Open: Get this! Some airlines might owe You money, The IRS acknowledges the high cost of gas, Airline mile accounts are now beginning to expire and Paris is calling but Americans are not answering.
1. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are now paying passengers through a class action settlement for fines levied over their collaboration on price fixing Fuel Surcharges. Any passengers that flew with these carriers over the Atlantic or on BA Long Haul flights between August of 2004 and March of 2006 should check out this web site: www.airpassengerrefund.com Rebate may range fron $12 to $25 but apply now because any thing left of the $210 Million dollar settlement after a certain date goes to charity.
2. If you mix a family driving vacation with a DEDUCTIBLE business trip the IRS is upping the per mile allowance to $.58.5 cents for the rest of the year. That is $.08 more per mile above the first part of 2008.
3. Many of the airlines put EXPIRATION time limits on their frequent flier mileage accounts two years ago. Check on your accounts especially those that have not had any activity for a long time. You may be about to lose your miles. You can get them reinstated with some carriers for a fee but it is not CHEAP! A recent example, to reinstate 39,526 mile on United cost $1.25 cents per mile or ($9.50 per thousand) and a service charge of $25.
4. If you plan on going to Paris this Summer you will be welcomed with open arms. Americans make up the majority of visitors to The City Of Light each year but numbers are way down this year. The count was off 5.5% in 2007 but the drop so far in 2008 is %14. The sky high Euro and the unpopular involvement of the U. S. in Iraq has scared many people off but Paris is patient and they know we will return when the economy improves a little.
First Guest: Universal Studios Hollywod one of America's great theme parks suffered a devastating fire a few weeks ago but just like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland they have rallied to continue putting on the show. Mr. Elliot Sekular V. P. of Publicity joins us to thal about the aftermath of the fire and to tell us about how the park is OPEN and ready fr you to visit. The Simpsons of TV fame are now in residence so the adventure is about to get whacky and funnier. Their web site is www.UniversalStudios.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from St. Louis this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KMOX in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
Third Guest: MGM Grand in Las Vegas is one of the premier properties on the strip. No one would argue that it is big crowded and sometimes NOISY inside. There is a new part to MGM that is serene more private and a fine Non-Smoking hotel IN a hotel to boot Mr. Fredrick DeLesoto joins us to give the details. Find out about SIGNATURE at MGM here: http://www.signaturemgmgrand.com/?CMP=KNC-Google-Signature_Corp
The Louie List: Check your document requirements before the trip starts!
KMOX - June 28th.
OPEN: Continental and United announce a Non-Merger Merger, The $15 dollar baggage fee (Not Really), Americans don't take a lot of their vacation days which could be BAD for your health and Fuel Surcharges don't just apply to airfares anymore!
1. Continental and United announce a new level of Co-Operation! This means that they will sell each-others tickets, co-operate on schedules and just NOT Compete with eachother without breaking the law. This is going to be a big problem for the other airlines in any market served by both carriers because it means they are now up against a much larger group of seats to compete with. This may not bring many advantages to flying public but if it can help keep these two big carriers from going bankrupt it is probably a Good Thing!
2. That $15 first checked baggage fee announced by American is not usually a $15 fee because very few of us don't bring the bag back with us so the ral expense is $30 per trip.
3. Americans typically lose 3 to 4 vacation days a year by just nt taking them. It turns out that this can be bad for your health!. An ongoing study called the Framington Heart Study finds that women that take a vacation fewer than every six years are eight times more likeky to have a heart attack than women who take a vacation twice a year.
4. We are all sick of airline fuel surcharges but now the Cat Is Out Of The Bag! It seems that the town of Holly Springs Ga. has instituted a $12 fuel surcharge on all speeding tickets. This Atlanta suburb says that this is a self-tax because if you don't speed you don't pay. The Chief of Police says that he has had dozens of calls from around the country from other cities looking for ways to help pay for $4.00 a gal. gas for their police cars.
