There are travelers and agencies out there who practically make a second job out of understanding frequent flyer programs and earning the maximum miles. In general, travel agents don’t work with miles, so most of us are not experts. But I have increasingly...
Leisure travelers know business travel is a major factor, but leisure travelers are filling the business void. Full disclosure — for anyone who doesn’t already know — I’m a rare breed of travel agent. I book both business and leisure travel. So yes, I want...
Sometimes an important event is impossible to get to by air. First, due to work, finances, family, or other issues, getting to a really important event early isn’t possible, I get it. But often as a travel agent, I will have clients try to cut it close. Maybe...
Here are three reasons why a weather delay makes schedules @#%*!+$# A client emailed me in a cranky mood. His flight to San Francisco was delayed by weather for 2 hours, and then sat on the tarmac in Newark for over an hour. He was a victim of weather-delay roulette....
Now bankrupt Spirit Airlines is no more. Now, to be honest, as a travel agent this doesn’t affect me much in the short run. Because I never booked the now bankrupt Spirit Airlines Spirit wasn’t quite Ryan Air, the much-joked-about and reviled European...
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.
– Removal of restaurant fees from DC area eateries — this is an ongoing project
– Creation of DOT Dashboard to outline consumer rights after cancellation of a flight
– 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 $3,800
– 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.
