(Fortune Magazine) -- If there ever was an era when business travel was thrilling - brave Masters of the Universe jetting off on missions of international import! - the sight of barefoot men and women at security, stripped of contraband beverages and lip balm, is a sure sign that the thrill is long gone. But it doesn't have to be so bleak. In the following pages you'll discover how to increase your odds of getting upgraded. You'll find gadgets that make your carryon lighter. You'll even meet a few hardy souls who've found ways to make business travel (dare we say?) enjoyable. And in this day and age, could anything be more thrilling than that?