Marketing Me! Travel notes and Shoemoney

Welcome Shoemoney readers! After my comment on Shoemoney, I have had a number of visits from Shoemoney. Thanks for stopping by and please visit again or add Marketing Me! to you reader!



Am on the road at a trade show. Yippee.

Here are a few worthwhile suggestions for those who have not traveled in awhile.

1) Keep printed copies of where you are going (directions, address), how you get there (flight numbers, car rentals), where you are staying (hotel res and address and directions), who you will be meeting (names and phone numbers!) and what you will be doing there (agenda, itinerary).

You never know when electronic copies might go AWOL....

2) Charge your phone/PDA before you go, in the car while you are going and whenever and wherever you can find an outlet, even for only five minutes.

And if your device is not charged, there go those electronic travel plans!

Many planes have chargers equipped in the middle seat where ever you see a lightning bolt on the bulk head. Amazon has a neat charger for taking advantage of this power source for your phone or laptop.

3) Use the restroom as often as needed and whenever a clean location is available. O also carry some anti-bacterial wipes with me for cleaning certain parts of public facilities, (if you know what I mean).

4) Keep antibacterial wipes or gel with you. There are small bottles available in the travel or sample section at your favorite retailer for less than a buck.

Travel is a dirty business.

5) Drink water. On the plane, ask first for water. Since the cups are small, ask for two. Tell them no ice (it defeats the purpose of bottled water!). I also pick up a large bottle once in the terminal past security.

6) Pack some sort of snacks. I always carry a few certain things like nuts, hard candy, a protein bar or two, dried fruit. Avoid cheap candy bars and junk food. They will only provide a brief sugar rush and bad health.

Shoemoney recommends protein shakes, but those cannot be brought past security in carry on luggage. Otherwise, they are a great purchase once at your destination.

7) Know how to get on the Internet wherever you are. If your PDA supports Internet access, all the better. Otherwise, have a HotSpot account or Freedom Link, Boingo, you get it.

8) Eat when needed. I had the worse headache today because I skipped meals.

9) Use insole pads if you are on your feet. I tried those Dr. Scholl pads once and found they provided some comfort. My best recommendation is to have high quality shoes when traveling.

10) Book a good hotel. Once in Vegas, I booked an off strip hotel recommended by a well known friend. What a mistake. The hotel was loud, dirty and full of tourists not associated with the trade show I was attending. I checked out after the first night and paid extra for a centralized hotel.

10.5) Purchase a smart phone with email and web capability. You will be glad you did. Also, bring along that back up phone. I carry one phone on T-Mobile and another on Verizon. My Verizon phone has email and web available. My customer's and friends can always find me!

Also, book at the conference hotel if possible! At last year's NADA show I stayed at the Hilton next to the convention and took full advantage of the proximity and convenience of my choice.


My feet are killing me from standing all day long. I can't wait to get home.

Airline Service Frustrations

Travel story for the week of June 18th.

1. Arrive at airport at 6:43 AM for 8:10 flight.
2. Go to self-service kiosk for airline boarding pass (in line with about 100 other travellers).
3. Airline self-service system cannot find ticket based upon my name or destination city.
4. Go back to airline terminal entry and retrieve flight number from monitor.
5. Input flight number in airline self-service kiosk (after waiting turn a second time, there are 100 other travellers in check-in line) - still no workie.
6. Go to airline baggage counter and ask for assistance from airline agent. "We are too busy, get in check in line for assistance" was told. Line is about 20-25 deep and moving 1PPH (1 Person Per Hour).
7. Get in checkin line and call 411 for number to airline reservation desk. 411 operator short with me because I do not know the city of number requested.
8. Five minute hold with reservations. Airlines reservation attendant says try this code for flight at self-service kiosk. Two minutes later, I find my flight reservation. But it is now 7:23 AM, too late for check in for flight. Reservation lady on phone says reschedule for 1:55 PM flight later that same day. Bzzt! Have meeting at noon. That is a no-go so I cancel my flight.

I ended up taking a 8PM flight that evening (on different airline) and rescheduling the meeting for the next AM.

Note to self - print e-ticket before leaving for airport.
Note to airline - Dear Airline CEO, please visit Gate B at your hub. It is a testament to disorganization and customer service apathy.

The next day ... Coming home...

1. Arrive early at airport for 7:15 flight. Rain delay, flight leaves at 7:30 instead.
2. Arrive at connecting flight airport with 20 minutes to take off - 9:20 take off now 10:20.
3. Connecting flight delayed again until 10:55.
4. Pilots not on plane until 10:26, flight delayed; boarding commences at 10:55.
5. Traffic jam at gate prevents the plane from pulling back for 30 minutes.
6. Pull back from gate and wait an additional 30 minutes for slot on runway.
6. Arrive at home airport at 2:30 this AM.

Air travel has devolved in the U.S. from glamourous and exciting to third world conditions. Some days I expect someone to board my flight carrying a goat or a cage of chickens. Nearly every flight I have been on in the past six months has been delayed or cancelled the day of the flight.

When I voice my frustration, my fellow passengers shrug their shoulders and say the same thing, "What can you do about it?".

I don't blame the flight crews. They do a great job with positive attitudes despite having to deal with layoffs, missing benefits and salaries (not to mention surly passengers).

I don't blame the gate or ticket agents, most who do an incredible job keeping a half dozen balls in the air at any time.

Rather, I blame the airline management for squeezing every dime out of customers without showing the minimun amount of respect to the people who pay their salaries.

I blame the FAA and federal government for creating as many idiotic rules and obstacles as possible most of which only serve to incapacitate and inconvinience law abiding, taxpayers.

Hint for airline management: If a flight is late, for any reason, don't blame the feds, the unions or the weather. Empathize with your paying customers and toss them a bone. Maybe a gift card, a sandwich, a few hundred frequent flier miles.. any act which says "I appreciate your business and I realize you are late to a business meeting or getting home. I can't change the world, but I want to make you feel a little bit better by showing our appreciation". How hard can that really be?

As for the feds.. please seek advice from airline gate employees about security, neccessary safety rules and proper procedures. They have some great ideas. Also, apply a little common sense at those security checkpoints. Please.

I will still fly. I have too. My job depends upon it. I would only like to get to my destination on time occasionally and with fewer problems.

Please consider the paying passenger and figure out a way to make travel a little more fun and glamourous. Like it used to be.