First Guest: The Alaska Railroad may be run by the State of Alaska and carries more freight than passengers but it offers multiple adventure possibilities for Alaska tourists. From their luxury vista-dome service between Anchorage and Fairbanks to The Hurricane Turn which is the only "Flagstop" rail service left in America This railroad is the key to the best scenry of inland Alaska. Summer is their high season but they have lots of service and many different fare levels that help students and seniors with great values. Mr. Tim Thomas The Director of External Affairs joins us to give the details. Their web site is www.AlaskaRailroad.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from Phoenix this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
Third Guest: A passenger bill of rights for American air travelers has been discussed for years but the airlines have vigoriously fought the implementation of any rules that would keep them from having total control over the passengers they carry. Kate Hanni Executive Director Of The Coalition for A Passengers Bill Of Rights joins us to tell us what is going on with this law. Their web site is www.flyersrights.com On the site you can sign a petition to help the cause and find out all the other things they can do to help you if you get caught up in an airline passenger attrocity!
The Louie List: Summer is the time of the Great Thunderstorm Delays which greatly reduces the chance your coming flight will be on time! So how do you help yourself?
1. If you are delayed at the gate, check the schedule to see what the next flight is on your airline and call in to try to get a seat on that plane. You don't have to tell them that you are on the delayed flight and if you can get a seat when your flight is delayed further or cancelled you will be one of the few passengers that will GET a seat on the next flight.
2. If you are inflight and are diverted or delayed to the point you will miss a connecting flight using your own cell phone is not allowed but you can use the credit card phone in the seat back. At $3.00 a minute you don't want to do a flight search or be on hold for 20 minutes so arrange in advance with a friend or family member to take your plane-call and do the search calls for you. When you do land and can use your cell phone call them and get the details of what they found.
3. Delays or reroutes are particularly bad for Un-Accompanied Children. These are some steps you can take to help insure a stress free trip for the kids and the parents on both ends. Always send them on the first flight of the day! Preferably NON-STOP. That way if there is a delay they will have the whole day for the airline to get them there. Buy them a Trac-Phone at Wal-Mart or K-Mart if they don't already have a cell phone. Even a six year old can use a cell phone which will allow them to contact you if they have a problem. The $20 to $30 for this disposable cell phone is a small price to pay for the peace of mind the phone can deliver for them to call you or you to call them.
KMOX - June 22nd.
Open: Why don't the airlines just raise the fare instead of Nickel and Diming us with new fees? Feel Stressed? You should compared to most of the world U. S. Citizens are WORKAHOLICS!!!
1. We all know the airlines need more money for fuel so why don't they just raise the fares? The airlines rushed to the Internet more than a decade ago partly to get away from paying Travel Agent a commission by selling direct to business and vacation travelers. Eventually they succeeded in selling a majority of their tickets on-line but as the volume grew it became obvious that the fare search portion of sites selling air tickets were not under the control of the airlines. Since the display of your flight in the rankings offered can drop by pages if your rate is $5 to $10 higher than your competitors. The displays are ranked in ascending order of BASE FARES. So unless all the airlines agree on the same price in advance (Price Fixing) which is illegal, the airlines MUST get more money from the passengers by any means they can. So fees for Checked Bags, Meals, Window Seats or On-Board Pets.have become very common. The NEXT BIG FEE? Weighing passengers may not be far off. It exists and WORKS in the tourist heli-copter industry and the major airlines are looking at it!
2. If you feel stressed and overworked, compared to much of the rest of the Western World the length opf American Vacations is pitiful in this survey hosted by EXPEDIA : http://media.expedia.com/media/content/expus/graphics/promos/vacations/expedia_international_vacation_deprivation_survey_2008.pdf
First Guest: Jose Catalin of 5th. Avenue Travel Joins Michael to talk about the upcomming New Years Trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. See the details at:
New Years in Cambodia:This New Years will be a spectacular adventure beginning on Dec. 28th. Michael and Gaile Dixon will Co-Host this tour to some of Southeast Asia's most famous cities and cultural attractions including Vietnam, Singapore and Ankor Wat. Details at: http://seasidejourneys.com/cruises-tours.htm
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from Phoenix this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
Third Guest: The Rockies are always a COOL Summer destination for a weekend or as week or more of camping. One of Colorado's most famous towns is Telluride in the San Juan Mountains. Ms. Sandy Chio Director of Public Relations for The Telluride Visitors Bureau joins us to review the festivals of the Summer including the Famous Film Festival. Their web site is www.VisitTelluride.com
THE LOUIE LIST: As The Boy Scouts say BE PREPARED!
