I’m stopping in Seoul en route to do a story in Bangkok, which coincided with Obama’s visit today.

I first came here in 1979 and certain things remain, like the DMZ, not far from Seoul.

In 1979, when I first visited, it was described as the most dangerous place on earth … and that description could still be true when you think that the 3-mile strip of land separating the two Koreas is jammed with troops, guard posts, tanks, missiles, and bunkers. And it’s a great tour to boot.

The merger—or the absorption, if you will—of Iberia by British Airways is big news. It means that in the global marketplace, you’ll be seeing the first of many mergers and acquisitions.

Flag carriers may become a thing in the past. And when you think about, what is a flag carrier? It’s ego.

At one point, every country had to have its own carrier.

This past weekend, Peter chatted with USA Today travel reporter Laura Bly about the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Read on to find out their personal experiences in Berlin 20 years ago, how much the city has evolved, and what elements haven’t changed over the years.

At long last, there is good news for travelers regarding airline bags.

The Department of Transportation has said that the airlines can no longer arbitrarily limit reimbursement when you have to replace necessities when they lose your bags.

A number of airlines—and you know who you are—have policies saying they will only reimburse you for necessities purchased more than 24 hours AFTER you arrive without your luggage. Now how ridiculous is that?

From The Travel Detective Blog …

Chicago lost its Olympic bid for 2016 to Rio de Janeiro.

In retrospect, it was not because Chicago has nothing to offer, but because of the way the world perceives us.

This weekend on Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio, your very own Travel Detective sat down with Middle Seat columnist Scott McCartney of the Wall Street Journal to discuss the latest in air travel.

Buckle up for a bumpy ride as these two travel veterans get down to the nitty-gritty of upgrades, air passengers’ rights and the state of the airline industry.

It’s hard to believe—and it’s almost embarrassing to admit—that the French figured out high-speed trains in 1981.

They’re coming up on their 30th anniversary, and we’re still stuck with Amtrak.

Recently I took a ride on the TGV (the French high-speed train) from Paris to Nancy, and we were traveling nearly 200 mph.

Recently, Peter chatted with Colonel Jack Jacobs, a retired Colonel in the United States Army and military analyst for MSNBC, about what we’ve learned about travel safety and security since the events of September 11, 2001.

Peter Greenberg: We’ve had the opportunity for hindsight, and hopefully some foresight as well. In eight years—and I’m just talking about airport and airline security— what have we learned and have we implemented those lessons?