Airlines love direct bookings — meaning anything you book on THEIR website. Don’t use a codeshare. There are two main reasons why a passenger shouldn’t use a codeshare… Airlines don’t have to pay anyone or any website anything — whether...
Training travel agents will change the way we fly It’s almost impossible to get through a day without some scary story involving a US airline. And while United Airlines and Boeing are getting the most headlines, other delays and problems are happening regularly....
Let’s be honest — if airlines could operate without humans, they would. Already, there’s a move towards kiosks and apps rather than talking to humans at the airport, or even speaking with a person on the phone. It appears to normal flyers that a love-hate...
The human touch still beats technology during problematic delays. My client had a business class ticket to Paris from Newark, which meant the trip should have been a pleasure. Even with delays due to bad weather in New York, the plane was only an hour late. Then there...
Once upon a time, we didn’t have electronic tickets — paper was king. The ticket number mattered then and still does. It was one of those calls, more than a decade ago, that we laugh about now. My travel agency client, who is also a friend, was traveling to...
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.