1. For Sunburn check out these sites and don't forget your HAT:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sunburn-treatment/AN01423
http://www.magellans.com/store/Health___Personal_Care___Sun_Protection?Args=&page_number=1
2. For Bug Bites SEE These:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/insect_bite.html
www.biteremedy.com/
3. Diarreah, Sprains and Snake Bites:
www.medications.com/effect/tag/diarreah
www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-sprain/FA00016
www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/995_snakes.html
KMOX - June 15th.
OPEN: Announced capacity cuts by major carriers will change the airline industry for passengers this year, RyanAir (The SouthWest) of europe announces a sale for FREE and Alaska Airlines says that bringing the Antlers home will cost you more.
1. Capacity cut announcements by major U. S. Carriers indicate that by the end of 2008 the number of seats available to travelers could be down by more than 10%. These reductions come from the removal of the less fuel efficient aircraft and the elimination of unprofitable routes including many to smaller cities using commuter type jets. This reduuction in capacity will help to support the higher airfares that are inevitable with climbing fuel prices.
2. On the other side of the Atlantic RyanAir announced their fall giveaway with TWO MILLION free seats up for grabs on their web-site. They do this twice a year to introduce new routes and to boost sales of their Travel Insurance, Hotel Bookings, Tour Products and Car Rentals. If you are going to europe and will be flying from city to city be sure to check-out RyanAir and on their web-site they have excellent City-Guides OnLine for FREE. I looked at the one for Amsterdam and it was very impressive.
3. New airline fees surprise us every week but one of the most interesting lately is the announcement by Frontier that they are increasing the charge for checking Antlers from $75.00 to $100.00 apparently this is an issue during hunting season in the Rockies when the Antler load becomes quite heavy. Also from now on NO PETS in the cabin so you can't put the Antlers on your pet rabbit and call it a Jackalope!
Trips With Michael:
Cruising The Med with Michael: Michael will be hosting a spectacular one week Med. cruise this Fall departing Oct. 4th.. Get more details at www.HagersJourneys.com
New Years in Cambodia:This New Years will be a spectacular adventure beginning on Dec. 28th. Michael and Gaile Dixon will Co-Host this tour to some of Southeast Asia's most famous cities and cultural attractions including Vietnam, Singapore and Ankor Wat. Details at: http://seasidejourneys.com/cruises-tours.htm
First Guest: Travel to Mexico for many people is haunted by a concern about what will I do if something happens, will I be able to get good medical care for my family or myself. A company called Med-To-Go has written multiple guides to health care in Mexico. They have met with all the doctors listed in the book and visited all of the clinics and hospitals. If you are going to Mexico this information is priceless and the other products offered on their site www.MedToGo.com are incredible. The small USB drive that can hold all of your medical records including a translation program for the major languages of the world is a must if you travel often. These doctors are EXPERTS in Mexico medical services so they will also advise you on surgery options to have a proceedure done in Mexico that might cost you a great deal more here in the U.S. Dr. Curtis Page joins us to tell us about all they have to offer.
Second Guest: If you have ever owned a vacation condo or thought of buying one the people at Residential Cruise Line have the ultimate in Vacation Cabins to show you. Those cabins are on The Magellan Cruise Ship which they are now selling to the public and will be launching in 2010. There have been other passenger ownership cruise lines launched but this is the first to offer Fractional Ownership of cabins. Mr. Chad Ackerly V. P. Sales joins us to explain what they have to offer and what the ship will look like and offer in amenities. the web site is www.residentialCruiseLine.com
The Louie List: Getting the right airfare for your trip now more than ever requires FLEXIBILITY!
1. On any given route these days you will find a base fare offered between the cities but you will also see that the fare for the popular flights is higher sometimes MUCH higher than the base rate. This is DEMAND PRICING and it is one of the ways the airlines are generating more money without raising the base fare which would hurt their ranking on more search web sites.
2. So be flexible if you can to find the flight that will work for you that still offers the base fare or something close to it. Use KAYAK.com to search out what carriers to look for if you are not familiar with the route. Then go to the carrier web sites to see the lowest fares.
