The Bag Tag

🎅🏽 The Land of Christmas…Literally (01:33)We start the show chatting holiday movies! While we could really go on forever about holiday movies, we really just wanted to tell you about where they’re filmed. Because, turns out, they’re almost all filmed in the same location.📍 The North Pole’s Bag Tag Code (07:35)Today’s seat pocket is about a bag tag. Not just any bag tag, but the bag tag code we would pick for the North Pole, if the North Pole had an airport. Let us know which one’s your favorite in the poll!🎄 Europe’s Christmas Market Arms Race (11:18)This ain’t a scene, it’s a Christmas Market Arms Race! More specifically, the arms race to become the Capital of Christmas from Europe’s traditional Christmas markets. We dive into the history, the rise, and the tourism of it all.🛂 U.S. Border News For International Travelers (37:31)The United States’ Custom & Border Protections has an interesting update for international visitors. While this new policy is not yet approved, it may require out-of-country tourists to disclose additional information, including your social media history from the past 5 years. If you’d like to leave a comment on this pending policy, you have until February 9, 2025. Comments must reference OMB Control Number 1651-0111 and be sent to: CBP_PRA@cbp.dhs.gov

💸 Budget Airline Meets Budget…Restaurant? (01:35)It’s all fun and games until you get surprise charges tacked onto your final bill. The Ryan Air CEO got a taste of his own company’s medicine when he went out to a local restaurant for dinner, which ended up costing him more than expected. It was actually all fun and games, though! 🗺️ One Country From Each Continent T (07:38)If we could only visit one country from each continent for our final bucket list, which destinations would make the cut? There’s a lot of amazing countries out there, and many that we’ve never been to! But only 6 (not including Antarctica) can be chosen (each).🤝 What Are Airline Alliances? And, Why Do They Matter? (22:37)Even if you don’t know what they are, chances are that you’ve benefitted from an airline alliance! In this episode, we run through everything you need to know, including what they are, how they got started, and why they matter for travelers and airlines alike. 🎰 The Latest News on New York Casinos (53:14)New York is known for many things, but casinos is not one of them! That might change after 3 brand-new, downstate casino proposals were all approved. Coming soon (ish) to Queens and the Bronx, find out what these casinos entail and how they’re likely going to impact travel to the city.

🛍️ Travel Tuesday (01:36)HAPPY TRAVEL TUESDAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE!!! Today wraps up the holiday season of deals - We discuss what our strategy is when it comes to finding our travel deals for the year and why it’s important to plan far out and give a safety net! Oh and how do you pronounce Marriott? We’ve all been pronouncing Marriott wrong our whole life🛋️ Are You a Fan of Airport Lounges? (07:34)Everyone has an opinion on Airport lounges. Sure you get “Free” food and a place away from the chaos…wait….do you get a place away from all the chaos when they’re so overcrowded and require waitlists? We debate if we’re in or out on Airport Lounges🛫 The History and Rise of Airport Lounges (12:19)At some point, there was the first airport lounge - you can thank the CEO of American Airlines for their arrival. We unpack why airport lounges came to be, when they took off, why they have taken over airports, and we look at what the future holds! 🌺 Southwest Opens First Airport Lounge (35:02)Speaking of the future of airport lounges, Southwest is set to be unveiling their first ever airport lounge for Southwest Loyalty members at the Honolulu Airport! This is one of many changes ahead for Southwest

🚗 2025 Thanksgiving Travel (01:38)We’re set to break the record for the busiest travel weekend of all time! Yes, we have set that 3 times a year since this pod has been around but we swear, we’re not lying!!! We dive into why Thanksgiving travel is so busy and why we keep reaching new heights! 🧐 Dress Code of the Golden Age of Travel (07:12)There’s a hot debate going around over what the dress code for air travel should be thanks to Sean Duffy’s “"The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You" efforts. Should you be allowed to wear pajamas when flying or should we bring back the classic, upscale look of a suit and tie? 🦃 International Thanksgiving Travel (18:16)Thanksgiving isn’t really celebrated outside of the US…well traditionally it’s not but some places are starting to offer dinners away from home as travelers look to celebrate the holiday out of the country! We take a deep dive into the stats and logic of why traveling international over the long holiday weekend makes a ton of sense🍗 Why Thanksgiving Travel is so Stressful (27:56)As avid fans of travel and Thanksgiving, even we must admit Thanksgiving Travel is a different form of stress but why is that? We unpack the elements that make the holiday week so hectic, and what sets Thanksgiving apart from other holiday travel. Don’t worry, we provide some tips and tricks to keep things a little less stressful when you’re on the move👵🏻 Boomer vs Gen Z Travel Habits (44:16)Oh, and we give you a little game to play at the Thanksgiving table so you don’t have to speak about politics with your family - Boomer vs Gen Z travel habits! 🏈 NFL x Super Sonic FlightHere’s a crossover you probably weren’t expecting - the NFL and Boom Super Sonic! Yes, the NFL has been keeping a close eye on the development of Overture. It’s no secret the NFL is looking for world domination as they expand across Europe, Australia, and South America but logistics continue to be a problem. Super Sonic jets may provide a major solution to the biggest issue the league faces. 

