For most weary road warriors, business travel is anything but glamorous. Endless waiting on lines and in airports, bad airplane food, missed connections, uncomfortable seats, it all adds up to not much fun. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Even if you’re not a first class flyer, you can treat yourself like a VIP by paying attention to the little things, the creature comforts, that can make traveling downright tolerable—even, dare we say, enjoyable. Here are a few ideas that will make all the difference.

Get pampered while you wait. Polished, a time-sensitive beauty boutique founded by 31-year-old Harvard Business School graduate Kirstin Rhyne, offers express treatments like manicures and massage at Boston’s Logan and Pittsburgh International, with 25 more spas-on-the-go planned in airports by 2007.

Turn your phone into a concierge. Pronto is a new service that connects you 24/7 to a concierge for everything from stock quotes to flight schedules, driving directions and email. The brainchild of MTV co-creator John Lack, Pronto never leaves you out in the cold, all for $19.95 a month. Check out www.askpronto.com for a demonstration.

Know an airport’s perks. Frequent traveler Dean Rotbart of the TJFR Group in Denver loves the free work cubicles offered by QWEST at Denver International. Each kiosk includes a desk, lighting, comfy seats, pay phones and DSL access for a fee. The OAG Official AIrline Guide lists amenities at every U.S. airport, or check out http://frequentflyer.oag.com. A survey by e-Travel rates Philadelphia as the best airport for retail shops, San Francisco and LAX tops in high-speed Internet access, and the fitness center at Pittsburgh International as best in the country.

Get food to go. Most hotels and restaurants are happy to package a carry on meal that will be the envy of your fellow passengers. Beats peanuts any day and works wonders for your disposition.

Take a nap. Sleep pods are coming to an airport near you. Available at Denver International by Thanksgiving, these cozy 4x4x7 ft. pods give you the chance to power nap for $10 for 30 minutes and upgrade with options like sound machines and audio-vox TVs. You’ll be able to catch zzzs in Atlanta, Seattle, and Cincinnati by 2005.

Watch a movie. Many airports feature stores that rent DVD players and DVDs to help pass the time, or you can rent movies from home and watch them on your laptop.

Get the stress out. Airport security lines and missed connections shouldn’t be enough to ruin your day. Arriving early is one way to keep your blood from boiling when trying to make your flight. Another is to follow Marjorie Brody’s lead. Brody, a Jenkintown, Pa., communications consultant, catches up on her magazine reading while waiting on lines, clearing her desk of an average of 10 magazines per trip. “I welcome travel time,” she said. “I can use the time to do things I never get to when I’m in the office.”