3. If you haven't looked at the charges for using your Frequent Flier Miles for a FREE TICKET you may be surprised at the fees. If you wait too late to book the fees could be $75 to $100 or more. The tickets aren't free any more but the miles still have value if you plan the trip in advance.
KMOX-June 8th.
OPEN: Another airline bites the dust, With $8.90 a gallon petrol in England they think our complaints at $4.00 a gallon are wimpy. One UK government minister says that he thinks all of their citizens should be issued Carbon Footprint ration cards, and KLM test a new Algae generated Bio-Kerosene in their turbo-prop aircraft.
1. Silverjet the last of the independent all bussiness class carriers flying the London New York route ceased operation this week saying that they jusy ran out of money. No new investors could be found in time so all flights were cancelled.
2. With petrol in the U.K. topping the equlivant of $8.90 a gallon the Brits and the rest of Europe wonder what the Yanks are squealing about when our gas hits $4.00 a gallon. They would love to see that price level which they passed several years ago.
3. A British Government minister suggested this week that all citizens should be issued Carbon Footprint ration cards to track and control the carbon immissions and use of fuel in Britian. Europeans are really going GREEN and the airlines and auto manufacturing companies are really getting scared.
4 In keeping with the GREEN theme KLM Dutch airlines will test a Bio-Kerosene this week in some of their Turo-prop short haul flights. This fuel is processed from waste bi-products of a special Algae that feeds on agriculture waste. More at www.enn.com/pollution/article/37312
Trips With Michael:
Cruising The Med with Michael: Michael will be hosting a spectacular one week Med. cruise this Fall departing Oct. 4th.. Get more details at www.HagersJourneys.com
New Years in Cambodia:This New Years will be a spectacular adventure beginning on Dec. 28th. Michael and Gaile Dixon will Co-Host this tour to some of Southeast Asia's most famous cities and cultural attractions including Vietnam, Singapore and Ankor Wat. Details at: http://seasidejourneys.com/cruises-tours.htm
First Guest: There are many vendors in the market that can sell you a tour, What is the advantage of buyng your vacation from the tour operation of a major airline. Mr. Chris Ames Senior Manager of U. S. Air Vacations gives us the rundown on what they have to offer you. Their web site is www.usairwaysvacations.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from Phoenix this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
Third Guest: The mystery and granduer of Antartica has been inaccessible to most of us interested in seeing the last continent. There is now a VERY EXCLUSIVE tour company that can take you to visit the Great Emperor Penguin Colony and many of the other unique vistas of THE WHITE DESERT. Mr Patrick Woodhead founder of White-Desert Tours tells about the trips they have to offer a very few adventurers this year. The website is www.white-desert.com
The Louie List: Airport Security is a fact of travel so do your part to be prepared to move the line and yourself with as little ruffling as possible:
1. Your shoes have to come off so wear something that you can get off and on easily, leave the knee high lace-up boot in your suitcase. Wear socks or stockings of some kind unless you want to pick-up some incredible fungus off a carpet or floor that several thousand people have walked bare-foot on before you!
2. Leave your belt in your suitcase as well. If you forget to take it off the buckle will trip the metal detector and YOU ARE OUT OF LINE! Have a plastic bag ready with your carry-on to put your watch, cellphone, pens loose change and any other metal item in so that it goes through x-ray then you can re-assemble yourself on the other side.
3. For your carry on remember the 3-1-1 rule of no liquids over three oz., they all must fit in a one quart zip lock bag and one bag per passenger. If you have a laptop or video camera expect to have them swabbed for the Nitrogen scanner so have them out and in their own bin. If you are ready you will help MOVE THE LINE and YOURSELF as quickly as possible.
KMOX-June 1st.
OPEN: A congressional study quantifies in dollars the cost of the delayed flights in the airlne industry for 2007, Royal Caribbean has a contest to name their two new Mega-Ships.
1. As other airlines announce more and more fees and price increases Southwest Airlines announced that checked bags will still be included in their ticket prices. Not just one but two bags per passeners. So many airlines are desperate for revenue that anything goes in getting into your wallet.Southwest has Hedged or Pre-Bought 70% of their fuel for the year at about the $51 per barrel compared to the $130 per barrel that other airlines are paying. Southwest truly operates in a different world that other airlines.
