March 17, 2024  •   View this email in your browser

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

☘️ My 7-year-old son and most of his classmates spent the week building leprechaun traps. I guess it's a new thing because I don't remember doing it as a kid but it will be interesting to see what happens if he catches one (I'm afraid to go downstairs to check the traps!) 

📰 Two sets of travel news stories
There's been so much news this week that I've decided to not only add the top 12 news stories from the week but also include the top 12 news stories of the day so you can get all caught up on the top headlines. I've separated them so scroll down to see them all.

🛬 How the LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner nosedived  
As you will read, one of the biggest stories of the week was that a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner nosedived on a flight between Sydney and Auckland. Fifty people were injured. According to one pilot and aviation attorney, this is what happened. 

💰Reader tip
One of our regular readers Tine B. just sent over this timely tip: "FYI there are crazy low fares to Paris from LAX for the first week in May. That’s insane, maybe they have a drop in fares to get ppl to fill the planes prior to the Olympics… my just purchased ticket is RT LAX-CDG on Air France May 6th to 18th for $407. I almost fell over because usually it’s an expensive time of the year to fly to Paris. Tell your readers, it seems to be Delta/Air France and also French Bee – they have $165 LAX to Paris Orly but that does not include anything other than a handbag or tote bag."

🏨 Hotel review: Four Seasons Westlake Village
Last weekend, my family and I headed an hour north of LAX to the plush Four Seasons Westlake. Here's our review. 

💔 My dad
Can you believe it's been a year since my dad passed? There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him or thank God that I had the good fortune to have him as my father.

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In this issue:

• Today's Travel Outlook ✈️
• Travel Tips This Week ✅
• Travel Quote of the Day 💬
• Travel Thread of the Day 
• 12 Things to Know in Travel Today 🌎
• Travel Video of the Day 📺
• and more… 

✈️ Today's Travel Outlook 

As of 8:55am PT, there have only been 54 canceled flights to, from or within the United States and 2,087 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 This Week

1 Boeing whistleblower found dead in US
2 Boeing tells pilots to check seats after Latam plane incident
3 Boeing overwrote surveillance footage of door plug repair, NTSB chair says
4 Older Boeing plane found to have missing panel after flight from California to southern Oregon
5 Delta restarting Israel flights
6 Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis after city council forces them to pay drivers more
7 Student pilot allegedly tried to enter cockpit of Alaska Airlines flight multiple times
8 Indonesia's Batik Air faces probe after pilots fall asleep mid-flight
9 Qatar Airways to launch First Class, as airline courts Airbus and Boeing for new planes
10 Frontier UpFront Plus option: Empty middle seats, more legroom
11 Nearly 100 Holland America passengers get sick in norovirus outbreak
12 Airbnb bans the use of indoor security cameras
Read it all here as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from this past week!

🔒 Monday

How to Safeguard Your Devices When You're Out in Public
My wife and I were recently dining al fresco and I was reminded of an important tip, especially for travelers, though this unfortunate scenario can happen at home, too. Here's how to safeguard your stuff when you're out in public, whether you're dining, riding public transportation or simply walking down the street. 

👮‍♂️ Tuesday

How To Find Out If The TSA PreCheck Lane Will Be Open When You Travel
If you’ve been following my advice for years, then you know that one of my best travel tips for speeding through U.S. airports is to get TSA PreCheck; it's $78 for five years. The Trusted Traveler program began in 2011 and is run by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and allows selected members of certain frequent flyer programs, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI, as well as members of the US military, to receive expedited screening. However, their lanes are not always open so here's how to find out in advance. 

🌒 Wednesday

The Total Solar Eclipse is Less Than ONE Month Away - Here's What You Need to Know
When I first heard about the total solar eclipse, I wasn’t that excited but as the date approaches, I’m beginning to change my tune. It’s been seven years since the last total solar eclipse and with April 8 around the corner, the countdown on. 

According to Expedia, cities along the path of totality are expecting a wave of travelers around April 8. Expedia reports massive year-over-year increases in hotel searches for some of the most popular destinations for eclipse chasers. Here's what you need to know.

💤️ Thursday

How To Actually Be Comfortable on an Airplane
I’m not sure if I’m getting bigger or plane seats are getting smaller but I think it’s probably a little bit of both. In fact, my own research has proven both indeed to be true, making traveling comfortably almost an oxymoron. Fortunately, I’ve traveled extensively (over 3,00,000 miles) for more than two decades so I’ve got a few (or a thousand) tricks up my sleeve! Here are my best tips for actually being comfortable on an airplane.

🥽 Friday

The Best Sleep Masks For Travel 2024
In honor of World Sleep Day, here are the best sleep masks, which, combined with ear plugs, are no doubt the best way to sleep on an airplane. 

🧳 Saturday

Gate Agents Are Cracking Down on Carry-Ons – Here’s What Travelers Can Do About It
Airlines are starting to crack down on carry-on bags more than ever. And they're not just looking at the size and weight of your bags but how many you have and what other smaller, personal items you may be bringing onboard. Here's what you need to know and what you can do about it. 

📺 Travel Videos of the Week

United Airlines Passenger Aggressively Kicks Seat in Front Because Passenger Reclined – Airline Investigating the Incident
I’ve seen a lot of crazy things over my decades of flying and of course, thanks to social media, we’re inundated with photos and videos of people doing the unimaginable. It seems like there’s been a serious decline in manners and common decency, as evidenced in this video. It's truly outrageous. Watch it here.


Video Shows How Easy it is For Thieves to Steal Your Luggage While in a Bar or Restaurant
Yesterday, I wrote about how travelers should be careful when eating at restaurants (especially when dining al fresco) and when using their phones when walking down the street or on a bus or train. See all the videos I compiled of thieves snatching phones and laptops.

Today, I came across another disturbing video of a thief stealing two bags from a pub in the middle of the day. The two ladies were talking to each other and not paying attention to their luggage. Watch the video here.


College Students Surprise Beloved Security Guard With Trip to Nigeria
This touching video will bring a tear to your eye. Watch it here.

🌎 12 Things to Know in Travel Today

1 Delta restarting Israel flights 
2 Waymo to launch robotaxi service in Los Angeles, but no freeways 
3 Woman loses birth certificate, tax documents in Buckhead hotel burglary 
4 United Airlines and commercial air travel are safe, aviation experts say 
5 Ottawa passengers trapped in Mexico after Flair Airlines cancels flights 
6 Iceland volcano lava nears Grindavik in new eruption 
7 Weekly ski trip turns into overnight ordeal when about 50 women get stranded in bus during snowstorm 
8 Singer allegedly driving with phony diplomatic plates pulled out of vehicle by Florida cops in wild video 
9 SFO protest over Gaza creates chaos at airport 
10 Sheraton plans to build a luxury five-star resort in Queensland's Hervey Bay 
11 Boeing: How much trouble is the company in? 
12 Feds side with McDonald's franchise owners in battle to fix ice cream machines 
Read it all here!

🎁 Travel Product of the Week

Guard Your ID Mini Roller Stamp
As you may recall, I recently had my ID stolen. Protect yours with this handy little roller stamp that you can use to black out your name and address on your mail and packages before you throw them away. Check it out here.

✅ Currency Exchange           ✅ Calendar Countdown

✈️ Miles and Points