On the Sunday, July 4th Independence Day edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the government appears ready to back a plan to give passengers who's bags don't arrive on time a refund of their baggage fees. Why isn't that ALREADY the airlines' policy? Excellent question. Delta airlines is now selling COVID testing kits you can use when returning from international destinations. Travelers United is behind a drive to get the airline issued ticket voucher's shelf life extended. You can sign the petition they will send to Congress at www.travelersunited.com. Mark has been out on the road with groups of travelers the past couple of weeks. He has an update with useful ideas you can incorporate into your travels. Bottom line: Popular places are crowded, try and find a time when fewer people are there. Mark has some help. Lots of Travel Questions come to our mailbag. We answer a number of them from you, including topics like cruise line refund vouchers, what are the up-to-date protocols about distance and masks in the airport, when you might be able to go to Canada, and my favorite topic, why gas is so expensive at the Sacramento Airport.
Travelers United Page 6
On the Sunday, May 2nd, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, TSA has announced the mask mandate, scheduled to expire in the next two weeks, has officially been extended until September 11th. This means you will have to remain masked on trains, planes, buses and other public transport through the summer. Real ID, the universal ID card, has a new deadline and the cruise industry is encouraged about the opportunity the CDC is allowing them to return to the oceans of our planet. Charlie Leocha from Travelers United is on hand to discuss why we should post basic rights for flyers in airports around the country. And why doesn't our system allow passengers to collect fines for delays within the airlines' control? An update from the people who fight for consumers in Washington, DC. Reporter Clayton Whitehead has a report on Dark Tourism. What makes places from Alcatraz to Auschwitz so popular with visitors? Finally, Mark shares the story of Alaska state legislator Lora Reinbold, who had such an issue with wearing a mask and the Alaska Airlines employees who enforced the rule, she has been banned from flying the airline. With her home near Anchorage and the legislature meeting in Juneau, that has created a bit of a problem. And from Broadway comes word that the pandemic may have changed the way Broadway shows are presented going forward. Mark has the story.
On the Sunday, March 14th, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Amtrak is putting Covid relief funds to good use, restoring daily services on many long distance trains, including the California Zephyr. American Airlines tells 15,000 employees to forget the furlough notices, and air travel has had a significant bump in the past 7-10 days. But, hotels are still in big trouble. Now it's the Fairmont San Jose, the centerpiece hotel downtown, which has shuttered its doors after losing $38 million in the past year. Travelers United has put forth a pretty solid idea regarding airline passenger rights. Post them at the airport. Very few travelers know the simple rules which protect them. So why not make those rights extremely public? Because it isn't in the best interest of one group....the airlines. More discussion in our Smarter Traveler segment. For nearly more than 7 decades, 3 generations of the Perillo family have taken people on vacation. Italy is their specialty, but they now offer other destinations. Steve Perillo, owner of the 3rd generation family company, joins us to talk overseas travel. Finally, we have the story of the man who spent years in jail because Hertz Car Rental wouldn't turn over the documents which proved his innocence. We have the full story.
On the Sunday, January 31st, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, President Biden has made masks officially mandatory on trains and planes (or in/on federal land/property); Tauck Tours has launched its first trip in 10 months, and American Airlines is watching for cheaters - skiplaggers, you know who you are. The idea was floated last week to require passengers on domestic airline flights to be COVID tested before flying. The airlines were not enamored by the idea, nor was the public. Where do you stand? We talk about it in our Smarter Traveler Segment. Travelers United, in Washington, D.C., is always looking out for the traveler on the road. They believe airlines need a Sick Passenger Rule. Charlie Leocha, President and Co-Founder, joins us to explain how he thinks it could work, and why it's important. Rob Stewart has been the host of Rob on the Road on KVIE Channel 6 for a decade. We celebrate 10 years on the road with Rob and talk about the differences in virtual vs. in person broadcasting.