2. A Congressional study released last week estimates that the delayed flights had a cumulative cost to the nation of more than $41 Billion. With delays continuing to grow an the inability of the Congress to act on the approval for the new Air Traffic System so badly needed to help the carriers keep their flights on-time and out of wretched terminal and runway congestion problems.The estimate is divided by which area of the economy was affected and by how much. The airlines themselves cost about $19.3 Billion which disasterous for an industry that had a collective profit of only $3.8 Billion. Passengers lost the equilivant of $12 Billion as a result of lost time. Over 740 million gallons of fuel was wasted which was 5% of their total consumption.
3. Royal Caribbean Cruise LInes announced the winner in their Name The Ships contest.The two names for the new Mega Liners due to be launched in 2009 and 2010 will be Oasis Of The Seas and The Allure Of The Seas. These vessels will cost more than a Billion Dollars apiece and will carry 5,400 passengers and will feature huge open atriums called "Central Park". The cruise industry continues to have record year after record year and with each of these ships hosting a quarter of a million guest per year the industry will continue to grow in spite of the increase in fuel.
First Guest:The world of Disney has developed another spectacular method of educating while entertaining families. The locale is very different than a theme park or even a cruise ship. This time The World is the stage. Through Adventures by Disney you can tour the world while being guided by two special Disney tour directors with deep background on the destination whether it is Italy, The Lourve Museum in Paris or The Great American West. Mr. Ed Baklor, Sen. V. P. of Adventures by Disney joins us to give the details of this new program with eighteen tours now beginning its third year. Find out more at www.AdventuresbyDisney.com
Trips With Michael:
Cruising The Med with Michael: Michael will be hosting a spectacular one week Med. cruise this Fall departing Oct. 4th.. Get more details at www.HagersJourneys.com
New Years in Cambodia:This New Years will be a spectacular adventure beginning on Dec. 28th. Michael and Gaile Dixon will Co-Host this tour to some of Southeast Asia's most famous cities and cultural attractions including Vietnam, Singapore and Ankor Wat. Details at: http://seasidejourneys.com/cruises-tours.htm
First Guest:: The Olympics in Beijing this Summer will bring hundreds of thousands of new Visitior/Tourists to China. Mr. Daniel Kwoh President of Let's Travel China one of the Tour Operators offering tours to China not only for The Olympics but all around the country during pre and post trips. Mr. Kwoh's company has Olympic Event Tickets that they will provide for the passengers on their tours. For specific events that may be difficult to acquire their company has brokers in China that may be able to get most anything. More information on their web site www.LetsTravelChina.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from Phoenix this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
Third Guest: Summer is high season at all of America's Amusement Parks. One of the experts in the field (Or Parks That Is) Mr.Tim Obrien joins us to talk about his favorites and one of his latest books - Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Amusement Park Oddities & Trivia His web site is www.casaflamingo.com
KMOX - May 25th
OPEN: The annual University of Michigan Customer Satisfaction Survey puts the airlines in their place, Bio-Fuels for Jetliners!, and American Airlines lightens a plane in a strange way.
1.The University of Michigan released their annual survey of customer satisfaction and the airlines scored their lowest ranking since 2001. U. S. Air was lowest at 54 points followed by United just above them at 56. These two carriiers are talking of merging I wonder what the chaos of the combination would mean for their placement next year? Learn more at:
www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.airlines20may20,0,4696829.story
2. The world fuel crunch has the industry not only looking for economy but also Clean, Green sources of fuel for their planes. A joint venture of Honeywell Aerospace, JetBlue Airways, and AirBus Industries of Europe have begun investigation into growing fuels from algae and a plant called jatropha. Learn more at :
www.smartbrief.com/news/bio/storyDetails.jsp?issueid=D9CCEA14-B155-4315-AC82-D38C39C9029B©id=249A5771-F532-499C-905B-973F5DB88E33&sid=9a375f81-708d-44e5-a5f7-ca5c11478ab7&brief=bio
3. American Airlines had an unusual experience on a recent flight to Paris. The plane was much lighter when it arrived and fuel burn was not the only weight it lost!!!
