Here’s 3 Business Lessons Learned While Flying First Class

My husband always makes fun of me for flying first-class. He thinks I’m a diva. There’s a good chance you may think so too. However, flying first-class has made me a better business woman. Seriously.

First class and coach are going to get me to that final destination, but you bet that with the former, I walk away much more satisfied. The same rules apply to consumers debating to use a booking engine or a travel advisor. Much like first-class, we’re that premium service. Our clients invest their time and energy on us because they know they’ll walk away satisfied.

Below, I’ll share three vital lessons I’ve learned that can (and should) be implemented in your business. Adjust accordingly.

Escape to Find Your Creativity

As I look around the cabin, everyone has their shiny headphones on and working away. Nothing like cruising at 35,000 feet for hours to really get the creative juices flowing. But it shouldn’t take a flight to get us working on our business. Smart business owners take a moment to slow down, evaluate their business needs, and take action. Carve some time in your busy schedule to hunker down, escape the noise, and use your creativity to blossom your business! You never know what sort of ideas will come to you that, when implemented, can really distinguish your business from the rest.

Be There to Help

When you travel solo as often as I do, being a savvy flyer becomes second nature. You’ve got the perfect hacks, tips, and lifesavers needed to make sure your trip is as much as a success as possible. So, whenever I see first-time business flyer struggling, I take a moment to help them out. Sure, the flight attendants are there to help but I know exactly what they’re going through. I know the pressure of making a connection flight in the nick of time so you’re not late to the meeting that happens as soon as you land. Be that person to your clients.

As travel agency owners, we get travel. We know the perfect hacks, tips and lifesavers. We were first-time cruisers, flyers, etc. Use all the wisdom you’ve gathered to ensure your clients have the best trip possible. Make an impact!

Be Intuitive

Now, this goes hand-in-hand with my previous point. What makes first-class flying so special is the staff truly caters to your needs and anticipates what you’ll need. They take an already stressful situation and turn into an absolute joy. At the end of the day, everyone wants to be catered to. It makes them feel special and, in return, you gain their loyalty. It’s why I’ve been Delta loyal for 22 years!

Go the extra mile for your clients. Make them feel understood and truly be their guide on their honeymoon, first family trip, 12^th cruise, etc. Make this change and you will see a noticeable jump in client loyalty and referrals. Remember, you’re more than just a glorified Google or booking engine. Your clients see you as a premium they want to invest in. So, make it count.

The truth of the matter is, once you start flying first class, coach isn’t an option. The ease, service, and intuitive nature of the entire experience are difficult to abandon. Your glass is always full, and the kids are always calm – why would you ever go back? That’s how your clients should see your business. You’re their first-class experience. So, once you’ve hooked them, there’s no going back (if you do it right).

About the Author

Jenn Lee, Travel Planners International’s VP of Sales and Marketing, isn’t shy about her obsession for guiding and leading today’s entrepreneurial-minded travel advisor community. According to Lee, now’s the moment to remind the world that travel advisors aren’t just booking travel, they’re true curators of the future. She believes that those that find success are going beyond boosting their bank account; they’re building a business. Meeting and strategizing with these hustling entrepreneurs-in-the-making is what keep her going. That and her Bulletproof Coffee.