Past 10 Shows

• In the Travel News, we’ll tell you the best American cities for vegans and vegetarians to travel in; and Nashville follows through on honoring a local hero. 
• New research is showing travelers want human expertise, despite the rise in AI use. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we’ll share our thoughts on how to combine human expertise with computer knowledge to create a great vacation.
• Consumer Advocate Chris Elliott has created lists of the best and worst companies when it comes to customer service. Some are obvious choices, some a bit surprising. It's going to be a great chat.
• We close with a story about a true American hero. A pilot who is still doing amazing things, 17 years after he landed a plane on top of the Hudson River.

• In the Travel News, the good word is that we have more parking coming online at the airport, the bad news is, it’s going to cost more. And if you are headed to Kauai in the next month or so, you might want to consider a short postponement of your visit while the island digs out from the recent hurricane.
• Our Smarter Traveler segment fills you in on “Cancel for any reason” Travel Insurance. How does it compare to other coverage and is it something to consider? We have the pros and cons on “Cancel for any Reason.”
• On our Odds and Ends agenda for today, this won’t help out-of-towners who travel to our fair city, but for those of us who live here, a community workshop for those who have an opinion on red light or “flock” cameras has been scheduled.   And which is worse at a restaurant, Inflation or SHRINKflation?
• We wrap up today’s show with some information on how you can see the biggest Christmas celebration in Sacramento, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s annual performance, on December 2nd.
   

• In the Travel News, will we soon be able to take water bottles through security at the airport? Sounds like it could be coming. Speaking of “could be coming”, could that include a new train to Stockton and San Jose?
• Traffic cameras are under fire across the country. “Flock” cameras, named after one of the companies that produces them, are there to take your picture. Should this be a concern for those of us who travel and rent cars? It’s the subject of our Smarter Traveler segment.
• Friday was the 25th anniversary of an infamous event, forever known as 9-11. Some good things rose from those ashes, and we talk to a man who heads up a scholarship fund named for a pilot who died that day.  A fund that has distributed over a half million dollars in scholarships to future pilots.
• Odds and Ends includes a story about the ways we are being asked to tip, and the airlines are running out of flight numbers. We’ll explain why that is already a problem.

• In the Travel News, airport lounges are coming for Southwest Airlines and an express train is on the drawing board from O’Hare Airport into downtown Chicago. What and skip the famous Windy City traffic? Those stories and more in the news.
• For years, we have suggested Smarter Travelers should take before and after pictures of their rental cars, now that wisdom is extended to two more areas.  
• Odds and Ends features a story about changing demographics at Burning Man in the Nevada desert, and a run-down of the rudest things you can do while boarding a plane.
• We have a story about the historic Lincoln Highway. It pre-dates Route 66 and it passes through Sacramento. Recently the Rainbow Bridge near Donner Summit celebrated its 100th anniversary and local Lincoln Highway buffs threw a party. The story of old highways,  classic cars and historic bridges comes up in the final segment.

Photo by Doug Bowyer

• In the Travel News, United announces their biggest ever international expansion and a Delta captain bravely delivers his plane to the gate...and then heads to the hospital. We have an update on his situation.
• In Smarter Traveler segment we ask the question, "when you're buying travel and want to speak to a human, shouldn't it be possible? Shouldn't it be the law?" We'll discuss traveler's frustrations with automated phone responses.

• In the Travel News, Americans have continued to travel this year, despite markedly higher prices; and the FAA gives the go ahead for more take offs and landings at SFO, reducing delays.
• In our Smarter Traveler segment, we dissect online ratings for travel services. How accurate are those ratings and comments, who made them, can you trust what is being said?
• Chris Elliott joins us today. Subjects include consumer protections for air travelers, travel influencers and their “generated content,” and a few words on how you can use Chris’ services, for free, to help solve your consumer problems.
• The Odds and Ends section of the show features an airport restaurant where the prices go up if you don’t tip, and the news that a historic downtown church might become a boutique hotel.

• In the Travel News, we share the story of the new Las Vegas hotel that does not exist...it’s truly one of the most bizarre stories we have ever shared; and a man fell into a thermal pool at Yellowstone and his body vaporized overnight...that news and other strange tales in the Travel News.
• Our Smarter Traveler segment updates you on the latest hotel wi-fi hazard (hint: beware of the home page), and we have the rules of the road for the hotel breakfast buffet.
• A special segment for international travelers features tips on phone plans and getting through customs easily. Reporter Clayton Whitehead is our guest.
• Odds and Ends features a Shake Shack airport kiosk that raises prices if you don’t include a tip...I didn’t believe it either, but we have the video online for you to see.

• In the Travel News, will you soon be able to gamble in flight? And what is that drone doing hovering outside your hotel room window? It’s delivering your door dash order.
• Taking selfies has become a generational tradition. But “death by selfie” has killed hundreds. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we have some common sense suggestions to make your next travel selfie a bit less life-threatening.
• Lots going on out at the airport. Scott Johnston joins us to update you on parking, expansion and even the new “don’t park on the curb for more than four minutes” cameras.
• Our Odds and Ends at the end of the show features a story on how one cruise line is solving the deck chair free-for-all. You know, where everyone races to save a chair in the morning...there’s a solution to the problem and Carnival may be onto something.

• In the Travel News, COVID is making a comeback and we’ll tell you where, plus is legal gambling coming to skies and are hammocks coming to the airport? We answer those important questions and more in the news.
• In our Smarter Traveler segment, we discuss airport-slash-airline attire. Should there be a dress code? Would people behave better on planes if there were minimum dress standards?
• The Wreath Project is an annual charitable project that brings out the best in our community. We update the 2026 efforts and tell you how you can participate.
• In the Odds and Ends portion of the program, we share the 7 weirdest TSA finds of the summer, and talk about tipping...at Popeye’s? Are you kidding me?