www.gadling.com/2008/05/08/american-airlines-flight-loses-panel-during-takeoff-continues-t/
JOIN Michael for New Years in Cambodia:This New Years will be a spectacular adventure beginning on Dec. 28th. Michael and Gaile Dixon will Co-Host this tour to someof Southeast Asia's most famous cities and cultural attractions including Vietnam, Singapore and Ankor Wat. Details at: http://seasidejourneys.com/cruises-tours.htm
First Guest: Educational travel for students has been around for many years but The National Educational Travel Council take these experiences to a new level. Mr. Desmond McGuire President of NETC joins us to talk about these trips and one of their featured sites just outside Rome, a full fledged Gladiator School where the students learn the basics of the arena. More at: www.educationaltravel.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from St. Louis this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KMOX in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
Third Guest: If you are going to the San Francisco Bay area you now have an opportunity to explore one of the bay island State Parks in a new way. The Angle Island park has been open to bicycle and walking trail tours for many years. Now segway vechicles are available to give those less physically fit a chance to navigate the whole island. Ms. Hollie Potts-Gray Dirctor of Sales and Marketing joins us to explan the details and the scenic offering of one of San Francisco's most beautiful places.The web site is: www.angelisland.com
The Louie List: Gas for your Summer Road trip may be way up but it is still only a part of the overall expense so keep it in perspective.
1. To get a real handle on what your trip costs will be go to the AAA site www.FuelCostCalculator.com on this site you will not only see the current regional cost of gasoline but you can calculate trip costs based on the exact vechicle you will drive.
2. Be sure to keep your tire pressure at the correct setting for the trip and for everyday driving. The National Safety council says that nothing on the American Roadways costs Americans more gas mileage than under-inflated tires, and nothing risks road safety more than poor tire maintenance.
3. If keeping the kids occupied in the back seat is one of your challenges, the new video DVD player units are useful but if you would rather make the experience more educational the Rand McNally company just released a series of books for on the road play. My favorite is "Are We There Yet?" priced at $3.95 and worth every penny.
KMOX - May 17th.
OPEN: The cruise lines limit infant access to cruises, a major airline merger may have new leadership and congress DOES NOT DO IT RIGHT AGAIN!!!
1. Royal Caribbean is joining other major cruise lines in restricting infants to six months of age or older for Caribbean cruises later this year. For international trips it will be one year of age. This decission by RCCL and other lines has been brought on by incidents with infants that have become ill on-board and have required extraordinary measures to save the childrens lives. The medical facilities on-board are not equipped for pediactric issues so the best thing is to not allow the chance of a problem to come up during a cruise.
2. The on going discussions involving the pending merger of United and U. S. Airways may have some new management players taking the lead. It seems that the President of U. S. Air Mr. Doug Parker and his team may be chosen to lead the combined entity rather than Mr. Tilton and the people currently running United. Mr. Parker is looked upon very favorably by Wall Street which is not the case with the current United leadership.
3. Congress has done it again the FAA restructuring bill which would include the beginning work on the new satellite GPS directed flight control system is dead. This long awaited new system which could eventually cost a trillion dollars will not even see the light of day this session because of Party Politics. Additions to the bill that have nothing to do with aviation brought the battle to a close and it has now been shelved until next year if not further. We the public are once again the victims because the new system would help cure the wretched congestion that costs the airlines and us so much time and money.
First Guest:The world of Disney has developed another spectacular method of educating while entertaining families. The locale is very different than a theme park or even a cruise ship. This time The World is the stage. Through Adventures by Disney you can tour the world while being guided by two special Disney tour directors with deep background on the destination whether it is Italy, The Lourve Museum in Paris or The Great American West. Mr. Ed Baklor, Sen. V. P. of Adventures by Disney joins us to give the details of this new program with eighteen tours now beginning its third year. Find out more at www.AdventuresbyDisney.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from St. Louis this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KMOX in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
Third Guest: The new Sex In The City film opened in London this week to rave reviews. When it comes to New York later this month it will add renewed interest in the famous day tour of the same name. Georgette Blau founder of The Sex In The City Tours and founder of On Location Tours tells us about some of the new locations the film will bring to the itinerary and other details. Get more information at www.onlocationtours.com
The Louie List- Airline Food or The Lack Thereof.
