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LATEST STORIES
Should airlines be held liable for your missed connections?
Travelers United wants the Department of Transportation (DOT) to hold airlines responsible for maintaining their schedules. If airlines were required to fly within two to three hours of their normally scheduled times, passengers could book connecting flights on other airlines without fear of missed connections.
How Enterprise Damage Evaluator determines if you damaged a rental
The car rental company now uses a template called the Enterprise Damage Evaluator to determine if you damaged a vehicle. So many readers have accused Enterprise of running damaged rental car scams that I’ve lost count. But something interesting has happened lately....
POLICY
Should airlines be held liable for your missed connections?
Travelers United wants the Department of Transportation (DOT) to hold airlines responsible for maintaining their schedules. If airlines were required to fly within two to three hours of their normally scheduled times, passengers could book connecting flights on other airlines without fear of missed connections.
Will hated airline fees disappear? Or will there be more?
There are two camps in this airline-fee battle. Some see airline fees disappearing. Others see them becoming a bigger part of the total travel cost. Airfares have plummeted over the past 10 months. The percent occupied by ancillary fees has increased. It only makes sense when the fees stay the same and airfares drop.
Don’t make customs agents’ jobs more difficult at the border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) presents this list of Holiday Season tips. Knowing what CBP needs travelers to know before getting to passport control and customs stations will make all international travel easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable.
Passengers need an official DOT legal policy
Passengers need a set of judicial rules and precedents for effective litigation in front of DOT. The Department also needs rules about the speed of resolution and how complaints will be handled.
TRAVEL ADVICE
How Enterprise Damage Evaluator determines if you damaged a rental
The car rental company now uses a template called the Enterprise Damage Evaluator to determine if you damaged a vehicle. So many readers have accused Enterprise of running damaged rental car scams that I’ve lost count. But something interesting has happened lately....
Here are things to regret doing on a plane
What do you regret doing on a plane? Chances are, it involves a drink. As in, drinking and working on a computer. That’s what Peter Lewis did on a recent flight from Minneapolis to New York — with disastrous results. There was a cup of coffee next to his laptop, “and...
Airlines penalize travelers who book far in advance with unfair ticket validity rules
Making passengers pay for advance booking ticket validity rules is not fair. Airline rules appear to be returning to a new normal. While ticket validity extensions may be ending, the end-of-change-fees — at least for now — are staying. The ticket validity issue,...
Hotel booking — Don’t ignore these 16 red flags!
Before you book your next hotel stay, check to be sure your research doesn't reveal any of my 16 red flags that should make you seriously think about hotel booking. Hotel booking online should be a cinch. There are a myriad of websites to help you book hotels,...
CORONAVIRUS
Why passengers need common airline flight credit rules
We need common airline flight credit rules for airfare refunds and flight credit protection. The refund issue has been screwed up for consumers since the beginning. It is a major issue with more than $10 billion in outstanding flight credits, estimated by the Wall...
Why airlines need to fix a major sick-passenger change fee issue
Major US carriers getting rid of change fees was a welcome change for travelers, even if we weren’t in a pandemic. However, airlines still have no consistent sick-passenger rule for allowing changes due to illness.
Five ways travel may never go back to pre-COVID days — get ready for a “new normal”
After three years American travelers yearn for a "new normal" for vacation and business travel reality. Many Americans and travelers worldwide may feel as if the pandemic is over. Indeed, after almost three years, everyone wanted to return to normal. But the "new...
How COVID still affects travel even if the virus is weaker
COVID still affects travel. Don't fool with the coronavirus. Respect it. As a travel agent and someone who loves to travel, it's been great to see COVID restrictions loosening on travel worldwide. But COVID still affects travel even if the virus is weaker. Loosened...
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Accomplishments
These accomplishments have been achieved by working closely with our members, national media, the travel industry, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Congress and many other agencies.
- Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives
- Creation of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections
- Advertised airfares now include airfare plus, mandatory taxes and fees
- Lost/damaged/delayed luggage compensation limit increased to $3,500
- Passengers have 24 hours to change or cancel their nonrefundable tickets without penalty
- Once an airfare is purchased, that airfare and ancillary fees cannot be increased
- Families flying together act passed by Congress that requires family members 13 years of age and younger to sit with other family members at no additional cost.
