Since it’s a time for Christmas dreams — or for other holidays — here are six wishes for travelers, frequent and infrequent, for 2024. Dear Santa…. Could you make these Christmas dreams come true? Better communication from airlines. Stuff happens, and...
I booked transatlantic using the Lufthansa alliance with United Airlines. Some perks were good, but the hassles weren’t worth it. Airlines love to tout their partnerships as being great for travelers. And yes, getting mileage and having bags checked through are...
Passengers still face COVID-19 trip cancellations or postponements. As we move into a post-pandemic world, most travel agents will tell you, we’re still having people cancel or postpone trips due to COVID-19. Thankfully, for the most part, the disease is not as...
Travel agents/advisors are priceless when it comes to service, but they can’t work magic A comedian friend of mine recently told a joke about mall travel agents/advisors, where the punchline was, “They’re just googling flights and hotels on Expedia;...
The first airline surcharges for fuel appeared in 2003. At that time, oil had spiked to over $40 a barrel. Today, oil is in the $80 a barrel range. The original fuel surcharges were in the $10 range. Today, three things are true — and none benefit consumers — but...
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.
