A recent survey found that Southwest Airlines had the best customer service in the airline industry and they deserve it. Want proof? Just call them to cancel a flight — they’ll do it without a charge. Now try the same with some of the other airlines and you could pay up to $300. Want more proof? Just listen to this hilarious Southwest flight attendant go over her flight’s safety procedures. I wish all airlines could be like them.

But let’s not complain. In 1927 it took Charles Lindbergh 33 hours to fly from the U.S. to Paris…and no movies were shown! Travel today, especially business travel, is a marvel. For the business traveler, it’s all about comfort and speed. I travel frequently and I’ve learned a few ways to make the experience even better. Let me share them.

1. Join a loyalty program and stick with it. Pick an airline, a hotel or a car rental company and be loyal. On US Airways I frequently get upgraded to first class (even though…ahem…they charged me $200 to change a flight recently). At Marriott hotels I’m checked in faster and find it easier to get late checkouts. At Avis my car is waiting for me when I arrive. These are little things but huge things when you’re trying to travel in comfort and save time. You’ll get more thank you’s and offers to help. Top customers are just treated better by companies. Don’t you do the same for yours?

2. Take advantage of temporary office space. The airline clubs are fine, but I preferRegus, which is available in more than 1800 locations around the world and provides me with an office away from home. There I can do my writing, my phone calls and even meet with out of town clients in a professional setting and with privacy. I also like Regus because they provide fast Internet service, administrative support, office equipment like faxes and phones and they have different programs available for small business owners.

3. Get Global Access and TSA Precheck. This is huge. I travel to the UK a few times a year and no longer have to wait in line at immigration when I return — I just slide my passport through the scanner, offer my fingerprints and away I go. Domestically the TSA Precheck lines are significantly shorter than the usual security lines and I’m not asked to unpack my bags before they go through the scanner. These services have cut down my airport time significantly.

4. Lose the rollerboard. Never, ever check luggage. It takes too long to retrieve and costs extra. Adapt, pack less and buy a Tom Bihn bag. Why? It will fit anywhere, even under a seat when you’re crammed into one of those little regional jets with smaller overhead space. And you can fit the universe inside. Don’t believe me? Check out how this guypacks his stuff and prepare to have your mind blown.

5. Have a data plan. I’m online all the time and when the Internet is slow, I’m slow. Unfortunately not all airport or hotel Internet services are created equal. That’s why I’m committed to my Verizon data plan. For the extra $20/month I get 4G access most places I go and wind up using that service more frequently than public WiFi.

6. Carry a spare battery. Let’s face it, no matter what your laptop manufacturer says, your battery is going to go on you mid trip, right? Fork over the extra bucks and buy another one. They usually weigh around a pound and will not only provide you with an additional 4-6 hours of work time but a source to charge your smartphone too when you connect via the USB port.

7. Squirrel away some cash. Each time you travel, go to the ATM and take out a hundred bucks in cash. Then…don’t spend it. Use your credit card everywhere you go so you can accumulate points. When you get home, take the hundred bucks and stick it in an envelope. After your 5th trip, take your $500 bucks, make amends to your spouse for all that time you’ve been away and treat yourselves to a great weekend. Or…save it. You’ve earned it!

8. Buy a good pair of headphones. You’ll thank me the next time you’re sitting next to that guy on the plane who wants to tell you his life story and all you want to do is politely zone out to Phish.

Happy, and safe, travels!