Travel Tech Q&A: Check Point's Scott McKinnel

As Check Point's managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Scott McKinnel is no stranger to travel. Today, he shares some of his experiences with us.

Scott McKinnel
(Credit: Check Point)

Check Point specialises in network-security software and services, including firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs) and security management.

What tech do you travel with and why?

I always travel with noise-cancelling headphones, which make it easier to listen to movies and music. They also help me avoid unwanted conversation.

How do you deal with jet lag?

I try to stay awake as long as I can on the first day, so I work, exercise and get some fresh air and daylight. The hardest thing is to avoid a quick nap, but the earlier you adapt to another time zone, the better.

What (if any) travel websites do you use?

I occasionally use www.wotif.com or www.lastminute.com.au, but I don't book much of my travel anymore.

What was your biggest travel disaster?

Well, I've got a few to choose from; some are more embarrassing than others. I can think of at least two occasions when I've blacked out on flights coming back from New Zealand to Australia. One as a result of low blood-sugar levels that left me with a large carpet-burn mark down my face as I fell over the aisle, and the other after having contacted a gastro parasite that resulted in having to lie down and take oxygen for the rest of the flight, only to host an offsite workshop once I landed. It wasn't a sparkling performance.

Other travel disasters include missing my flight back to Australia from London. On the day of the flight, I'd finally got around to checking my tickets to realise my flight was leaving in an hour's time, and I was two hours from Heathrow. This wasn't so bad in itself, except my wife was on a later flight, (the one I thought I was on), and it was fully booked. It took me another two days and a very expensive upgrade ticket to get home.

Is there one thing you must do before you leave home?

I like a swim before I shower, get dressed and leave for work. Otherwise, I double check all the lights and the iron are off.

What was your last tech purchase?

I can't really remember, but I think it was probably something unremarkable, like a universal power adapter.

What is your dream travel tech to have on planes/in airports/at hotels?

Internet connectivity that is fast, cheap and reliable.

Favourite destination city to work/visit and why?

I travel all over the world, but my favourite destination to visit and work from is my parents' home in a small coastal village in New Zealand called Moeraki. They have a small home office overlooking a bay with mountain ranges in the background, free internet, coffee and banana bread. I really enjoy going there — somewhere to unwind and get away from it all.