Travel for work is not glamorous. There is nothing sexy about balancing your laptop on the crappy airport lounge seats as you frantically try to keep to a deadline even though you've spent an hour battling the crowds
Get up to pee before you are desperate. You never know when turbulence might hit and you are told to return to your seat. Queues for the loo can be long (I have NO idea what people are doing in the airplane bathroom but it sure takes them a long time to evacuate their bladders and bowels) and there are always less facilities than are required in economy class.
While we are talking urine, use the end stall in the airport lounge. That way your carry on bag can safely lean against the wall. Make sure you use the bathroom before collecting luggage from the carousel on arrival at your destination. It's much harder to visit the ladies with a suitcase in tow.
The window seat is the way to go. You get a view. No one will have to wake you if they need to go to the toilet mid flight. You get to lean on the wall for naps.
Seats over or just behind the wings are the most stable. The back of the plane tends to bounce around and the front will the the first to hit if there's a crash.
If you are a frequent flier with a regular route, take a handful of exit papers from both destinations and complete them before you get to the airport
Wear something comfortable but not trashy (leggings are not outer wear!). Jeans are good but skip the belt. Layers are the way to go and a good scarf can double as a blanket if needed. Some planes are on the freezing side of chilly. Don't wear heels - metal detectors hate them. Wear flats. Not only for comfort and speed walking through the airport. It's bad enough to have to spend endless hours sitting still (in cramped conditions) without having to point your feet
Always say yes to water when it is offered. Hydration is key to staving off fatigue and dry skin. Say yes to a blanket and a pillow too - even if you don't plan on sleeping. They can be used to provide cushioning behind your back while you work making the flight just a little less unpleasant.
Essentials only in carry on. You might end up carrying your bag a long way from a 'rural' terminal and those walks can feel like an eternity if you're weighed down (especially after a long flight or a big day). Lip balm is essential. As too is chewing gum. A small packet of tissues, a pen, phone and USB charger cable are not negotiable. A print out of hotel address and onward flight details are a god send if you are travelling to a new destination or somewhere you don't speak the language. Sunglasses are required if you are arriving at your destination in daylight hours. In my opinion a book is always a good idea - no battery needed and easy to pick up and put down for a short pause in your travel plans
Buy a bottle of water before you board. Hydration is important all the time but with the dry air in the cabin lips crack and skin loses its lustre - not a pretty look.
Make sure your passport is easily accessible. Customs and immigration are much easier to negotiate if you don't have to rummage through your bag to find the necessary documents. It also helps if you memorise your passport number (and expiry date) for ease of completing immigration documents mid flight and online checking.
Wear light makeup only; especially for longer flights or if you are planning a nap. And please nap if you can. Cat naps are gold. A snooze on the plane will set you straight for the day, especially if you have had an early start.
If travelling for business don't bank on working on the flight. Turbulence can truly fuck you over. If you have a deadline you need to meet, make sure you have done all the necessary work before you board. If you travel a lot, a Qantas club (or equivalent) membership will pay itself back in no time. It is so much more pleasurable to be able to sit in comfort, have a (relatively) healthy snack and pre-hydrate before you fly. Just make sure you steer clear of the sweet treats, though tempting there's nothing worse than a sugar crash as you take off and hit a bank of clouds.
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