Tag: travel news, Page 32

On the Saturday, February 24th, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, United and American Airlines raise baggage fees, and American Queen Voyages (the river cruise line) is out of business. A new piece of technology in restaurants is a hand-held software system that allows the server to total your bill, then hand you the machine, in their presence, to decide on a gratuity amount. Is it just us, or is that "in your face" system designed to pressure the diner into a higher gratuity? Carry-on bags have been a pain for airlines ever since they started charging for baggage. If only they would enforce their own carry-on rules, the problem might be solved. We discuss carry-ons and how airlines on one hand are telling you to check your bags, when in many instances there is plenty of room for them in the overheads. What's up? The mailbag addresses a variety of issues you wrote us about, everything from airline customer service, to state park entry/parking fees and parking charges at hotels.

On the Saturday, February 17th, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, US Travel Agencies set a January record for air sales; plus Uber drivers and flight attendants protest in selected cities across the country. Those and other stories in the news. Our Smarter Traveler segment focuses on how travel hackers are looking for your information online every day. We have a few common sense solutions anyone can use. Surge, peak, high season, whatever you want to call the highest prices for hotels, airline tickets and attractions, they are all managed by dynamic pricing. With summer just around the corner, Mark and Tom explain how dynamic pricing impacts your vacation and other travel. Our Odds and Ends segment features an update on the future of America's biggest river cruise line....the news isn't good, but it isn't horrible...yet.

On the Saturday, February 10th, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Boeing's planes are back in the sky, but would you fly on one (hint there have been very few cancellations)? Protesters have blocked the train tracks leading into Machu Pichu in Peru, keeping tourists from visiting. You are considering taking a cruise. Friends and/or family have decided to join you. Sounds wonderful, right? Sounds like a situation that will thrive with some advance planning and open discussion. Mark and Tom talk about how to take a cruise with first-time traveling friends and survive with your relationships intact. All part of our Smarter Traveler segment. The president's war on junk fees has had little impact. He's tackling family seating on planes now, and could potentially have more success. Our odds and ends segment features a story about a group that thinks they have found the remains of Amelia Earhart's plane on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. And Senator Ted Cruz wants more secure airport experiences for lawmakers. Private screenings included. But he may have some alternative reasons for his wish list. We'll discuss Cancun Cruz.

On the Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, most of the news is BAD. Las Vegas hotels are raising resort fees and restaurants are raising their prices for the Super Bowl, Uber's rides continue to cost more, Jet Blue is going to charge you for advance seat selection for more seats on every flight, and the fees on Delta's credit card are going up 50%. Our Smarter Traveler segment talks about an endangered species - customer service. Case in point, American Airlines is cutting hundreds of call center positions that handle travel issues and complaints. And telling us it's going to make American BETTER. Can you say BS? Our Odds and Ends segment features stories about how travel companies are collecting your private information to create pricing, hidden cameras in vacation rentals and why you might need a special class to learn how to negotiate a Disney theme park. Charlie Leocha from Travelers United joins us to talk about the crowd coming in the skies. Charlie says flying cars, drones and other traffic is about to compete with airplanes and it's time to consider some regulations. Crazy? Maybe not.