March 16, 2025  •   View this email in your browser

Sunday, March 16

I hope you had a great week! For our new subscribers, this is our weekly round-up of our daily travel tips. Today marks two years since my dad's passing. It's hard to believe but I'm so thankful for the time I had with him and am so incredibly grateful for such loving parents. If you read their eulogies (here's my mom's) you will see, they gave me life and love and I helped show them the world. 🙏


In honor of my loving father, I'm sharing this video of him reciting a poem he wrote about me when I was born. Watch the video here.

📰 Top Travel News This Week
There's a lot of travel news again this week with Southwest Airlines leading the way after they announced ending their bags fly free policy, followed by the story about the American Airlines plane that caught fire at Denver International forcing passengers to flee via the wing. 

🦝 American Influencer Sparks Fury After Taking Baby Wombat From Its Mother in Australia
A major headline that I didn't include in the round-up below is an 'influencer' making Americans look bad. She filmed herself taking a baby wombat away from its mother in Australia. Here's the horrifying story.

💡 Readers Love the Night Light!
I was happy to hear that a number of readers responded positively to my post on the travel night light you didn’t know you needed. One of them, Mark M., wrote: "I have used this night light for a year or so and it is fantastic. Just enough light to get around but not blind you." Another just emailed me: "I don’t need a motion activated light at night when traveling.  A miniature cheap flashlight works just fine." Here's a good option.

🧙‍♂️ One of Our Contributors Was on Jeopardy!
More good news ... my travel colleague and friend Harvey "H-Bomb" Silikovitz, was on Jeopardy! on Monday and absolutely crushed it. He’s an inspiration to all of us and especially for those suffering with chronic Illness. If you're a longtime reader, then you might remember Harvey's guest post on his trip to North Korea.

🧴Spring Cleaning Product
My wife and I have been doing some spring cleaning since we have houseguests. I have to tell you, my new favorite cleaner is Mold Armor. I saw it on TikTok when researching how to clean our washing machine liner and it worked just as billed. Then I sprayed it on some shower mold that I could not remove and it worked like a charm. If you have an AirBnB or just want to have a clean house, I highly recommend it.

💤 SPONSOR: Lumos

Conquer Jet Lag With Light Therapy
When traveling across time zones, jet lag can leave you feeling groggy and out of sync. Light therapy is a proven way to reset your internal clock, helping your body adjust to a new time zone faster. The Lumos Smart Sleep Mask takes this a step further by delivering controlled bursts of light pulses while you sleep, helping your body shift without disrupting your routine. It’s personalized to your travel schedule, offering a hassle-free, drug-free way to conquer jet lag and feel more energized on your trip. Read more about the Lumos Smart Sleep Mask and purchase here.

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 been 219 canceled flights to, from or within the United States and 3,845 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.

🧭 Travel Product of the Day

5-in-1 Pocket Power Strip

✈️ Monday

Southwest Airlines announces end to long-standing ‘bags fly free’ policy
One significant way Southwest Airlines (SWA) has consistently distinguished itself from competitors is by allowing bags to fly free. Passengers can check up to two bags weighing 50 pounds each at no charge. This has been their primary selling point, and they have created numerous commercials to promote it. Unfortunately, they will need to revise those ads, just as I will have to edit many of my articles that highlight Southwest’s generous baggage policy. Here's what you need to know.

👀 Tuesday

The fallout from Southwest Airlines’ (SWA) bombshell announcement continues to unfold.
I’ve received a ton of comments across social media and 99% of them are filled with anger and sadness. It seems Southwest's employees feel the same way, as you’ll see in this post: Customer Backlash Erupts After Southwest Airlines Announces Major Changes

💺Wednesday

What to Do If Someone Takes Your Seat on a Plane
The rules of flying seem pretty simple but somehow, we keep reading story after story about people who either don’t know the rules or just don’t care. A Delta Air Lines passenger recently shared a frustrating experience about a flight from Atlanta (ATL) to Tampa (TPA) when they found someone else sitting in their assigned seat. Here's what happened and what to do if it happens to you.

🚗 Thursday

Did You Know You Now Need a Permit to Drive in Italy? Here’s What Travelers Should Know
I don't usually drive when I'm in Europe (I download this app and use this service) but I know many people who do. So if you're planning a trip to Italy this summer and intend to rent a car, here's what you need to know. 

👊 Friday

United Airlines Passenger Knocks Out Gate Agent at Washington Dulles
Is it just me or does it seem like travelers have gotten bolder (and a bit more foolish) since the pandemic? I’ve shared numerous stories of passengers losing their cool or just acting out in ridiculous ways. However, the latest incident occurred yesterday at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), when a passenger walked up to a gate while the previous flight was still deplaning. When the gate agent tried to prevent him, the passenger landed a punch that knocked him out cold. Here’s the disturbing video.

🧳Saturday

5 Luggage Trackers That Aren't Apple AirTags (But Still Get the Job Done)
If you’ve ever spent hours at the airport wondering if your luggage decided to take a vacation of its own, then you know the value of a good luggage tracker. With summer travel heating up, a reliable tracker is just one of those must-haves that travelers shouldn’t leave home without. While Apple AirTags are the go-to choice for many, not everyone wants to shell out the cash or has an iPhone to make them work. The good news? There are plenty of solid alternatives out there. Check out these five AirTag alternatives.

📺 Travel Videos of the Week

American Airlines Passengers Flee Plane via Wing After Engine Fire Erupts

Southwest Flight Returns to Gate After Passenger Strips Naked

Surfer’s Stunning Dolphin Encounter Takes Social Media by Storm

🌎 Top 12 Travel Stories of the Week

1 Southwest airlines announces end to long-standing ‘bags fly free’ policy
2 American airlines passengers flee plane via wing after engine fire erupts
3 Trump administration sued for ending union bargaining for TSA officers
4 Amid escalating tariff threats, Sullivan says he will move to suspend law requiring cruise ships to stop in Canada on their way to Alaska
5 'Extremely hazardous': Alaska volcano could erupt within weeks or months
6 Singapore airlines joins growing list of carriers banning popular travel device
7 Spirit airlines targets more affluent travelers after emerging from bankruptcy
8 NOAA and national weather service job cuts raise concerns about forecasts
9 Trump to require some Canadian visitors to be fingerprinted
10 FAA extends ban on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince through Sept. 8
11 Airline CEOs warn domestic travel demand is slowing
12 Search launched for university of Pittsburgh student missing in Dominican Republic
Read it all here as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from this past week!

✅ Currency Exchange

✅ Calendar Countdown

✈️ More featured products

34% off Anker 5-in-1 hub
A hub like this is an essential when I travel. It streamlines my chargers and is an excellent travel companion. It's got a 4K HDMI port, USB-C and USB-A data ports and a 100W PD-IN port for pass-through charging. Regularly $34.99, it's currently 34% off for $22.99 for a limited time. Buy here.


$11.99: Phone mount for travel
Go hands-free the next time you're flying with this handy universal phone mount with 360 degree rotation. When you're not traveling, you can attach it to various surfaces around the house. The regular price is $13.99 but it's currently on sale for $11.99. Buy here.