On the Saturday, December 9th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the TSA is planning to try out self-serve security lanes in Las Vegas early next year, and American and United are balking at a re-do of their Chicago O'Hare Terminals, as the cost has skyrocketed. Our Smarter Traveler segment features a rant by Mark about carry-on bags. Why do they make us gate check so many when often times there is plenty of room on the plane? Mark has a simple solution. European Tour Operator Rick Steves was in town last week to do a presentation at the Crest Theater to benefit Public Television. We sat down with him and talked about a wide variety of travel topics. That interview is at the halfway mark of the podcast. In our odds and ends segment, we offer a fine tuning to our baggage tracker suggestions. In you have one attached to your bag, there's one place you definitely don't want to put it.
On the Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the postponement of a Taylor Swift concert causes an airline to change its rules, and a Southwest pilot who is part of the group asking to strike "warns" flyers about the upcoming holiday season. Renting a car at an airport is an invitation to wasted time and hassle. Mark violated one of his own rental car rules last week and it could end up costing him some $$$. He reminds you what to do before and after your car rental, and throws in an idea for renting that could save you some cash. The Fox River Train has a special family-orientated Christmas package. And their sister train in Willits takes you to see the World's Tallest Christmas Tree. We have details and there's a link in our list. We answered a ton of questions from our mailbag, including TSA renewals, and what to do if your Pre-Check clearance isn't on your boarding pass. We also touched on charging electric cars on the road (again, a couple of links can be found on the right or below) and a host of other subjects.
On the Saturday, November 25th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Guy Fieri announces the first Flavortown Festival, to be held next June 1-2, near the campus of Ohio State University; and those with hearing problems who love the theater, there is a cool new solution for you, the SoundShirt. As the president and others turn up the heat on junk fees charged by hotels, airlines, restaurants and the like, the lobbying firms representing them are working like crazy to preserve the bogus fees. Will consumers or corporations come out on top? Our Smarter Traveler segment updates the situation. What if you signed up for a three-year-long-cruise and at the last minute, it was canceled. Think about the repercussions that could have for some travelers. Will they get their money back? Our Odds & Ends section of the show talks about why wheelchairs and other assistive devices used by travelers get so banged up along the way, and Tijuana gets it's first mainline American air flight.
On the Saturday, November 18th Thanksgiving Travel edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Carnival bans a passenger for life for bringing gummies on board, and Lyft is offering an on time promise for holiday season rides. Holiday Travel means a lot of differences at the airport. Full parking lots, longer check-in and security lines, unfamiliar travelers to fight through; just to name a few. In our Smarter Traveler segment we do our best to help you navigate Sacramento and other airports this holiday season. Getting through security is a major part of the airport experience. Our friends from TSA Sacramento, Dale and Syd, give you important information to help that process. Their number one tip: Make sure the bag you are packing is empty when you start packing. A simple tip, but as our conversation proved, an important one. If the plane is overbooked and they start looking for volunteers to sell their seat for a price, should you take the offer? Mark has a short list to check off before you take a seemingly great offer.