

10. Do you expense your mileage to the airport?

[stomachmonkey]

1. No

2. No

3. couple a few

4. No, depends on length of stay.

5. I treat/spend other peoples money as if it were my own

6. Depends on length of flight but generally no, I'd spend the $'s to upgrade 1st

7. A roller

8. All the time

[Scuba Steve]

1. Don't normally do room service...

2. Nope. Auto-tipping means that I'm done.

3. Five bucks maybe.

4. I don't bother with it. On longer stays they tend to weekly, anyway.

5. Not so much, although the wife likes to pick me up and drop me off at the airport so whatever.

6. I haven't had one of those in ages... thanks, Star Alliance!

7. My favorite (big) Zebra-colored roller bag gets checked. My computer and whatever entertainment I have for the flight comes along as the carry-on. Back in the olden days before 2006 or so I had it down to a science where a small roller + my backpack was all I needed and it was all carry-on. I miss those days...

8. Nah, not so much. I have enough going on at home so that I'd like to get back. And I miss the dog, cat and wife (not in that order).

9. Other rituals: Terminal E @ IAH - Panda Express, every time I pass through. I like the orange chicken and walnut shrimp.

[Don Plumley]

1. Yes (but I've rarely/never ordered RS)
2. Yes (Internationally, some hotel restaurants are considered fine dining; but I generally prefer to go native)
3. A couple of bucks, unless it is Japan
4. No, save the water. I don't change my sheets/towels daily at home.
5. I'm incredibly frugal personally, don't expense every cup of coffee. There are times I've enjoyed an especially nice meal at a restaurant I'm interested in and have only expensed the Tip.
6. For a one-hour delay, I'll wait; for 2 or more, I'd rather get where I'm going.
7. Roller + cabin bag (holds my slim briefcase, sweater, electronics) for international flights - NEVER check.
8. Only if the economics make sense. Usually I'd rather be home and I've been to these places n times before. but rather than mess up two weekends, sometimes I'll leave on a Tuesday, use part of the middle weekend to go from one part of Europe to another, work in the down-time, then fly back Wednesday.
9. I unpack unless it is one night.

[masraum]

1. Not if it's included on the bill.

2. Not if it's included on the bill.

3. Vallet will get a couple of bucks.

4. Make the bed, but I don't need new sheets.

5. I don't go out of my way to spend it, but I also don't go out of my way to save it.

6. No. I try to avoid middle seats and sit as far forward as possible (last on, first off), but I'd rather take the flight I want than change flights.

7. A carry on and maybe a small backpack

8. I stayed an extra day once at my bosses urging.

[Rick Lee]

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

Never have ordered room service....ever. I'd rather explore the local restaurant scene.

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

Almost never have eaten in hotel restaurant for same reason above.

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

$2-3 for valet parking. I don't let anyone else touch my stuff.

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

No. Save water.

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

I don't really have to try. I don't like expensive restaurants and I'm often on the motorcycle, which means I can't drink more than a beer or two. My one extravagance is good sushi on just about every business trip. LA next week!

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

Yes.

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

Full size luggage when flying. I have to check it anyway, since I always bring a handgun and the company pays the fee. On the bike, well, much less.

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

Always, but I can't expense it. Sometimes I get away with keeping the rental car for a few days because it'd be too complicated on our expense form to itemize it out. I'm taking next Thurs. off in the middle of a week-long business trip to LA to go to NAMM and not be bothered with work or pressing appointments.

[mikeatfhc]

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

Depends in service - mostly I add a little

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

See #1 - depends on service

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

I always give them a few - probably too nice.

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

I generally only have them change the bedding/towels and clean up the room every third night - I generally don't trash my hotel rooms anymore and perfer to limit the number of times 'other folks' are in my room in my absence.

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

Always - my clients LOVE how frugal I am with thier money. Sometimes to my detriment. I will generally treat myself the last night on an extended stay to a decent dinner. I never get a big/fancy rental car, never do first class, but will do business class depending on cost/availability, no limos, taxis only.

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

No... unless the flight is greater than 5 hours - all bets are off then.

