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LATEST STORIES
Expert technology advice that could save your next trip
Helpful travel advice for your next trip Before something goes wrong on your next trip, consider taking a little expert technology advice from a guy who specializes in something-goes-wrong scenarios. That guy is Curt Richardson, who founded OtterBox, a manufacturer...
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16 easy rental car hacks to prevent trouble for you
Rental car hacks to get a better deal There are many choices that car renters must make for their road trips. There are also hidden issues car renters should consider to ensure they have a cost-effective journey in their rental cars. I've got 16 rental car hacks for...
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POLICY
It’s Time to Rein In Airline Fees — Consumers Union
Fees, of course, are at the center of all this. U.S. airlines began “unbundling” their fares around 2007, and fees have been steadily multiplying ever since. This has meant that passengers pay a bewildering array of new and higher fees for supposedly “ancillary” services that used to be considered the basic rights of a ticket holder, such as checking baggage, selecting seats, changing flight reservations, and even carrying on a small bag.
TRAVEL
Avoid fighting about food when you travel. Here’s how.
Culinary travel is a huge trend. About 22 million Americans will take a culinary-focused vacation in the next year, according to a recent AAA study. Three out of four travelers tell pollsters that food and dining are an important part of their travel experiences, and chances are you’re among them. I know I am.
Scores of passengers suffer illness on airlines
Airlines sick passenger rules force many sick passengers (even with doctor notes) to fly and allow the spread of contagious diseases. We need some common sense.
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AA lies about airfare rules on website
A month after changing Basic Economy rules, AA continues to misinform website users purchasing tickets about whether they need to purchase an upgrade. DOT should take strong enforcement action.
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Know these four international air travel rights and save
When traveling in Europe, airline travelers have more rights than in the USA. Unfortunately, most Americans are not aware of the rights, or are too lazy to force the airlines to respect their rights.
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How to save big money with European low cost airlines
The biggest bargains in Europe aren’t found by buying a Eurailpass — that is old news left over from the ’60s and ’70s. Today, the biggest savings come with European low-cost air travel. Here’s where to find these bargains.
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Around the world in 29 sensational tastes of cheese
Getting to each of these tastes of cheese may require some traveling or a wonderful cheese shop, more exceptional than any I have ever found. So, cheese lovers, use this infographic to learn about the top cheeses in various destinations. Make sure to search them out, when traveling.
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Traveler tips for working better on the road
Travelers often find ourselves needing a quiet or energizing (depending on your preference) place to sit down and get done some working on the road. You may travel for business, an unexpected urgent assignment may crop up while you’re on vacation, or you may be a freelancer or location-independent employee who enjoys being able to travel while keeping on top of deadlines. Fortunately for those who love to travel, the Internet and mobile technology make it possible to stay connected to the office from just about everywhere.
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TRAVEL SAFETY
16 easy rental car hacks to prevent trouble for you
Rental car hacks to get a better deal There are many choices that car renters must make for their road trips. There are also hidden issues car renters should consider to ensure they have a cost-effective journey in their rental cars. I've got 16 rental car hacks for...
TRAVEL TIPS
Expert technology advice that could save your next trip
Helpful travel advice for your next trip Before something goes wrong on your next trip, consider taking a little expert technology advice from a guy who specializes in something-goes-wrong scenarios. That guy is Curt Richardson, who founded OtterBox, a manufacturer...
Ready for your summer road trip? Check your tires!
Before your summer road trip is the right time to check tires When heading on your summer road trip, don’t blow your summer vacation. And I mean that literally. Check your tires carefully. It looks like another big summer for driving. More than seven in 10 Americans are planning a road trip, according to the latest Hankook Gauge Index, a quarterly survey of American motorists.
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Emergency airplane evacuation study initiated by DOT Inspector General
The DOT inspector general (IG) had begun an audit of emergency airplane evacuations. After hearings before the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection (ACACP), scores of articles in the press, testimony before congressional committees, lawsuits demanding to see evacuation test results, visits with the DOT IG’s office, letters to the Secretary of Transportation, and national editorials the FAA and DOT are being investigated for compliance with their own airplane evacuation rules.
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10 losses travel insurance doesn’t or might not cover
Here are ten major loss areas that travel insurance policies may or may not cover. Only 21 percent of travelers purchase travel insurance. An amazing 49 percent of travelers polled admitted to not being sure of what travel insurance covers, so it’s not surprising so few people purchase it, especially considering its added cost to a trip.
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What to do when you lose your phone while traveling
You will lose your phone with more than 29 million other phones that vanish each year. Only 50 percent of people back up the data on their devices and 28 percent of users said if they lost their gadget they would never be able to recover the data.
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Can the deadly Zika virus upset your travel life?
Zika virus risk is still prevelant in almost a hundred countries. Travelers should take precautions to prevent infection from mosquito bites and limit sex.
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5 low-cost ways families can sit together on flights
It can be expensive for families sitting together. That is wrong. Few travel issues are more contentious than having families sitting together on airplanes. Sure, nobody wants young children to sit by themselves, but that doesn't mean that travelers who have booked...
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WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR YOU?
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.
- 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.
CURRENT TRAVEL POLL
Do you think airlines have gone too far with adding more seats and reducing their size?
- No, they don’t bother me 3%
- Yes, I’m tall and/or overweight so seating is cramped and painful 22.6%
- Yes, I’m short but still find it difficult to get comfortable 28%
- Yes, when the passenger reclines it is almost claustrophobic 46.4%
