# Air travel complaints to the Department of Transportation soar

- URL: https://travelguysradio.com/2022/08/28/air-travel-complaints-department-transportation-soar
- Image: https://travelguysradio.com/sites/default/files/2022/08/take-scaled.jpg
- Audio (MP3): https://audio.travelguysradio.com/2022/08/travelguysshow082822.mp3

*On the Sunday, August 28th, 2022 edition of The Travel Guys…*

- In the **Travel News**, air travel complaints to the Department of Transportation soar 270% this summer as the airlines struggle to provide a decent level of service; and Southwest Airlines changes its policy regarding upgrading your boarding position.
- Our **Smarter Traveler** segment focuses on currently popular traveler scams. Bottom line: If someone is asking for your identification or credit card info, open your eyes and pay close attention. Thieves are creative and you have to be alert.
- Most airlines charge for **seat assignments**. So when should you pay the "seat ransom," and when can you take your chances? We have a list of six times when you'll want to consider opening your wallet.
- **Sports Leisure Vacations** released their annual catalog for 2023 this weekend. The 43-year old Sacramento-based company caters to mature travelers. [Visit their web site here](https://www.sportsleisure.com/).

## Highlights

- [Sports Leisure Vacations](https://www.sportsleisure.com/)
- [Traveling to Mexico? Here's a STRONG advisory.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2022/08/27/mexico-travel-drug-cartels/7903270001/?gnt-cfr=1)
- [EVs are sexy and expensive and it's starting to get complicated](https://www.elliottconfidential.com/p/evs-are-sexy-and-expensive-and-its?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email)
- [Experience Hawaiʻi’s Wonderous Hiking Trails](https://travelguysradio.com/sites/default/files/2022/08/hawaii-hiking.pdf)
- [Travelers United](https://www.travelersunited.org/)
- [What you need to get a REAL ID - Deadline May 3, 2023](https://www.travelersunited.org/flying-domestically-after-may-3-2023-youll-need-a-real-id-2023/?utm)

Tags: [air travel](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/air-travel), [airlines](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/airlines), [Department of Transportation](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/department-transportation), [seat assignments](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/seat-assignments), [smarter traveler](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/smarter-traveler), [Southwest Airlines](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/southwest-airlines), [Sports Leisure Vacations](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/sports-leisure-vacations), [travel news](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/travel-news), [travel scams](https://travelguysradio.com/tag/travel-scams)

Previous Episode: [AirTag in luggage leads to discovery of major theft](https://travelguysradio.com/2022/08/21/airtag-luggage-leads-discovery-major-theft) — August 21, 2022
Next Episode: [Canada is looking at a high speed rail train](https://travelguysradio.com/2022/09/04/canada-looking-high-speed-rail-train) — September 4, 2022

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- [Southwest starts charging bag fees and assigning seats on some flights](https://travelguysradio.com/2025/08/01/southwest-starts-charging-bag-fees-and-assigning-seats-some-flights) — August 2, 2025