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Booking on the very same nonstop flight had gone up almost five times as much! And only a few, less desirable seats were left.

Fly Business Class

Economy coach is fine too. But if it’s no more expensive, try to get in that midrange between coach (usually in the back) and first class (always in the front). This is typically called business class. If you look around, you’ll call it offeror class.

First class is not available on all flights and will become largely extinct as savvy frequent fliers discover that the various sections generally arrive at the same time.

Cost-consciousness on the part of airlines and businesses is making first class nothing more than a billboard slogan.

You don’t really want it anyway. The seats are too wide, the drinks are too strong, and the price is too high.

Book Online

The phone recordings now tell you that there’s a charge to book using a live person. Agents charge too. Paying a nominal charge is the least you can do to thank someone who’s so wonderful. You can also go to any of the zillion travel web sites.

You can book online with the airlines directly too. The web sites are always mentioned on the recorded messages.

If you look through the sites, you lose the real-time depth and breadth that a live travel agent offers. You can also get locked in to nonrefundable tickets at times when business travelers are recreating or retiring. Keeping that in mind, booking online is a great way to save money, time, and to avoid those phones.

Wear Your Interviewing Uniform

Watch, pen, and business cards too (Do 1).

Bring Snacks to the Airport

It’s much better, faster, and cheaper than taking whatever is close when you’re there.

I usually end up eating when I’m walking, running, or shuttling to some last-minute changed gate. There’s no way you can stop and eat or carry food when you have a laptop, briefcase, purse, or jacket. Often all of the above.

Nuts are absolutely perfect since the bags are stuffable everywhere and they’re security-conscious nonbeepers. They have just the right amount of protein, carbs, fat, and salt to keep you going (without keeping you going). Truly the perfect interviewer’s snack food any time (Do 3). High calorie though, so count like a baby.

Arrive Even Earlier

The airport obstacle course is a necessary evil to protect from evil. So practice your grin and bear it.

Arriving even earlier will enable you to use the self-check-in procedure that is replacing counter agents. It will also enable you to do it again and again if there’s a terminal or system glitch. Glitches cause stress. Stress blows interviews.

Eventually you’ll push, pull, and beep your way through the strip-search and walk, run, and ride to the gate.

Whew! Made it. Now, get over to a restroom and get yourself together.

We’ve already covered interviewing in airline terminals along with other mass transit holding areas (Do 35).

Look—they’re calling for the C section passengers now. Let’s get in line behind those pregnant ladies . . .

Plan A: Interviewing on Tight Flights

When the flight attendant says, “We’ve got a full flight today,” we swing into Plan A. Basic tight flight mode.

As you’re ducking, clunking, and bumping down the aisle looking for your seat, look for the bright laptop screens. Laptoppers tend to be either students (no) or businesspeople (yes).

Don’t stomp on other passengers to sit on the laptopper’s armrest, particularly in a window seat on a full row. Don’t hold everyone up so you can find your pen to write the seat number on your palm either.

You’ll find that laptopper later. She’s a definite possible.

You can’t accomplish much until the seatbelt sign is turned off, so read, look at that business magazine in the pouch, or just make a friend of your neighbor.

Using Your Takeoff Time

I have my MP3 player with meditation, self-hypnosis, and other brainfood that I play (Do 42) until the flight attendant announces to turn it off.

I also have a tradition of talking to