Tom welcomes consumer advocate and longtime journalist Herb Weisbaum to discuss the surprisingly expensive and increasingly chaotic summer travel season. Herb explains why airfare and travel costs remain elevated, why airline prices may not fall even if fuel costs eventually decline, and how travelers can save money through flexibility, airline perks, and smart planning. The conversation also explores travel insurance, airline schedule cuts, baggage fees, vacation-rental scams, fake airline customer-service numbers, and the importance of using credit cards rather than debit cards for travel purchases. The episode is packed with practical consumer-protection advice for anyone traveling this summer.

0:05 Introduction to consumer advocate Herb Weisbaum and the challenges facing travelers this summer.
0:55 Airfare surge: domestic fares up roughly 18% year over year and international fares up about 8%.
1:23 Why airline ticket prices may stay high even if fuel costs eventually decline.
2:38 Airline executives signal that fare increases could become permanent if demand remains strong.
3:10 Strong travel demand despite higher prices and the impact of reduced low-cost competition.
3:42 Concerns about consumers financing vacations with credit cards and buy-now-pay-later programs.
4:36 Strategies travelers can use to reduce costs despite rising fares.
4:58 Rising checked baggage fees and how airline credit cards or elite status can help avoid them.
5:42 The value of flexible travel dates and considering less-crowded destinations.
6:30 Why booking trips sooner rather than later may be advantageous.
7:04 Travel insurance considerations, including “cancel for any reason” coverage.
7:39 Basic travel insurance limitations and war-related exclusions.
8:03 Airlines reducing schedules and eliminating routes because of fuel and operational pressures.
8:42 International carriers cutting thousands of flights and what it means for travelers.
9:24 Why this may be the most unpredictable travel season since the pandemic.
10:02 Practical advice for travelers facing uncertainty and disruptions.
10:18 The importance of airline apps for rebooking and managing travel disruptions.
10:42 Growing scams involving fake airline customer-service phone numbers appearing in search results.
11:46 A simple clue that a customer-service number may actually be a scammer.
12:19 Credit cards versus debit cards for travel purchases and fraud protection.
13:57 Why wire transfers, cryptocurrency payments, and peer-to-peer apps create major consumer risks.
14:58 Vacation rental scams involving major booking platforms.
16:25 A real-world family reunion rental scam and the challenges of obtaining refunds.
18:03 Differences between how major vacation-rental platforms handle payments and disputes.
18:59 World Cup travel, ticket scams, and avoiding fraudulent offers.
20:50 Why major events create ideal conditions for scammers.
21:46 Herb shares where listeners can find his articles, podcast, and consumer resources.

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