Episode 152: Guaranteed Emptiness

Airport security lines. Tight seats. Slow inflight internet. These are the little frictions that can wreck an otherwise great trip, so we get practical about what’s changing right now and what it means for your next booking. We talk through the TSA “Gold Plus” program and why airports like Charleston, Des Moines, and Tampa are considering private contractors for security screening, including the cost, training, and the real-world question travelers care about most: will it actually feel better at the checkpoint?Then we get into airline comfort and connectivity. United is testing an Economy Plus option with a guaranteed empty middle seat, and we dig into why this could be a game changer on short-haul flights if the pricing makes sense. We also cover the fast-moving inflight Wi-Fi race, from Starlink expanding across more aircraft to Amazon’s LEO system entering the market, plus the surprising role of airline branding in choosing a provider.From there, we pivot into trip inspiration you can actually use. Globus is expanding beyond Europe with new guided tours in Chile and Northern Patagonia, Peru and Ecuador with Machu Picchu and the Galapagos, and Southern Australia with Tasmania. We also spotlight Hawaii with a unique Big Island stop near Kona: the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, a cool, misty escape just minutes from the airport, plus a limited-time Hawaii hotel package savings offer.We wrap with cruise news and a money-focused listener question: is Princess Plus worth it compared to standard fares or Princess Premier? We break down what’s included, what typically pays for itself, and share current Princess cruise deals. Subscribe for more travel news, share this with a friend who’s planning a trip, and leave us a review with the one upgrade you’ll always pay for.This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair!  Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready.Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta.Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com.Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the showThank you for taking the time to listen to the show.  There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show.The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next.  Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally.  You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count.  Make memories with those that matter most to you.TAKE ACTION:  Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it.  If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you.  Please call, text, or email me.  Here's my contact information:Patrick WiscombeCell/Text:  (801) 874-7717Email:  [email protected] Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast):  https://www.thevacationnerd.co/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerdFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombeInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombeThreads:  https://www.threads.com/@pa...