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

I check bags. One small computer bag, one checked. I HATE fighting all the other passengers trying to get overhead. For piece of mind I spend the extra half-hour at baggage claim. No little bottles in a bag hassles at the securety check point, no fighting for overhead, no carrying all that *hit around. Unless it's only for a day or overnight, then I check.

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

Sometimes... not too often. I'm wierd that way - I have a great homelife and can't wait to get back to it.

Here's my question to add to the discussion... How do you folks handle rental car insurance? I have usually declined the coverage as my credit cards will cover rental car damage. I am sure I could get my clients to pay the extra charges, but sometimes they are almost as high the rental was in the first place and I so damn frugal that I think its a rip-off. I recently had to file a claim on one due to a small fender bender (Vegas no less). And it took MONTHS to get approved, and that was after a couple of tricks they tried to pull trying to delay/deny coverage. I am thinking I may not decline rental car coverage anymore. Anyone else charging their clients/company for this expense?

[imcarthur]

1. No

2. No

3. A dollar or two.

4. No.

5. I travel pretty cheaply. Except when I don't.

6. I always have window so I can lean and sleep. Period.

7. The absolute minimum. I check bags maybe 4 out of 50 flights a year.

8. Only when my wife joins me - which is very seldom. NYC or somewhere warm in winter.

Ian

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by jyl

Various "how do you handle this" questions relating to business traveling. I'd be interested to know what's the norm here. [I put in my practice in brackets.] Feel free to add your own questions too. Thanks.

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

[Service fee only - I never order RS]

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

[yes, to get it up to 20% total. But this is talking business travel - I don't eat at restaurants unless meeting with peers for work. My CONUS habits are to hit Starbucks for coffee and eat a Cliff bar (that I always have at the ready) for breakfast. Generally skip lunch or might do sandwich/deli if handy, grocery store fare (bread,cold cuts, ready to go meals, wine) for dinner which I eat in my hotel room. Outside the US all bets are off.]

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

[I can't remember the last time I used a cab. Baggage/Car park - a couple bucks]

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

[Only if I stay longer than 5 nights]

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

[I always underspend my per diem except for hotel - I prefer staying < 15 minutes drive to site and that generally means I pay more for the hotel (Hilton Family).]

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

[I have never had to do that and would not. I do save money by flying to places like BWI vs IAD/DCA. Sure it's an additional 30 minute drive but I have saved up to $500 doing so.]

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

[A backpack with laptop & "stuff" and one roller that fits in the overhead. I can go 2+ weeks easy in that configuration - everywhere I have traveled there is some sort of laundry available.]

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

[Once in the last 15 years.]

9. Do you unpack your clothes in the hotel or leave them in your suitcase?
I will hang my dress shirts and pants. Everything else stays in my suitcase.

[Paul_Heery]

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

I never order room service. I have zero tolerance for mediocre, overpriced food.

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

I rarely eat in hotel restaurants. I have zero tolerance for mediocre, overpriced food.

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

I always give them a couple of bucks

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

Every night.

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

No. But, I don't spend lavishly either

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

I am very particular about flying. I will never sit in a middle seat

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

A roller. It has a compartment for my laptop

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

I tend to get in and out of town as quickly as possible. So, no.

[jyl]

9. Hang dress shirts, dress slacks, and suit/blazer. Everything else - which is basically one t-shirt, one pair of casual pants, a pair of Vans, socks and undies - stays in the bag.

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by jyl

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

Never do room service.

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

Almost never eat in hotel. I prefer to check out the local restaurants

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

A couple-few bucks, too

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

No, unless I might be staying for 5 days or more, which is almost never.

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

I usually get a car from Enterprise as it's $10 cheaper than Avis, however, I like to eat well, so I tend to blow my auto savings on decent restaurants

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

Haven't had to in a while, but if I have no choice, oh well, center seat it is.

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

Roll aboard and a backpack never check in a bag.

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

Hard to with family waiting for me at home. Did have wife stay with me for 5 days while on a trip to Boston while our kid was at grandparents house. That was really nice.

..

Question 9. Do you expense your mileage to the airport?
Yes, if company is making me fly out at inconvenient times, then I want to be paid for my time and mileage.

