WASHINGTON — Think that $79 fare from Washington to Florida is a steal? Travelers across the United States are discovering that bargain tickets frequently balloon once seat assignments, carry-on bags, and other “extras” are tallied. According to new data, 2024 was the costliest year yet for airline junk fees, and the trend shows no sign of easing.

San Francisco flyers woke up to a fresh layer of uncertainty this week as the Department of Homeland Security quietly expanded its biometric data collection program at SFO and other major U.S. gateways.

The move, which civil-rights groups say mirrors earlier tactics used during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns, could subject both citizens and non-citizens to enhanced facial recognition and device searches before boarding or after landing.

CALISTOGA, Calif. — Travelers who picture Napa Valley as endless rows of vines may soon add forested ridgelines to their mental map. Rosewood Calistoga, a hillside resort now under development on the northern edge of the valley, is plotting a 2027 debut that promises to pair wine-country pleasures with a deep sense of place, according to a press release by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — Disney Cruise Line will widen its U.S. footprint by offering a greater number of sailings out of California and Texas during the newly announced Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 season, according to a press release by Disney Cruise Line. For travelers who have long wished to board a Disney ship without flying to Florida, the expansion is welcome news.

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — A proposed class-action lawsuit out of California accuses United Airlines of charging a premium for certain “window seats” that, to passengers’ surprise, come without an actual window.

OJAI, Calif. — A storied resort framed by citrus groves and the Topatopa Mountains now wears one of the hotel industry’s most demanding environmental seals. Ojai Valley Inn has secured Platinum-level status in the Green Hospitality Program, according to a press release by Audubon International.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A popular stretch of Lake Tahoe’s South Shore has been temporarily flagged for high levels of E. coli bacteria, prompting officials to urge swimmers, paddlers, and beachgoers to avoid the area near Camp Richardson Resort.

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines is adding fresh nonstop links between California and the Pacific Northwest, according to a press release by Alaska Airlines. For West Coast travelers, the news means a broader menu of point-to-point options that bypass traditional hubs and shorten total travel time between two of America’s most popular leisure and business corridors.