What in the World is going on in Boston? They have finally gained star status! Yes, one of the oldest cities in the nation has finally received its first Michelin Star but how could that be? We unpack why it took Boston so long to get a Michelin Star Restaurant, what other cities and states have yet to get recognition and unpack how the star can boost tourism for the cities packed full of top notch cuisine! 

❌ Delayed and Canceled with the Government Shutdown (01:27)Believe it or not, closed air space does in fact have an impact on our daily travel. With the first weekend of 4% airspace closed, what does that look like and what it is on the horizon with 6%, 8%, 10%, and potentially more look like as we get closer to the busiest travel weekend of the year! 🚂 The Best Train Movie (13:15)Are we debating about best movie to watch on the train or best movie about trains and how much train needs to be shown in the movie? We list off some of the most obvious train answers and debate what really is the best train movie. Lowkey any answer is right as long as you don’t say the polar express🚞 The Orient Express (21:48)The most famous train in history is one that many know by name but not by its story. Outside of the Agatha Christie novel and movies, what do you really know about the Orient Express? We unpack the history of the Orient Express, uncover why it became famous, what happened to it and take a look at the revival headed our way in 2027 🧂 Unpacking Utah (46:36)Chantel is back from her trip to Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah and she’s unpacking her experience. She gives us the run down on dirty sodas, the bland food, and how beautiful the valley truly is. Oh, and of course, we have a new Runway Report with SLC. ⛳ What is the GCC (59:24)The long-awaited GCC Unified Visa will be launched in 2026 - we take a look at what that means for travelers and what that means for the countries in the GCC - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Oh, and we talk Mr. Beast, unfortunately for his new amusement park, Beast Land, he wont get the benefits of the GCC visa.

📚 Dr Seuss is Back and GEM has the artiFacts (01:40)That’s right THE Dr. Seuss is dropping a new book, Sing the 50 United States, which is different than Fifty Nifty which Wyatt sings…or attempts to sing to the taggies against Chantel’s desires. Plus, the Grand Egyptian Museum is finally open after 2 decades of work. 🥤 Dirty Soda - What is the Best Kind of Pop (07:43)Spoiler Alert - we’ve never tried dirty soda. Sadly we couldn’t debate the hot topic in Utah we swig it up with what our favorite kind of pop is and discuss if favorite and best are technically the same thing for pop?! 🧂 Salt Lake City - Everything You Need to Know (14:56)Utah or U-Nah, Wyatt challenges Chantel and the Taggies to a game to uncover some interesting tid bits about Salt Lake City before Chantel dives into the history, fun facts, and top things to do in Salt Lake City. We even Sprinkle in some treats about Ogden, Utah👾 Retro Escape - The Future yet Past for Las Vegas (52:30)Las Vegas is dying, at least that’s what all the experts keep telling everyone but it’s not going down without a fight! Retro Escape a new immersive theme park that will take travelers back in time through the decades of the 50s to the 90s to relive the glory days or experience time they never got to see! 

🍅 The Drink that Tastes the Best at 30,000 Feet (01:38)Not all drinks are equal when at cruising altitude. No, this isn’t a bold claim by yours truly, it is a scientific fact!!! Thanks to the low moisture, low pressure, and the loud noise of flying….yes, noise plays a factor in taste, tomato juice and bloody mary’s are the best tasting drinks. Personal opinion, some of us respectfully disagree📖 Travel to an Author’s Home or a Book Setting? (13:27)There’s so many elements to the world of literary travel but when it comes to building a trip and designing and itinerary, what is more important – visiting the place where the book was written or the setting/inspiration? 📚 Literary Travel - the Rise of Book Trips (19:01)Reading provides an escape and so does Traveling. It was only a matter of time before the two hobbies merged. Literary Travel brings you to places that helped create some of your favorite stories but how did travel stem from reading. The three driving forces - personalization, the imaginative immersion, and social media amplification 💎 Magnifica Air - Changing how we Travel (55:28)It’s not often we get a new airlines these days as many brands are fighting to stay afloat. It’s even more rare to have an airline change the industry but that’s what Magnifica Air is trying to do. It’s opening a new sector of air travel between commercial and private to give people a luxurious experience that is more accessible!