[motion]

Originally Posted by jyl

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

[On flights more than a couple hours, I'll definitely change airlines. Will change flight times to some extent.]

Are you kidding me? Changing a flight must cost your company $300 or more on average. (Change fee of $150 plus difference in fare).

Wow, no wonder I feel vindicated for never having an employee work for me.

[jyl]

Question [Let's call this] 10. Do you expense your mileage to the airport?

Well, I'm only a 10 min drive from the airport so no. If it wasn't a trivial sum, I would expense it.

As a practical matter, I almost never drive and park at the airport - parking takes extra time, costs as much as a cab, costs way more than the light rail.

[foxpaws]

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

I only order room service if I am beat after a long day on the old trade show floor, and I am sitting in the bathroom with my feet in the tub (hey-try wearing big girl shoes on a concrete floor for hours on end)- but then, tip the staff that brings the meal a couple of bucks - but no extra on the bottom of the bill.

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

Almost never eat in the hotel if I have the energy to leave (and if I don't have the energy to leave - room service). And it seems like now, when you have a 6-topper or more (when I take out clients) most restaurants add 18%, that is usually enough unless the wait staff has been truly exceptional.

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

$3 in most places - $5 in expensive towns for bellmen/valets. I hardly take any luggage, so, I just carry it.

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

every other day

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

Usually - I eat nice meals - but it is usually with clients.

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

I won't book a flight that forces me into a center seat if I can avoid it.

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

Small, carry on bag. I put my 'booth clothes' and shoes in the booth to be shipped. On trips that aren't trade show oriented - still, as small as I can get. Never, ever check.

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

Almost always.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by motion

Are you kidding me? Changing a flight must cost your company $300 or more on average. (Change fee of $150 plus difference in fare).

Wow, no wonder I feel vindicated for never having an employee work for me.

What I mean is, my assistant works w/ the travel agent to get me a tentative flight reservation w/ seat assignment, and then checks w/ me before booking (buying) it. If it is a center seat, I will (sometimes) tell her to "change" the flight, i.e. don't book it, find me another one that is later or earlier or a different airline, but with a non-center seat.

I assume that is what the others responding to this meant as well. I agree, once you've bought the ticket, changing becomes prohibitive.

This probably means I sometimes take a slightly more expensive flight, though. It can't be much more expensive, our systems catch that.

[Rick Lee]

My company makes us book through Amex's Axiom travel site. Their prices are usually the same as Kayak's or Priceline's and we're not allowed to book outside of it unless there's a >$100 difference. The site keeps our frequent flyer numbers and gets the points added to our accounts too, also lets us choose seats. I never see a bill for it. The flights that are crazy expensive are marked "outside of policy" and we can't select them. But as long as we're able to click on them, they're fair game. So I go for the most convenient flights on airlines with which I get miles.

Also, we have some stupid T&E rules that really defeat the purpose. I have a $71 per diem for food. But if I save $200 in hotel fees by staying with friends (as I always do in Irvine, CA), I can't expense more than $71 even if I take those friends out for a nice meal and still save the company a lot of money. We can't use the minibar, even if we skip meals and the minibar is cheaper than a meal would have been. Once my boss told me he pads his expense reports because of this BS, I stopped caring so much.

[cantdrv55]

$71 er day for food? That's generous. Ours is $50.

[motion]

Originally Posted by jyl

What I mean is, my assistant works w/ the travel agent to get me a tentative flight reservation w/ seat assignment, and then checks w/ me before booking (buying) it. If it is a center seat, I will (sometimes) tell her to "change" the flight, i.e. don't book it, find me another one that is later or earlier or a different airline, but with a non-center seat.

I assume that is what the others responding to this meant as well. I agree, once you've bought the ticket, changing becomes prohibitive.

This probably means I sometimes take a slightly more expensive flight, though. It can't be much more expensive, our systems catch that.

Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

$71 er day for food? That's generous. Ours is $50.

I rarely use it all, usually hit Starbucks for breakfast and skip lunch. But it'd be nice to be able to take friends out for dinner when they put me up for a night or two and save the company $200-$400 in hotels costs.