1. Domestic flights first, these days if you just resign yourself to the fact that the airlines are not going to feed you anything (in coach) you won't be disappointed. If there is any food offered it will usually be in a little box for sales. Many times the supply will run out before they get to your seat so be prepared in advance. Buy something from the many resturant of food stands in the concourse. Yes it will be expensive but at least you will get to chose something you like. If you are traveling with children YOU MUST bring your own snacks for them to have when they WANT THEM. Buy your own water (Probably $4.00 or more) but once again you own it so you have it!
2. Cookies, crackers or cut fruit will usually pass through security but sandwiches or any other messy creation can be a problem. Anything with gels liquids or creams will be of concern and is probably not a good idea.
3. On international flights where food will be served you might look into ordering a special request meal. There have always been Kosher Meals but many carriers now have other selections that are frequently better than the standard fare.
KMOX - May10th.
OPEN: Pasengers on Alaska Cruises with port call at Juneau will get to see an "Energy Crisis" up close and personal. The airlines have a new way to save on fuel but it could cause you to miss your connecting flight!
1. The City of Juneau Alaska is on a crash course to learn conservation of electricty. Last month a massive avalanche tore down a mile and a half of the power lines coming from the hydro-electric dam serving this city. Repairs are estimated to take all Summer. In the mean-time the diesel generate power rates have jumped from 11cents a kilowatt hour to 50cents obviously an increase of almost five times. So if you walk into one of the dozens of jewelry stores that line any dock in Alaska and the lights are out you are seeing REAL conservation in action.
2. The airlines are trying a new way to conserve fuel to reduce their rapidly escalating costs. By slowing their planes down even TEN miles per hour the companies hope to save hundreds of dollars per flight without disrupting their schedules. Northwest began slowing their Detroit - Paris flights by eight minutes wihch they say saves about $600 each way. by adding four minutes to their West Coast to Hawaii flights NorthWest believes thay can save $600,000 per year. NOTE: something that the airlines will probably do more offten is LEAVE THE GATE EARLY!. If they have everyone on the manifest checked in they wil close the door and taxi-out. So pay attention to manditory check-in times and don't be late.
First Guest: Jose Catalan and Laurie Cline of Navigant Luxury Vacations are in-studio to preview a spectacular New Years trip to Ankor Wat in Laos and the major cities of Vietnam. This trip will be escorted by Michael Dixon and his wife Gaile. This is Michael's 24th. annual New Years trip around the world so don't do the same old boring New Years party at a local hotel or restaurant, join Michael on this adventure of a lifetime. Details at www.SeasideJournies.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of BestFares.com joins us to talk about the fare deals and vacation specials beinging offered from St. Louis this week. Go to www.BestFares.com and enter KMOX in the search box to see all the deals Tom talks about today.
SPECIAL WITH TOM TODAY : Tom gives us a tour of the new features of his great web site www.BestFares.com
The Louie List: Personal Travel Security: If you or a family member are taking an international trip these are a few tips that may save you a lot of grief.
1. Never, Never take your passport out of your hotel during your visits or tours around the city! Make several Photo-Copies to carry with you and put in your luggage. Anyone that REALLY needs to see the actual document (Police Etc.) will go back to your hotel with you. At the hotel DO use the safe provided at the front desk for your valuables that you don't need to take with you.
2. Look into a Safety Wallet that you wear inside your clothes, they are available from www.Magellans.com on-line or many other sources.These will help protect you from pick-pockets who are everywhere but especially vigorous in Rome near the Coliseum and some parts of Paris. See Rick Steves great Travel web site for information on how to protect yourself. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/theft.htm
3. Don't carry large sums of cash in your pockets and separating cash into several pockets will also limit your losses if you are robbed. One way to avoid having large sums of cash is to use ATM machines for your supply of currency. They give you the best Bank Rate on currency exchange (Your bank may add a service charge) but you can get money each day so that you don't need large sums. Using Debit cards anywhere except ATMs is not wise since they don't have the same protection as Credit Cards.
4. Last but not least, think about getting Travel Insurance. It can be very inexpensive for basic coverage and it can be a real LIFE-SAVER.
KMOX - May 3rd.
OPEN: Airline mergers remain in the news. The Passengers Bill Of Rights gets twisted and trashed again and Overbooking compensation finally gets raised.
