Travel Guys Radio

Listen Now On the Saturday, August 2nd edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, our airport screens a record number of travelers in one day, and AI is being used to create fake travel destinations and take people on wild goose chases. Southwest Airlines has started charging bag fees and assigning seats. But not for all flights. We tell you where the line is drawn and how to deal with Southwest’s “dueling systems”...

Listen Now On the Saturday, July 26th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Uber announced a new feature that let’s women riders be paired with women drivers, and likewise men with men; you still can’t take full water bottles through security at the airport…yet, and United Airlines has made some awesome additions to its app that will make airport connections a little easier. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we have a check-in...

Listen Now On the Saturday, July 19th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, The iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City reopens, with a remarkable new look; and Carnival Cruise Lines changes it’s frequent cruiser program to more align with its credit card. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we explain why having the airline’s app on your phone might be the most important thing you can do to keep yourself informed...

Listen Now On the Saturday, July 12th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, we have the story of the dad who jumped ship to save his daughter after she fell overboard; and the story about the 19-year-old who flew, without clearance, to Antarctica. Those stories and the reality there will be no more naked stinky feet at airport security! Email scams come at us every single day. Many are related to travel....

Listen Now On the Saturday, July 5th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Sedona says no to the Golden Arches, Oakland is changing the name of their airport, again, and Hertz renters are furious over the company’s newest bogus way to nickel and dime their customers. Seems as though the new “return tunnel” is billing people for every little nick and scratch, including things caused by weather and the like. Our Smarter...

Listen Now On the Saturday, June 28th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, are the airlines secretly selling your flight information to the government? Plus, Jet Blue has announced a way to get top Frequent Flyer status on the airline for 25 years! Our Smarter Traveler segment addresses hotel red flags. Those things that make you wonder if you are making/have made the right choice. Little things that make a difference. We...

Listen Now On the Saturday, June 21st edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, we have updates on the harassment of tourists in Spain, the closing of the Louvre in Paris and how dynamic pricing may be impacting admission prices all over the country. Having your luggage arrive at your destination the same time you do is pretty important. Our Smarter Traveler segment tells you why your luggage tag is such an important...

Listen Now On the Saturday, June 14th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, taking your pet on a plane is getting more expensive; and the president indicates he is concerned about how the immigration crackdown is impacting the tourism industry. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we’ll talk about airport lounges. They have become so popular, people can’t get in. But what if your credit card or premium ticket PROMISES you entry? The...

Listen Now On the Saturday, June 6th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Carnival Cruise Lines is cracking down on troublemakers on board, and airlines are warning a new congressional bill could put your miles earning power in jeopardy. Their explanation is full of BS. Our Smarter Traveler segment addresses bogus texts some have received regarding toll fees you supposedly owe. “Just click here and everything will be fine.” Or perhaps not....

Listen Now On the Saturday, May 31st edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News – United and JetBlue form an interesting partnership, and Trip Advisor shares info on what percentage of online reviews might be fake. Our Smarter Traveler segment has an airline pilot’s tip on where NOT to put your valuables on the plane, and TSA has a warning about airport USB ports. Reporter Clayton Whitehead took a group into Canada at...

Listen Now On the Saturday, May 24th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, a brand new super-theme park opened in Orlando; and the Trump tariffs are not only impacting vacationers from other countries, business travel to the US is off even more dramatically in the past couple of months. A lot of lost dollars for our economy. Important note for Southwest travelers. If you make a reservation after Tuesday the 27th, you...

Listen Now On the Saturday, May 17th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, American Airlines says they have new technology which allows them to hold some planes for connecting passengers; and a new rule involving junk fees went into effect last week. But will it be enforced? In our Smarter Traveler segment, we address two topics: The sudden dramatic reduction in value for Hilton Honors points, and we explain what it means...

Listen Now On the Saturday, May 10th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the US Secretary of Transportation has declared it’s time to upgrade the Air Traffic Control System; and what’s this about re-opening Alcatraz…not to tourists, but to prisoners? In our Smarter Traveler segment we tell you how to avoid a fine while traveling. Hint: It involves portable battery chargers for your phone and computer. Chris Elliott joins us to talk...

Listen Now On the Saturday, May 3rd edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, United and Jet Blue are partnering…or maybe merging…we have the update; and a California town is named the best small town in the west…who might it be? Our Smarter Traveler segment features etiquette rules for train travel. You’ll be the best behaved on board for your next trip on the rails. Mark is just back from a visit to...

Listen Now Special Notice: Due to a large percentage of last week’s show not airing on KFBK, the April 26th show will be a repeat of last week’s show, with the exception of the Travel News segment (which is new for this week). If you listened live last week you might have noticed the show cut off on the air. If you caught last week’s podcast instead, which included the entire show uninterrupted, you may...

Listen Now On the Saturday, April 19th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, California has a message for Canadians considering a visit, and we tell you what media group has decided Spirit is the best airline (?) in the sky. Our Smarter Traveler segment features an update on the REAL ID (deadline May 7) and we talk about “aisle lice” on the airplane. What the heck are those people doing, charging up...

