I just got back from a three-day road trip to San Antonio and Laredo, Texas with two colleagues from our group who are relatively new to business travel. I make frequent road trips as part of my job and I know that family and friends often wonder what it’s like travelling on business. I know some people think it’s pretty cool getting to jet around the country. I’ve been doing it so long (I’ve just surpassed a quarter of a million miles flown on United Airlines) that I don’t think too much about it. As I’ve travelled with Nick and Kimberly this week I sort of experienced it through their eyes.

So, what’s it like?

Sunday
9:00 p.m. Pack and prepare for trip
11:00 p.m. Get to bed; can’t sleep (lay there thinking I have to get up in 4.5 hrs anyway)

Monday (20 hour day)
3:00 a.m. Get up having not slept; have quiet time and get ready; drive to airport
5:30 a.m. At the airport and through security
6:00 a.m. Fly from Des Moines to Denver
8:00 a.m. Arrive in Denver; Connecting flight delayed. Eat airport food for breakfast.
11:00 a.m. Fly Denver to San Antonio; work on the plane.
1:00 p.m. Arrive in San Antonio; Pick up rental car; grab lunch at chain restaurant
2:15 p.m. Arrive on-site at call center; Work with client to train them on analyzing calls.
4:15 p.m. Head back to airport to pick up colleague; flight delayed; wait around.
6:00 p.m. Colleague arrives; get supper at chain restaurant; Drive to Laredo; Work in backseat.
9:30 p.m. Arrive at hotel in Laredo; Call Wendy; Answer e-mails; Prepare for next day’s mtgs.
11:00 p.m. Go to bed.
3:30 a.m. Radio alarm clock next to bed goes off at full volume. Narrowly escape heart attack. Can’t get back to sleep

Tuesday (17.5 hour day)
5:00 a.m. Get up (4.5 hrs sleep); Have quiet time; get ready for the day; pack.
7:00 a.m. Meet colleagues in lobby. Drive to call center.
7:30 a.m. Group training with all CSRs from call center.
8:30 a.m. Begin one-on-one coaching with CSRs.
12:00 p.m. Lunch with call center managers at local chain restaurant.
1:00 p.m. More one-on-one coaching.
4:30 p.m. Leave call center and drive back to San Antonio while colleague works in back seat.
7:15 p.m. Arrive in San Antonio; Eat at a chain restaurant.
8:30 p.m. Check into hotel room. Call Wendy; Answer e-mails. Prepare for next day’s coaching.
10:30 p.m. Go to sleep.

Wednesday (19.5 hour day)
5:30 a.m. Wake up (7 hrs sleep!); have quiet time; prepare for mtgs and pack.
7:00 a.m. Meet colleagues; make Starbuck’s run; drive to call center.
7:30 a.m. Group training with all CSRs from call center.
8:30 a.m. Begin one-on-one coaching with CSRs.
1:00 p.m. Lunch with call center managers at local chain restaurant.
2:30 p.m. Leave call center for airport.
3:30 p.m. Check-in; Flight to Chicago delayed; Work to reroute through Denver
5:00 p.m. Fly to Denver; Eat airline food.
7:00 p.m. Connecting flight to Des Moines delayed; Sit around airport watching "The Baby Borrowers"
10:00 p.m. Flight leaves for Des Moines
11:30 p.m. Arrive in Des Moines; Take shuttle to Car; Can’t find parking ticket;
11:45 p.m. Stop to get gas; Drive to Pella
12:40 a.m. Arrive home. Greeted by Taylor and we catch up a bit.
1:15 a.m. Bed.

Ahhhh, the glamour of business travel.