Greetings!

🌴 Last week, I sent this newsletter from the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. It was a great time to be in the desert since it was 15 degrees warmer than where we live by the beach. Here's our story about our stay.
✈️ There's a lot of travel news this week, which you can find below as well some great travel tips and some funny videos ... including one with the late, great, Richard Lewis and some dude who made homemade nachos in his hotel bathroom 🤢

🥳 I've updated our Travel Contests of the Week with an offer by Marriott Bonvoy to win Taylor Swift tickets!
💳 Chase and Southwest have relaunched one of their most popular credit card offers, providing new card members with the opportunity to earn a Companion Pass valid through February 2025, along with 30,000 Rapid Rewards Points as a single signup bonus. Picture your favorite companion flying free for an entire year, with only taxes to worry about! Even better, this offer is accessible through the entry-level Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, featuring an annual fee of just $69. Seize the opportunity to secure a Companion Pass and earn 30,000 Southwest points! Act quickly, as this limited-time bonus is available only until March 11, 2024.

Sponsor: Indus Travels

Discover the essence of Scotland on our captivating tour from Edinburgh to Bowmore on the Isle of Islay from $3,099 per person. Immerse yourself in distillery tours, scenic landscapes, and local flavors. With accommodation, transport, flights, and more covered, this is your ticket to the ultimate Scottish adventure! Here's more info.

In this issue:

✈️ Today's Travel Outlook

As of 6:20am PT, there have been 91 canceled flights to, from or within the United States and 894 delayed. Here's a link to the up-to-date stats and a live look at the FAA's National Airspace System Status. Here's what to do during weather delays and flight cancellations.

🌎 12 Things to Know in Travel

1 The FAA has identified more safety issues on Boeing’s 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner
2 Central Indiana woman dies after falling ill on flight
3 Airlines Avelo and Breeze, three years after their pandemic debut, prepare for a profitable year
4 Boeing in talks to buy back fuselage maker Spirit Aerosystems
5 CDC drops 5-day isolation guidance for Covid-19, moving away from key strategy to quell infections
6 Bar Harbor can place a daily limit on cruise ship passengers, federal judge rules
7 British Airways sues over jet bridge accident
8 States with the worst pothole problems, ranked
9 Airlines that mishandle wheelchairs face new accountability rules
10 Gay Qatar Airways manager jailed after Grindr sting operation
11 Coldplay, then Taylor Swift: Concert economics are driving a tourism boom in Singapore
12 Warby Parker offering free solar eclipse glasses ahead of 'celestial spectacle': How to get them
Read it all here as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from this past week!

🧳 Monday

Traveler’s Tip: The Surprising Reason You Need to Snap a Pic of Your Checked Bags
Obviously, the best way to travel is with carry-on only but if you have to check a bag, be sure to take a few seconds to take some photos. Here's why.

☎️ Tuesday

The Genius Phone Hack To Try When Your Plane Doesn’t Have an In-Flight Entertainment System
I've seen and shared a lot of travel hacks over the years but I love this one for how simple and effective it is. Plus, it won't cost you anything! Read the story here.

🍾 Wednesday

Why Travelers Should Never Use This Type of Water Bottle on an Airplane
A recent TikTok created by a woman named Kat Darby caught my attention and it’s a solid tip all travelers should remember when flying. In fact, I’ve experienced the scenario she describes (though perhaps less intense) and after it happens to you once, you learn your lesson. Here's why you shouldn't use this type of water bottle on an airplane.

💤️ Thursday

Little Kid Closing Woman’s Window Shade on Airplane Sparks Debate: Who Controls the Window Shade?
Who controls the window shade on an airplane is one of those divisive topics like reclining your seat, who gets the middle seat arm rest and even kids on planes. And a recent video shared online shows just how divided people are over the window shade. Watch the video and share your thoughts here.

💰 Friday

Is Your Hotel Scamming You? How to Spot This Hidden Room Service Fee
I don't know about you but I really hate getting suckered. And I hate to see other people get suckered, too - especially the elderly or anyone who isn't hip to someone else's game. An experience during a recent hotel stay prompted me to write this tip about room service in the hope that it prevents you from falling for it. Read the story.

📺 Travel Videos of the Week

Guest Cooks Nachos in Hotel Bathroom Sink and the Comments are Hilarious
After almost three decades of traveling for a living, I really thought I'd seen it all. I was wrong. And after watching this video, I don't want to be right. This is one of the nuttiest things I've seen in a long time but you've gotta see it to believe it. Watch the video here.

Could These Free Smart Luggage Carts Be the Future of Travel at Airports Around the World?
My wife forwarded me a video about free smart trolleys or luggage carts in some international airports and asked me if I’d seen them before. I hadn’t but after a little digging, it looks like they’re starting to expand so it probably won’t be long before I (or you!) see one. Watch the video here.

RIP Richard Lewis: A Recent Funny Scene From Curb Your Enthusiasm is Now So Bittersweet
Legendary comic Richard Lewis died yesterday and I was so saddened to hear the news. He was beloved by all, including me. I had just watched Season 13, Episode 3 of Curb Your Enthusiasm when I heard the news. In the episode, Richard plays a fictionalized version of himself and he and Larry David, creator of Seinfeld, were arguing about who was going to live longer. It's a really funny (and now bittersweet) scene, which you can watch here.

🎁 Travel Product of the Week

Airplane Tray Table Cover and Seat Back Organizer for Personal Items
We all know how dirty the tray tables are on airplanes. Bring along your own tray table cover to protect yourself from germs. Even better, it's got a pocket for keeping your things organized without having to use the dirty seat back pocket. Check it out here.

✅ Currency Exchange ✅ Calendar Countdown

✈️ Miles and Points