Listen Now On the Saturday, April 12th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Southwest will start retrofitting cabins in two weeks, creating extra leg room seating; and an ill-advised new bill would change the drinking deadline from 2 to 4am in some cities around our state. (What a great idea, even drunker people on the road in the wee hours of the morning.) Our Smarter Traveler segment takes a break this week...

Listen Now On the Saturday, April 5th edition of the Travel Guys… Beyoncé and Marriott “get into bed together,” as the hotel chain partners with the vocalist on her upcoming tour; and we have a list of the most popular “pilgrimage” sites in the country. Places people go to remember a famous person or occurrence. What do you suppose is the number one spot in California? In the country? Our Smarter Traveler segment addresses the...

Listen Now On the Saturday, March 29th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, in our weekly “benefits going down” update, United Airlines ups fees for its lounges and credit cards, touting bogus “benefits”; and there’s an effort afoot to get rid of the TSA. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we have tips on how and why you might want to cool your jets a bit when traveling internationally. Expressing your political views...

Listen Now On the Saturday, March 22nd edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, residents of Sitka, Alaska are about to vote on limiting cruise ship calls to their small city; and Canadian tourists are not coming over the border, as the numbers already show. Southwest is charging for bags starting in January, but there are a number of hacks around the charge. Our Smarter Traveler segment addresses some of those work-arounds that...

Listen Now On the Saturday, March 15th 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...

Listen Now On the Saturday, March 8th 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...

Listen Now On the Saturday, March 1st edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, everyone on board survived the Delta crash in Toronto this past week, and we discuss a couple of important aspects of the accident (the great job the flight attendants did getting everyone off an upside down airplane, and our amazement that people were dragging carry-on luggage through the snow – just before jet fuel re-ignited). Plus our Sacramento airport,...

Listen Now On the Saturday, February 22nd edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the airlines make their first effort to overturn one of Joe Biden’s consumer friendly rules; and are Canadians REALLY canceling their US travel plans? Seems to be some disagreement on that subject. One of the hottest topics in travel these days is the Apple AirTag. The device, which helps you locate lost luggage, is in the news again this...

Listen Now On the Saturday, February 15th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the number of road side rest stops is decreasing, Las Vegas is building a new airport, and there is a major shake up at the Kennedy Center. Jet lag is something that plagues many travelers. Our Smarter Traveler portion of the show has some tips for minimizing its effect. Travelers from California tend to make multiple visits to Hawaii....

Listen Now On the Saturday, February 8th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Delta Airlines is partnering with Draft Kings and You Tube to offer in flight gaming, coming soon to a flight near you. Here’s a thought: Canadians spend more money in our country as tourists than travelers from ANY OTHER DESTINATION; and now they are talking seriously about cutting back on travel to their previously friendly neighbor as the result...

Listen Now On the Saturday, February 1st edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Sacramento International had over 13.6 million passengers pass through the airport in 2024, a new record; and Spirit Airlines says no, at least initially to another merger offer from Spirit. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we report that the “hard deadline” for the REAL ID for travelers of May 7, isn’t really. It’s a soft deadline, and you will...

Listen Now On the Saturday, January 25th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Marriott is experimenting with letting people pass on housekeeping and save on their hotel rooms – but Mark says it’s a trap, to let the hotel chain ultimately charge extra for housekeeping services. Plus, there’s the story of the young man who tuned a grand piano on the concourse in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Truly, it’s one of the best...

Listen Now On the Saturday, January 18th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, TSA issues a final rule for REAL ID enforcement – no more extensions they say. Also, is it true American cruise ships continue to stop in foreign ports after the US Government issues warnings about traveling to those destinations? Those stories and more in the Travel News. Our Smarter Traveler segment talks about REAL ID. How do you get...

Listen Now On the Saturday, January 11th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Sacramento gets its first non-stop flight to Alaska this summer, FREE wifi is coming to United and we have an update on the status of landmarks in the face of the southern California fires. Our Smarter Traveler segment features Five Ways to Travel More Responsibly – things like buying local, leaving your destination better than you found it and...

Listen Now On the Saturday, January 4th edition of the Travel Guys… In the Travel News, featured stories include sharing with you the top destinations for dating among travelers, at least according to the app Tinder; and the CDC says illness on board ships is at a 12-year high. In our Smarter Traveler segment – with tongue firmly in cheek, Mark shares the travel information his mid western relatives all wanted to know – if...

Listen Now On the Saturday, December 28th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the FAA has the results of the Southwest Airlines safety audit, and wildlife is dying out on Catalina island…without any concern from local residents. The Canadian Transportation Agency, which regulates airlines, has a proposal to make airlines more responsible for delays north of the border. They are actually more expansive than EU Rule 261, which protect passengers in the event...

Listen Now On the Saturday, December 21st edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, hear about the newest fad, flying “naked”….yes, it’s called flying naked. We’ll explain. And small towns around the planet are starting to organize against the cruise lines big ships calling in their communities. “Stop overwhelming us” is their message. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we explain what the new Federal Trade Commission rules on junk fees imposed by hotels...

