Remember all those TV commercials by Southwest that bragged about “bags fly free”? Now, the bargain flyer has joined other airlines in tacking on bothersome extras. Bags still fly free, one or two each, but if you want to board your flight ahead of all the in-line peasant passengers, you’ll need to pay an extra $40.

Used to be that if you checked in at the desk early enough, you were assigned to the A line and got in to grab choice seats and find room for your carry-on in the overheads. Or if you were a member of the SW loyalty program, you could proudly march past all the waiting lines.

Now, for non-member Southwesterners, it’s put up $40 or go to the back of the line.

Shy people going through airport screening can now breathe a collective sigh of relief. The Transportation Security Administration is giving up on the airport body scanners that expose virtually naked images.

TSA currently uses two types of airport scanners. The ones that show shadow images will continue to be in place, but the more intrusive x-ray versions are being phased out over the next several months.

Hopefully, it all means that travelers can maintain at least some remnants of modesty while being groped, prodded  and screened on the way to their flights.

As spring and summer cruise seasons approach, many seniors are making plans for sailing the seven seas. While most ads for cruises are legitimate, whether from your hometown agent, online travel agency and from the cruise lines, here are some phony deals that offer free or bargain cruises, as recently revealed by AARP.

Remember the carnival barker who made big promises with the line, “Tell ya what I’m gonna do fer ya”, but only ripped you off? Here are several modern versions of the same type of pitch.

1. A phone call or Email message congratulates you for winning a free cruise. It may include a vague hint that you’ve done something to make you eligible, such as made a store purchase, on-line buy or used your credit card to get gasoline at a local pump.

The caller will then ask for your credit card number and/or Social Security number to prove your identity as the winner. If you comply, within a day or two the numbers may be used illegally in ID theft purchases or for bank withdrawals from your account. Of course, in those cases, the only salt water you’ll see will be tears of frustration coming from your eyes.

2. The most annoying ones require you to attend what will be called an orientation meeting to prepare for your free cruise. When you get there, you’ll quickly find it’s the old, high-pressure timeshare type of scam along with a heavy pitch.

A cruise may be offered, but it could be sponsored by some rundown Caribbean resort in cahoots with a marginal cruise line. You may opt to get your cruise and island adventure, but it will be a shabby experience. With all the add-ons, it could actually cost more than signing up for a quality vacation with a legitimate travel agency or cruise line.

3. The foreign phone call scam is usually more annoying than highly expensive, but it could cost you several hundred dollars before you can try to cut the callers off with your phone company.

You get a phone call, often by a person with a foreign accent, telling you about winning your free cruise. To claim your prize, you must call a 900 phone number or one with an area code of 876, 868, 809, 758, 784, 664, 473, 441, 284 or 246.

They’re all to foreign countries, and a call will run your bill up at $5 a minute or more while you’re listening to a lengthy phony free cruise pitch. The crooks make money on the costly long distance calls. And, of course, you get no cruise.

Always remember: When a great free offer or deep-discounted cruise deal sounds too good to be true, it will be untrue and inevitably cost you lots of wasted money!

At least as upper-class as the residents of the fictional Downton Abbey, the owners of historic Highclere just don’t let anyone into its hallowed halls and grounds at any time. However, the growing popularity of the British TV program is making Highclere, where much of the exterior and interior filming was shot, an attractive tourist destination.

Current information is that the 350-year-old mansion and gardens, still occupied by the Carnarvon family, will be open at special times for registered visitors. So far this year it will be available only during Easter and summer holidays. Bookings for social, historical and other events are by appointment only.

Highclere Castle is 65 miles from London, and although there’s no public transportation directly to the location, trips can be planned by private car, taxi, bus or train. The official address is Newbury, West Berkshire RG20 9LP, UK. For information about visits, events, accommodations and fees, go to highclerecastle.co.uk/visting-us.html