Tag: Alaska Airlines

On the Saturday, October 26th, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Disney is growing its cruise ship fleet from 5 to 13 ships in the next 7 years, and Alaska Airlines has a 4-state fly pass, but we say buyer beware. Our Smarter Traveler segment highlights a taxi ride Mark took in downtown Detroit last week, and really he was taken. $25 for a 2-mile ride. We explain how to avoid getting yourself in a similar situation. Did he really pay $25 for a 2-mile ride? He did. Each year, a small group of local folks, led by the Stocking family, raise a big chunk of cash to make sure those who are gone are not forgotten, by placing boughs on the 35,000 military graves at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. We have an update on this year's efforts, including Mark's recount of a most amazing fundraiser last Sunday. Our Odds and Ends portion of the show has a "skipping" theme. Disney has a new line-SKIPPING ticket, and American Airlines has won a victory over the SKIP-lagging web site. What is skip-lagging? We'll explain.

On the Saturday, September 21st, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the merger of Alaska and Hawaiian airlines has been approved, with the stipulation that frequent flyer miles not be devalued and some other never-seen-before concessions by the airlines involved. The Grand Prix is coming back to Las Vegas in November. Want to go? Bring your wallet, for sure, 'cause it ain't gonna be cheap. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we discuss the difference of buying travel components from a third party (Trip Advisor, Booking.com, etc.) as opposed to booking direct. Mark points out that direct booking is almost always the way to go. Tom suggested sniffing around the third party sites to check out pricing. If you find a deal, you can always go direct to the travel supplier and ask them to match, which they often will. Beware of third party sites that have paid to be at the top of the page when you log on your phone/computer. Also, third party sites may have cancellation/change rules that are different from the actual supplier. The government is investigating Frequent Flyer programs, something which is long overdue. Chris Elliott, Travel Advocate and Blogger, joins us to discuss why this is happening. Our Odds and Ends segment shares a list of five things international visitors like about our country and its culture. Plus, a reminder about what type of picture NOT to post to social media while you are on vacation.

On the Saturday, July 13th, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Alaska Airlines announces four new winter destinations from Sacramento, including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Tucson and Orlando; plus have you heard about locals shooting tourists with water pistols in Barcelona, telling the visitors to get out of town? Last week, we talked about how to recognize fake reviews online. This week, we give you some tips on how to best use positive reviews to help you get the hotel you want on the road. Chris Elliott is currently in Switzerland. Our favorite travel advocate is working on some stories on how climate change is impacting travel. He talks about how the Swiss are dealing with the situation and how travelers like us can do things to fight back against an ever-warming climate. Mark visited Fort Bragg with a group of Sports Leisure Travelers this week, and he has some observations on the lumber town that has turned to tourism.

On the Saturday, January 27th, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Alaska and United have gotten the OK to put 737 Max 9 aircraft back in the sky after inspections starting tomorrow. Meanwhile, Kayak.com reports that more and more travelers are trying to avoid the Max 9. And California joins the list of states with digital licenses (think TSA). Travelers United has put out a list of driving tips for cold weather destinations. If you are headed into the Sierras, or other snowy destinations, or just know someone who lives in one, check out the list. United is selling miles by subscription. Are they a good deal? Find out in our Smarter Traveler segment. We'll also address airlines on time ratings and explain how they are created, and whether or not they are to be trusted. If you are thinking about one of those extended cruises, consider the fate of passengers who thought they were going around the world for three years, and instead are just out a lot of money. Plus, there's a ship now with cabins that open to the ocean. We share the details of the pluses and minuses of this new innovation in cruise ship accommodations.