Listen Now On the Saturday, December 14th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Mexico and the U.K. are creating new junk fees to trap travelers; and Delta confirms what top level frequent flyers already know, airlines are selling a much higher percentage of first class seats these days (meaning fewer complimentary upgrades for those top tier travelers). TSA officials at Sacramento International have shared a few tips for holiday travel. The most...

Listen Now On the Saturday, December 7th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Venice, the city that began charging visitors a surcharge to enter the city in 2024, is expanding the program next year; and we’ll tell you where Sacramento landed on a list of “Most Fun Cities.” You will be surprised at the answer. For many years, European flyers have benefited from a plan which gives them refunds (EU Regulation 261) when...

Listen Now On the Saturday, November 30th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, we’ll introduce you to Travel Tuesday, the traveler’s version of Black Friday for travel deals. Plus, the US Senate reports US airlines have collected over $12 BILLION dollars in the last six years from baggage fees and seat assignments. Our Smarter Traveler segment features comments from regular guests Joe Brancatelli and Chris Elliott on the subjects of “Smash and...

Listen Now On the Saturday, November 23rd edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, United Airlines is now offering a Spanish language version of their app and airports are testing autonomous wheelchairs. Hooking up to international cell phone service can be very costly if you don’t know what you are doing. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we have tips on international phone plans. The Sacramento Airport promises to be a busy place for...

Listen Now On the Saturday, November 16th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, a judge says Oakland has to stop using “San Francisco” in their new airport name; and the Las Vegas Monorail lives for another year, perhaps longer. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we share some room and elevator safety and security tips – might be something here even for veteran travelers. A special Women’s Travel update features a breakdown of...

Listen Now On the Saturday, November 9th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, lost bags may have a new way of being found; and we discuss how last week’s election may impact travelers in the months ahead. Have you ever heard of the airline hack called “check in chicken?” Can it really help you get a better seat on the plane without paying for it? Chris Elliott joins us to opine on...

Listen Now On the Saturday, November 2nd edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, passenger air service may be returning to the Chico airport in 2025, and the pioneering airline executive who first said no smoking on my planes (Northwest) has died. New rules to protect airline passengers in the event of long flight delays or baggage you paid the airlines to transport, but didn’t show up, have taken effect. Mark goes over...

Listen Now On the Saturday, October 26th 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...

Listen Now On the Saturday, October 19th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, travel demand is slowing down for next summer, for a reason you may not have considered; and we fill you in on a little known Mexican law about the number of electronic gadgets you can bring into the country. When buying an airline ticket, you have a decision to make, do you pay more for extra space, an aisle...

Listen Now On the Saturday, October 12th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, United Airlines expands its route system to Greenland, and is bankruptcy for Spirit Airlines just around the corner? Our Smarter Traveler segment talks about how a phone scam we talked about last week has now spread to the cruise industry. Plus, a buyer beware warning for Spirit Airlines flyers. When is the best time to buy a cruise, two...

Listen Now On the Saturday, October 5th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Spirit Airlines appears to be fast disappearing from the skies, and a European airline is getting rid of paper boarding passes entirely and only allowing you to check in online. Our Smarter Traveler segment highlights a new text phone scam directly targeting travelers. We tell you how to avoid it and protect your money and your private information. Southwest,...

Listen Now On the Saturday, September 28th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the FAA has hired more new air traffic controllers this year than its original goal, cutting into the shortage of people who oversee the nation’s skies. Our Smarter Traveler segment addresses two important subjects, passport renewal by mail and a reminder about taking pictures of your rental car. The Galapagos Islands are on the bucket list of many a...

Listen Now On the Saturday, September 21st 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,...

Listen Now On the Saturday, September 14th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, numbers show that the Taylor Swift tour of Europe moved the economic needle MORE than the Paris Olympics, and we explain how ONE bag of dropped Cheetos dramatically impacted Carlsbad Cavern National Park. Avis Car Rental says they were recently hacked, with everything from addresses and phone numbers, to social security credit card numbers exposed. Is it really safe...

Listen Now On the Saturday, September 7th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, wildcat hotel strikes in California and Hawaii have mostly ended without an agreement; and a new survey tells us what one benefit flyers consider to be the most value. Can you guess what it is? Tipping is a touchy subject and travelers face situations where tips are requested (or expected) often. But there is one set of people Mark...

Listen Now On the Saturday, August 31st edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, we tell you which airports in the country have the most TSA complaints (and all ten of them are on the east coast); plus the late Tammy Faye Bakker has made it to Broadway. The show named for her premieres at the Palace Theater in The Big Apple in October. COVID is back in the news for two reasons...

Listen Now On the Saturday, August 24th edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Southwest adds to the growing number of red-eyes to the east coast, and if you know someone who wants to come to the US for the world cup in 2026, warn them they need to apply for a visa now. On our Smarter Traveler segment we share the results of a survey among airline travelers. What are the six...