Tag: loyalty programs

On the Saturday, March 15th, 2025 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, driverless taxis got almost 600 tickets in San Francisco last year; and in the big story this week, Southwest Airlines is changing its long time two bags free policy and charging for baggage starting in late May. When an airline offers a “Lifetime Benefit,” you would think that would be easy to define. Well, United Airlines is changing one of their “lifetime” policies, another reminder that those points and miles you earn do not really belong to you, they belong to the hotel or airline. It’s the topic of our Smarter Traveler segment. We talked with Chris Elliott this week about the controversial tariffs the president is proposing and how they might impact international travelers. He also weighs in on the Southwest changes and a new book he has written, The Unauthorized Travel Manual: Secrets For a Smarter Trip From a Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Consumer Advocate. We also took calls from listeners on the Southwest changes.

On the Saturday, March 8th, 2025 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Southwest makes massive cuts to earnings in its frequent flyer program (more on that subject later in the program); and a United airlines employee is busted in a huge bribery and payola scheme at the Newark Airport. The Smarter Traveler segment of the program addresses the value of taking the "first flight out in the morning." There are ups and downs of getting up before the chickens, and the guys explain why rising early is probably a smart move. Palm Springs is a popular destination for travelers from our area, and Mark shares a host of opinions on restaurants and attractions, plus tells you one hotel you might want to place on your "do not stay" list. Reward and loyalty programs for hotel chains and airlines are big business. But recently, the changes in the number of points needed for rooms and air tickets has been changing, and not in the favor of the traveler. Now Southwest is cutting the number of points you earn in its Rapid Rewards program on its most popular tickets. We'll update you on the state of rewards programs.

On the Sunday, October 16th, 2022 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the State Department temporarily has reopened its online passport renewal program (link below) under certain conditions, and in Hawaii, visitor counts have hit a bump and some are concerned. Our Smarter Traveler segment features a discussion on the impact on your airfare, based on the day you fly. Monday, Friday and Sunday are generally higher. Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday lower; Thursday neutral. We'll explain why. Consumer Advocate Chris Elliott is on hand all the way from Cypress to discuss hotel service. Where is it headed post-COVID? We also go over words to be wary of when you are looking for a vacation rental. What does "cozy" really mean. Delta and Starbucks have announced a joint loyalty program. We'll share details and talk about the value of such programs.

On the Sunday, July 24th, 2022 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, two Alaska pilots have to return their plane to the gate...because they couldn't get along in the cockpit. Delta Airlines is testing FREE Wi-Fi on some aircraft and Hertz climbs another stupidity ladder with a long time customer. When you are on a plane, you might relax a little and not be concerned about your belongings. That would be a mistake. Mark and Tom explain why in our Smarter Traveler segment. The Pacific Northwest is a great place for a getaway or an extended vacation. It's one of Mark's favorite places, and he shares a host of ideas for travelers of all ages. Ferry boats, national parks, picturesque small towns, and some great accommodations if you know where to look. Hotel and credit card loyalty points have less value than they used to. So how do you get the most out of your points and miles? When and where is the best time to use them?