Carrying Bag: - though the Targus, Apple, Toshiba & so-forth bags are well made, padded, and so-forth, they're also the equivalent of carrying a sign that says, "Please Steal Me, I'm a Computer" through the airport, hotel lobby, subway, etc.

- TRY to find a briefcase that doesn't really look like a computer bag.  AND Never EVER use your business card, laminated, as a luggage tag- this is another invitation to theft for those that are into industrial espionage.   Try to get on one of the airline's Frequent Flyer Programs, and use their baggage tags, they almost all give you when you join the program.  These tags simply identify you as a 'Frequent Flyer' _ does that say "Business" _ yeah, probably, but it does NOT identify the company you work-for (also don't wear your "Cisco" Tee-shirt or other 'advertising' while traveling)... - The Frequent Flyer bag-tag does not put city, state, address, phone-number nor Company on your bag - a much safer proposition...

Taxi's, Limousines, Airport Buses:  Never EVER put your briefcase (with computer in it) in the luggage area, because sure as hell - you'll need it for a presentation, and someone will happily drop something on it and break the screen. OR someone will take it instead of theirs, or the driver will do something un-toward with it. - ALWAYS keep it with YOU, in the passenger compartment - preferably on your 'lap' where your 'laptop' should BE!. 

AND _ please, please, don't put it in the trunk of a taxi or other car - when  (not if)  you get rear-ended, your computer will take the brunt of the impact, and if you're o.k. you could still work - but without your computer - how productive will you be?
 

Check-in-Counters: When checking at the airport or hotel - if you set your bag on the ground, and take the shoulder strap off, then do at least one of these three things:

put it between your legs, and squeeze your legs around it

put it parallel with the counter your standing at, put it ON TOP OF your toes

put the shoulder strap underneath your foot

un-hook one end of the strap, wrap it around your wrist, and then clip it back on itself

"High-Speed-Access" (wifi) on the road (airport layovers):

You'd 'think' that in today's environment many airports would offer a place for high-speed internet access.  Many Do offer this - but it's via wireless access in most airports... -

Be careful here - wireless access - using any wireless means is fraught with in-security issues, which may be even more pronounced in an airport because of the transient nature of people.  Many hackers / nefarious types might be hanging-about trying to 'snoop' your connection and collect information you don't necessarily want to share...

Again - the 'access is there' - but the 'in-security' is also there - make an informed choice and use of the network.

Interestingly enough MANY airports  offer RJ-45 network access and that is also 'un-protected' - what you can find by sleuthing these networks is quite interesting, too, but you 'might get caught' and that might be something you don't want to happen?

REMEMBER, THOUGH: - to pack in your briefcase or carry-on a power-cord and/or RJ-45 cord for your layover country

Electrical cables for AC power: there's probably two cable-plug-styles that are more universally "adaptable to" whatever local sockets you may face:

USA style - two parallel flat-blades

"European low amperage" 2 pin (typically 4mm diameter at 18mm or 19mm spacing)