By: Tom Loveland, Global SVP of Product Strategy

Before air travel was ever introduced to the masses, it was evident that taking a plane ride was more designed for business than for leisure. In fact, air travel caters, in large part, to business travelers who need to get from point A to B in order to conduct business transactions.And business travelers have discovered that their own productivity can skyrocket while flying to that next business meeting. Boarding a plane allows workers to:

• Work with minimal distractions.
• Get highly focused work completed on a laptop while in-flight.
• Tap into in-flight Internet service if needed to stay connected to the office.

Brian Tracy, personal success author and speaker, once wrote, “An important area where organizational skills are important is air travel. A consulting firm compared the efficiency of flying first-class with flying economy-class, and with working in a normal office. What they found was that one hour of uninterrupted work time in an airplane yielded the equivalent of three hours of work in a normal work environment. The keyword was ‘’uninterrupted.’ If you plan ahead and organize your work before you leave for the airport, you can increase productivity.”Air New Zealand surveyed its business travelers and found that while 30 percent planned to work while flying to their destination, only 10 percent were actually able to do so.So when you’re scheduled to take a flight, how can you amp up your productivity? Here are a few important tips to help you maximize that flight time.

• Pack all materials you might need. There’s nothing worse than getting comfortable in your exit row seat then discovering that you left the key file you need to work on in the file cabinet or on your desk! Make a list of the things you’ll need if you’re planning to work while on the airplane.

• Charge up your devices. It’s important to remember to charge your laptop, table and smart phone before you depart. And, if necessary, bring chargers and extra batteries.

• Check flight status for Wi-Fi availability. Not all flights yet offer Wi-Fi in the sky. If that’s the case, be sure you download electronic files and emails you might need while in the air before you leave for the airport.

• Don’t waste time. When the flight attendant says, “it’s now safe to use electronic devices,” shift your work into high gear. Boot up your laptop and tackle your to-do list. Whether your flight is an hour or five hours – get into your “work zone” and stay there until the work is done or its time to power down and land.

• Log on to your virtual office. Take advantage of the Wi-Fi by setting up an account in advance of your flight. Partners like GoGo, T-Mobile and others now service many airlines and you can often save money by purchasing in-flight Wi-Fi before you board the plane. Do your research in advance so you’re prepared once you reach cruising altitude.

• Use business apps to increase productivity while flying. Even when you’re not at work you can stay connected while flying. Need to schedule meetings and room resources before you land? Get access to SaaS-based solutions for scheduling so you can reserve space no matter where you travel.

Bonus Tip: The Time Management Ninja suggests you bring things to work on both before take off and after landing. You know those tarmac waits can seem eternal…so plan for them! Make sure you bring reading material or tasks that don’t require your computer or cell phone.

About The Author

Tom Loveland, Global SVP of Product StrategyTom joined Asure Software in 2014 as part of the acquisition of FotoPunch. Tom’s relationship with Asure started in 2012 as a partner, enabling the development of GeoPunch. Tom founded and served as the CEO of FotoPunch before joining our team. Now that Tom is an in-house member of the team, he is focused on the integration of AsureForce and AsureSpace offerings that will allow us to better serve our existing client base and new clients. Tom graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science.Tom’s unique vision and entrepreneurial spirit carries over on the homefront. He’s a creative cook who can dabble in just about any cuisine and knock it out of the park. From sushi to flatbread, you’ll want a seat at Tom’s dinner table. His international flare may stem from his love for different cultures; while he grew up in the plains of Wyoming, he speaks Cantonese and loves to experience the Chinese culture. He also loves spending time exploring the parks and mountains of Utah with his wife and young children.