Corporate travel can be a stressful business. From sourcing cheap flight and hotel deals to  preparing and planning for meetings; from good financial management to keeping in regular communication with the office back home, business trips can often be a demanding experience rather than the leisurely break they are sometimes perceived to be.

The stress is magnified tenfold if you are jetting off abroad to speak at a corporate event or meet an important client. As well as organising everything down to a tee, you have to prepare for your arrival in an unfamiliar location, which means acquainting yourself with the local area and cultural differences before you land. However, all of these concerns can be laid to rest with sufficient planning.

Preparation is absolutely key in all aspects of business, and corporate travel is no exception. With this in mind, here are the top corporate travel concerns and how to deal with them should they arise and threaten to interrupt, delay or wreck a business trip.

Airline rules

Rules vary between airlines and countries which means you need to be aware of all that are relevant to you, especially if you’re having to change planes or are stopping over en route to your main destination. You don’t want to be held up at security if you’re carrying food you’re not allowed to transfer between certain countries, for example. You could end up being delayed, resulting in high stress levels, or worse you could miss your flight.

The best way to hurdle this obstacle is to do your research before you leave. Check up on airline rules, read through any updates and look for common problems using Internet forums. Just a few minutes of valuable preparation can save you stress at the airport.

Flight cancellations

Cancelled flights are a business traveller’s worst nightmare – is there anything more exasperating than being stuck in an airport when you should be sitting down with important clients? There is not much you can do if your flight is cancelled, but making calls to the right people can fast track you onto the next flight. After informing your boss of the situation, you need to start making new reservations straightaway.

For peace of mind next time you fly, it could be worth getting in touch with a Travel Management agency beforehand which will take care of everything for you, allowing you to focus on the business aspect of the trip.

Lost luggage

Losing your luggage is one of the top fears of every passenger, whether they are travelling for business or pleasure. However, losing luggage on a business trip can pose some very difficult problems to wriggle out of.

Be one step ahead by always carrying your laptop and important documents with you onto the plane rather than risk leaving them in a suitcase in the hold. If you want to err on the side of caution, you could travel in your suit – you may even need to if you’re meeting a client straight off the plane. Opt for colourful bags that stand out on the luggage carousel or tie an instantly recognisable luggage label or ribbon around the handle.

No matter how much you prepare, sometimes a problem simply cannot be avoided. If a problem does crop up midway through your business trip, try to stay calm – in the majority of cases, these issues can be resolved. Plus, it is hard to give a fabulous presentation when you’re stressed, so relax and deal with each problem in a composed manner as and when they crop up.