Daniel Oppliger navigated foreign airports, dealt with language barriers, and made it to his hotel in Lushui, China, only to be stumped by the TV remote at the Hilton Garden Inn. “I couldn’t figure out how to work the television,” he says. “I had to ask the concierge...
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....
British Airways is permitting its passengers to make phone calls on planes while aloft. Experience has taught me that allowing voice and video phone calls on planes is a serious mistake. British Airways has begun to allow calls on planes equipped with Starlink WiFi....
Mom’s travel lessons added life to sights we visited Mothers Day is tomorrow. It is a good time for me to reflect on my travels with Mom. My mother taught me how to get the most from travel. From Mom’s travel lessons I learned how to savor travel, how to...
Sometimes, they may be a regular tour bus; other times, they are a hop-on-hop-off bus. Most lower levels are air-conditioned. A hop-on-hop-off bus offers a way to see the major sights of a city effortlessly in rain or shine. I used to feel sorry for the tourists who...
Looks like the yellow-tailed bus in the sky is grounded for good. After a $500 million government rescue package collapsed this weekend, Spirit Airlines officially ceased all operations Saturday morning. But the death of Spirit is not an isolated incident. It’s...
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...
Spirit Airlines bankrupt. Spirit ticket holders who paid with a credit or debit card should immediately initiate the chargeback process with their card issuer. Spirit Airlines bankrupt. They closed for business on Saturday, following the collapse of negotiations for a...
Travelers United recent review — Membership is a perfect gift. What makes Travelers United different from all other consumer advocacy organizations? We are laser-focused on travel across the board. We talk with everyone involved — airlines, government officials,...
This is the ultimate collection of tips to make travel better during the summer travel season. The summer travel season starts now. Here is a collection of tips to help you when you travel during this period. 1. Bring patience I know, I know, everyone says this. 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.
