According to recent USA Today reports, many airline fees, already making air travel more and more expensive, will rise even higher as this year’s travel season warms up. For example, Delta now requires as much as $400 to change a ticket on some international flights, more than double the fee from several years ago.

It now costs as much as $450 for a 71- to 100-pound checked bag for some of American’s international flights. On United and Hawaiian, its a slightly less $400. Other airlines have similarly higher add-ons for luggage and formerly low-fee or free features, and the costly song and dance routine continues almost daily.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning could’ve written, “How do I love thee? Let me count the Waze.” With the driving season upon us and seniors hitting the nation’s highways, there are many digital apps for making the trips easier, safer and more pleasant. One you’re sure to love is Waze.

Forget bulky maps, looking for road signs, stopping at gas stations for directions and other old-fashioned driving unpleasantness. Among other excellent travel navigation apps, USA Today calls Waze the most handy and convenient to use. Not only in the U.S., but for seniors hitting the roads in Mexico, Canada, China, France, Argentina, Siberia or just about any other part of the globe, Waze offers the ways to go.

One of the best features is that Waze is always evolving. Truckers, drivers, GPS and other resources continually add updated info. As you roll along, you’ll be told about accidents, road repairs, police contacts, gas station prices, top eateries, hotel recommendations and just about everything else happening out there along your way.

For more information, go to www.waze.com

Maybe many of us from a bygone era are just too doggone brainwashed, and meekly accept an airline’s apology for a schedule foul-up. However, that doesn’t mean only complaining business flyers should get reimbursed for airline troubles.

If it happens to you, and the only response from the airline is an insincere apology letter, stand up for your rights. You paid for a service, and it was poorly supplied or not performed at all. By direct contact with the airline or through your travel agent, you should demand some form of compensation.

So sorry isn’t good enough. Apply the old cliché, the squeaky wheel gets the most oil. Therefore, with a legitimate complaint, you may get a greased, oily palm. It coud be in the form of cash refund, free or discounted future flights, upgraded seating and/or loyalty points. Of course, because of weather, mechanical problems and other excuses, the airline may turn you down. However, as smart  seniors often reply: It couldn’t hurt to ask!

For current rules on delayed or cancelled flights, go to www.usa.gov/topics/travel/air/resolve-problems/flight.shtml

As with everyone else who roams, we found that since the early 1990s, do-it-yourself travel planning became an internet blessing. Just by clicking our computer or hand-held doo-hickey, we’d book anything to anywhere. We often boasted it was cheaper than by calling travel agents.

It was exciting for awhile, knowing agents work on commissions that add to travel prices, so DIY saved us money. However, over the past half-dozen years, we’ve found it preferable and often more economical to rely again on expert hometown and/or online agents.

Here are a few reasons why we’ve changed our minds:

1. Agents get the best prices. Despite your skills with a SmartPhone and laptop, the pros are tuned in 24-7 to all aspects of the ever-changing travel business. If you regularly give a trusted agent current personal info on plans, budgets and preferences, you’ll get top deals at the best prices. And you won’t need to spend hours surfing every corner of the internet comparative shopping for bargains.

2. Help, I’m stranded! Whatever the problem you face on the road, in the air or at sea, your savvy agent will be available to get you out of it. Cancelled flights, hotel booking errors, credit card screw-ups, passport glitches, police problems and other emergency situations.

3. The travel expert has the latest word. The pro is always ready to offer advice on bargains, current regional dangers, scams, illnesses, weather, official regulations, insurance requirements and every other aspect of travel. Even if you consider yourself a good internet surfer and travel guru, you can’t possibly keep up with all complicated and ever-changing travel situations.