When you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll very quickly find a system of your own that minimises pain and maximises pleasure and comfort.  In my case, much of my travel was for work.  Trips very quickly started to have a pattern: staying at a favourite hotel chain to get upgraded to better rooms and access to lounges to avoid tourists; booking a car in advance from the airport to avoid waiting for smelly taxis, arranging meetings before or after rush hour, booking better tables