Chris Mitchell recommends the best of the web for businesspeople on the ground and up on high

Sky SURFING

Seatguru.com

Target Market: Savvy flyers who want to find the best seat on the plane
USP: Easily assess the layout of most major airlines’ planes and get advice on the best place to sit
Special Features: Simple navigation and colour-coded graphics let users quickly locate their airline and aircraft type, along with reviews of the best and worst seats, and in-flight amenities; a masterpiece of brevity that could make all the difference to the enjoyment of a long-haul flight. A fairly sparse discussion forum and Tripadvisor-powered hotel/flight booking services are also available.

Upperz.com

Target Market: “The social network site for professional use”
USP: Facebook for business; LinkedIn without the charges
Special Features: Upperz is a free social network site purely for business. Its raison d’être is to attract like-minded networkers focused on connecting, without being charged a premium for the privilege. The site lets members add an unlimited amount of business contacts to their portfolio, post job vacancies and requirements, upload CVs and create networks on specific business topics, all for free. More importantly, its zero-fee policy should eventually attract a huge volume of users.

Travbuddy.com

Target Market: Independent travellers looking to meet other like-minded people in their part of the world
USP: Burgeoning, friendly social network that provides support, advice and potential travel buddies for those worried about being alone on the road
Special Features: Travbuddy’s slick, clean design allows swift profile building and ways of connecting with other travellers in your upcoming destinations and home location. Forums and private messaging promote conversations, and while it has been embraced by the backpack set there’s no reason for business travellers not to find each other here too.

Flyertalk.com

Target Market: “The world’s most popular frequent flyer community”
USP: A hugely comprehensive discussion forum covering all aspects of flying, from airline customer service to hotels and dining
Special Features: Hundreds of thousands of posts provide invaluable information on the realities of what to expect from specific airlines and airports. Given the ever-changing nature of the industry, this is a godsend for on-the-ground, week-to-week updates. Most questions posed here will get a swift answer, although searching the forums will probably locate it more quickly.