I prefer to go British Airways or Virgin
Atlantic. Sometimes I’ll find myself on United
Airlines, but I’ll shy away from it if I can, even though I’m an
American. The service culture in the US is very good, but for some reason
the service on American carriers isn’t great. I haven’t quite figured out
why, maybe the airlines have just hired the wrong people. But BA and Virgin
certainly set the standards on transatlantic travel.
How do you pass the time on flights?
Even in a flat bed I find it difficult to sleep; I find it difficult to sleep
in my bed at home. After about three hours on a flight, it is all about
avoiding claustrophobia. I’m not a great flyer because I feel there is
always something more productive I could be doing. For years I read a good
book on a flight, but now I’ve migrated to work-related reading, which is no
longer relaxing. But if I’m carrying a good book, it’s extra weight that I’m
not going to use. The only time I watch a film is on a flight. I don’t watch
films for the same reason I don’t play golf – it’s several hours of my life
that I’m not going to get back.
What do you look for in a hotel?
I really just look for the middle-of-the-road properties. When I first started
travelling, the most important thing was a comfy bed and a decent workout
facility, even if I didn’t have time to use it. Then as I got more involved
in business, a comfy bed and a gym became a lower priority than looking for
a hotel that had wi-fi. Now we have data cards that can be used anywhere, so
my priority is going back to finding a comfy bed and a gym. I like Westin,
because they have great beds, Sofitel
and Marriott. I certainly don’t need a
super luxury five star place, but on the other hand I tend to avoid hotels
that charge an hourly rate.
What advice would you give to travellers?
Don’t fret about the things you can’t control. You can’t control the airport
experience so you just have to get on with it. I usually cut things a bit
fine when it comes to getting to the airport, but that’s better than
arriving too early. People need more patience. I’ve got four kids and I make
sure they have things to do, but fellow travellers who complain should
remember when their kids were young or playing up.
Do you travel light?
I try to take only hand luggage. The heaviest things are in my briefcase and
the move back to allowing you to take two pieces of hand luggage on a flight
is a blessing. Security procedures are necessary, but they seem haphazard
and random. I’ve yet to see them catch anyone and find anything. I think the
questions they ask you about whether you’ve packed your own bags are for
their entertainment.
Is there anywhere you wouldn’t return to?
When I’ve been in certain countries, I’ve thought that I wouldn’t want to go
back, particularly to Cuba and Bulgaria. But times have changed and it would
be interesting to return.
Have you used modern communications to cut back on travel?
Yes, we have. We use mobile email and video conferencing. I’m on a video
conference once or twice a week to our head office in Germany and it
frustrates me to bump into a T-mobile executive on a Thursday who is making
his second trip to Germany in that week. But there is still a lot of
business that needs to be done in person and I don’t see that drastically
reducing.
