#nerdbirds Kai and Jeremy discuss the pending merger between Korean Air and Asiana, the return of the Boeing 737 MAX, and the futuristic hyperloop transportation concept. In part two, they take a deep dive into study abroad: past, (virtual) present, and (hybrid) future.

I'll take some penguins with my holiday packages for $100, Alex! #nerdbird Rachel chats with Pilot Sarah about the strange and wonderful things that fly in the belly of a plane — or, in the case of cargo planes, the entire plane — and arrive at the cargo areas of an airport. Sarah also answers questions about crew sleeping on long flights, where your luggage and pets go on a plane, and the difference between a cockpit and flight deck.

In this week's news roundup, #nerdbirds Kai and Jeremy dive into virtual tourism. From Christmas markets to the arts to destination-specific experiences, there's a virtual tourist attraction for everyone! Afterwards, they'll take a look at how travelers are taking longer trips than ever before, and how accommodations are trying to support long-term workcations.

What is FOMO (fear of missing out) and JOMO (joy of missing out) like eight months after the pandemic grounded most of the planet? Rachel chats with #nerdbirds Charlie and Kai about hustle culture, going deeper with familiar places, and the European reality check on (past) American travel habits.

In this week's travel news roundup, #nerdbirds Jeremy and Kai discuss travel-related election results, the chance to get married on a plane, and an unprecedented alliance between Cathay Pacific's pilot and flight attendant unions. Later, they dive into hospitality initiatives, including mid-week hotel closures in Las Vegas and brand-driven lifestyle hotels sprouting up all over the country.

In this unconventional look at travel photography, Rachel chats with Robin Davis from the Cortona Center of Photography [https://cortonacenter.com/]: "When you take a photograph, you have to be fully in the moment, and that's travel" -- which is also a mindset that can be created at home. She answers questions about getting meaningful shots, what gear you really need in the smartphone era, and making photos that reflect your unique perspective.

#nerdbirds Jeremy and Kai have your latest episode of the Weekly News Roundup, taking you around the world for the latest and greatest travel news! On the docket for Part 1 includes plans for a new South African airline called "Lift",  Qantas' latest sightseeing package of an all-inclusive  overnight holiday to "somewhere", and Slovakia tests half of their entire population for COVID-19...in one day. In Part Two, they look to warmer climes where Mauritius is welcoming the work-from-anywhere crowd with one-year renewable visas, and catch up on the latest with Hawaii's slow reopening to tourists.

With Election Day coming up in the US, #nerdbirds David and Rachel ponder what there is to do and see in Washington, DC and surrounding areas during the pandemic. With 15 years living in DC (David) and 20 trips to the region (Rachel), they share tips for neighborhoods and activities off the tourist path ("a Disneyland for government!").

In this episode of the Weekly Roundup, #nerdbirds Jeremy and Kai discuss the emotional goodbye to Berlin-Tegel Airport, the exciting new undersea connection between Denmark and Germany, and the return of the world's longest flight...with a twist. In part two, they dive into some intriguing initiatives, like travel-starved Singaporean flights to nowhere, mystery destination packages in New Zealand, and the chance to get your very own hotel subscription.

Airline maps?! What could be exciting about that? Plenty, when you join #nerdbirds Brendan and Rachel as they browse through the book Airline Maps: A Century of Art and Design [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600815/airline-maps-by-mark-ovenden-and-maxwell-roberts/] and explore the evolution of flying through the world of graphic design. Topics include maps as a tool to inspire wanderlust, women in aviation's early days, and the darker sides of the Golden Age of Flying.