Welcome to The Morning Shave for Monday, August 25, 2025. Check out the latest airline status match offers, phone searches at U.S. borders are at an all-time high, and the best places to go “leaf peeping” of fall foliage. Visit BaldThoughts.com/tms to read all the stories.
We read a ton of travel articles each day for our research to share the best travel tips, tricks, and news with you. Here are the articles we think you should read.
Don’t miss out on any new posts. Join our email list for the latest tips, tricks, and travel news.
The Morning Shave
Airlines Status Match and Challenge Promotions.
Airline elite status isn’t as rewarding as it used to be. With crammed planes and reduced capacity, only the highest of the high elite status members can consistently get perks worth mentioning. That’s why occasional travelers are better off getting one of the best airline credit cards for free checked bags and similar benefits. A few airlines offer status match and challenge programs so you can achieve elite status without buying a ton of flights.
Phone Searches at the US Border Hit a Record High.
Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or a foreign traveler, the chances of your phone being searched (and possibly seized) are pretty good. The number of searches of personal electronic devices are at a record high. With that in mind, if you’re traveling internationally, you need to take steps to protect your personal information, photos, bank accounts, and other private data. Disable Face ID, log out of password managers, delete social media apps, use a dedicated travel “burner” phone, or consider wiping your phone completely. Keep in mind that some of these steps could also lead to even more questions.
The Rise of AI-Powered Travel Attacks.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is popping up in every aspect of our lives. While much of it is helpful and can save time/money, some of it can be very harmful in the wrong hands. Scammers are using AI to fool even the most prepared among us. Using AI, they can fake your voice, fake emails, and sound very convincing. If something sounds off, it pays to double-check the details, look for clues that it is a fake, or call customer service to confirm details.
Fall Foliage Is Better by Rail on These 13 Scenic Train Trips.
It’s almost peeping season, where the changing colors of the leaves can rival the most spectacular sunsets you’ve ever seen. You can drive to popular peeping destinations this fall, but a train ride can take you places cars cannot drive. And when you’re riding on a train, you can enjoy the view without worrying about running off the road, getting into an accident, or finding a place to park. Check out our podcast interview about the best things to do in Abingdon, Virginia, which is a popular place to see fall foliage.
Hilton Tests Redesigns to Update 106-Year-Old Flagship Brand.
Like many hotel chains, Hilton is trying to figure out how to manage dozens of distinct brands in a crowded marketplace. Personally, I have a hard to telling the difference between many of them. We know the economy and luxury brands. We know those that cater to extended stay travelers, but the rest of them? Who really knows what sets them apart. The Hilton brand has been around for more than 100 years, so it’s time for a new coat of paint, some fresh tires, and a tune-up. Let’s see what they come up with.
Thinking of getting a new credit card?
To see the best credit card offers available, go to our credit card marketplace to find your next card.
“Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or a foreign traveler, the chances of your phone being searched (and possibly seized) are pretty good. The number of searches of personal electronic devices are at a record high.”
I’m not saying I don’t believe this statement, but curious what your sources are. When you say that “chances of your phone being searched…are pretty good” to me that implies that there’s a greater than 50% chance of it being seized, which would imply one out of every two people arriving in the US regardless of citizenship status are having their phones seized; if this was truly the case I feel like we would hear much much more about it, especially if it’s happening with such high frequency to American citizens.
Hey Sam, the source is from the article linked in the header of each section. We can agree to disagree; while your interpretation is 50% or higher, my interpretation is “record high” searches and seizures. And we are hearing more and more about searches of both U.S. citizens and foreign visitors. Not only questioning people, but also making them open their phones, taking their devices to another room (most likely to scan or copy the contents), and denying entry to people whose opinions don’t align with the current regime.
Why did you delete my comment? I really am curious.
Hey Sam, I didn’t delete either of your comments. Due to so much spam, I approve every comment manually. The downside is that comments don’t get posted immediately if I’m away from my computer or focused on a project. I appreciate you reading my post and commenting.