Past 10 Shows

• 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?

• In the Travel News, those who like to park on the curb and wait for passengers at the airport beware...a new system is going to make you change your habits, plus our airport is about to get bigger...and the World Cup was very successful in terms of visitor dollars spent.
• Travelers are being fooled by AI generated pictures, which can make intelligent buying decisions next to impossible. We’ll dig into the situation and give you some hints on how to avoid being taken in our Smarter Traveler segment.
• It’s Mailbag Day on the show. That’s when we answer your questions on a variety of travel subjects and boy, variety is the word for today’s list of questions.
• An Italian village is fining tourists who don’t keep their shirts on. Just one of the stories on our Odds and Ends wrap up.

• In the Travel News, your passport just got political – will it matter; and the reality is – we are loving our national parks to death. Why are the parks so crowded this summer?
• Last week, a tourist was gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we’ll tell you what the victim said about the situation and our wisdom for keeping yourself out of trouble when it comes to visiting wildlife in THEIR homes.
• Chris Elliott is with us today, all the way from Tokyo. We’ll talk a little about Japan and why so many are heading there. Our main topic is cruise lines and whether or not there should be a cruise passengers bill of rights.
• Odds and Ends topics at the end of the show include frivolous lawsuits, new trains on the west coast and an international celebration at the Sacramento airport.