1. After the announcement of the Delta/Northwest merger the rest of the industry went into fast gear in looking for potential partners. No one wants to be the Small Kid on the block that gets pushed around and can't compete. Although not finalized United acknowledged this week that they are in talks to have US Airways merge with them to help keep them both competitive. Although US Air stock went up 20% the next day industry analysts could not help but point out that not only has United had major losses since coming out of bankruptcy last year but US Air is still trying to put it's labor house together regarding bitter labor disputes between unions involved with America West and US Air. The two pilot unions involved have had actual fist fights during meetings and they both are angry with the company management. Now merging these players without a current contract with a new third part will get VERY VERY complex. United has major operating problems due to size and multiple types of aircraft so they don't have much to make US Air customers think POSITIVE thoughts about what may come to pay!!!
2. The five to seven hour STRANDINGS of passengers in airplanes on taxi-ways or the ramp have led to many discussions of a Passenger Bill Of Rights that would keep passenger delays in the aircraft seat to Three hours or less.Since the airlines have fewer employees than ever to offer ANY CUSTOMER SERVICE the chance that they have extra lavatory trucks and operators, gate agents or money to spend on catered snacks is wishful thinking. So the solution the carriers have come up with to avoid holding people so long in grounded planes is to CANCEL the flights alltogether. In Jan. and Feb. cancellations were 37% higher than in 2007. The airlines are watching the weather and if things look dicey they may not even try anymore they just cancel in advance and send the aircraft on to a clear city for the next segment. So if your flight is cancelled anytime soon at least you weren't stranded in your seat for hours but you MAY be stranded in the Terminal overnight!
3. If you are overbooked and denied boarding on a US carrier beginning May 19th. the required compensation for denied boarding has been doubled to $400 for a two hour delay and $800 for a delay of four hours or more. This is the first raise in two decades and still does not equal what it should be when indexed for inflation but at least the penalty does apply now to aircraft over 30 seats which is a great move compared to the previous 60 seat limit. since so many denied passengers are on commuter flights this brings some justice to a group of passengers that were frequently abused by commuter lines before. More at: www.registeredtraveler.blogspot.com
First Guest: If you are planning a European Vacation something you may not have considered is a private car service to take you around an unfamiliar city or for a trip to the countryside where you may need translation and the help of an experienced guide. This type of service is not inexpensive but if you are traveling with your family or another couple the Per-Person rate is reasonable considering the level of service provided. The flexibility and personal attention can transform a sidetrip into an unforgetable cultural experience. Mr. Imad Kahlide President of AUTO EUROPE joins us to talk about this type of service and other items you should know about for europe this Summer. If you are going to Europe this year you should go to this site. www.autoeurope.com
Second Guest: Tom Parsons of www.BestFares.com gives us the run down on the latest airfare deals from St. Louis. On the web site fill in KMOX in the Story Search box at the top and all the details Tom talks about will be displayed.
Third Guest: Hawaii is one of America's favorite vacation destinations and since several airlines have ceased operations due to bankruptcy getting seats at a reasonable price is more difficult. One of the best values to Hawaii is a packaged vacation which may include air tickets and one of the best companies offering these trips is Pleasant Holidays. Mr. Bruce Rosenberg V. P. of Sales and Marketing tells us about what they can do for you. Their web site is: www.PleasantHolidays.com
The Louie List: How to get the best airfare in trying times!
1. If you need to find an airfare especially between two cities you may not be familiar with the internet now offers some POWERFUL search capabilities. Two web site www.Kayak.com and www.SideStep.com give you a way to search hundreds of sources at once and see the results by cost ranking. This also tells you which carriers fly either direct or by connecting to get to your planned destination.
2. After you know the carrier or carriers you probably want to use be sure to check the web sites of those airlines direct because sometimes that is the only way to see their lowest fares.
3. If you are making a last minute trip the air fares you find may seem OUT OF SIGHT! The only thing left then may be Priceline.com The Bid Site touted by Mr. Shatner. If you enter your guidelines for departure and inflight times and make a bid of about thirty % below the retail prices you have seen. 30% is the average acceptance rate on bids but you could try lower but the site rules may make you space your bids so read the rules.
