Back in the San Francisco Marriott after my Swedish vacation, we play an ode to SkyMall magazine, talk about the amazing number of lines in Heathrow airport that were between us and the start of our vacation, and how with all these new boarding schemes, airlines are paying attention to the wrong things. Here’s a…

Enjoying a couple of weeks at home, in this episode we talk about the load level records being set by US airlines and its effects on travel courtesy. Also, the challenge of finding the one thing you “gotta do” when you visit a new place. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Recorded in the Courtyard Copley Square in Boston, this special edition pulls the best of the first year of TravelCommons. Starting with the “bathroom medley” — the roll call of all the hotel bathrooms that have served as TravelCommons’ recording studios, we move on to excerpts from stories on topics such as the TSA, unusual…

Once again coming to you from the West Coast, this time the Newport Beach, CA Marriott. After a week off the road, I’m bouncing again between San Francisco and Orange County. Listener feedback from a hotel chain accountant on the hotel add-on charges and from an ex-Northwest Airlines loyalist. We have a travel story about…

Recorded in the San Mateo, CA Marriott, we work through a bunch of listener feedback and follow-up items, talk about what seems to be a general increase in the crankiness of frequent travelers — for good cause or the whining of spoiled brats? — and stumbling across what seemed to be the spontaneous break-out of…

Recorded in the Orlando Downtown Marriott, I talk about a real rarity — a plane full of happy people. Also, the results of a recent study confirm that hotels are increasing their use of add-on fees and surcharges, and listener feedback about the timeliness of long-haul vs. commuter flights. Here’s a direct link to the…