A room rate must include mandatory hotel fees to be honest. The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) wants to continue false hotel advertising by not including mandatory hotel fees in room rates. False hotel advertising is a shameful and dishonest practice...
Airlines are selling tickets from the US to Greece, but IT glitches still exist from the pandemic. Back in late March, two clients who had gotten their vaccination decided to book a trip to Athens in hopes of Greece being open in July. They booked a codeshare flight...
U.S. Passport applications take as long as four and a half months to process. Planning to travel internationally? Check your passport immediately. Americans can travel internationally again. While COVID-19 border entry requirements have been substantially eased,...
With the stroke of his pen, the DOT Secretary can improve travel for passengers Travelers United sees four areas where the Secretary gets airline consumer wins with the stroke of his pen. We want Secretary Buttigieg to start with these basic travel changes. We do not...
Less airline seat pitch means more passengers on planes, slower emergency evacuations, and more medical inflight issues. Airlines started their “Basic Coach” or “Basic Economy” configurations, with fewer amenities and less legroom. Now they...
A collection of the top consumer groups met with Sec. Buttigieg for the first time in 200+ days Representatives of several leading US consumer groups met with Sec. Buttigieg recently. He is the head of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The advocacy groups urged...
Many Americans have never stopped using travel agents. Others, particularly the younger generation, have never used one. Some travelers formerly had travel agents (or advisers), but because that person retired, or they just figured online was easier, they have...
Smartphones store COVID tests and a vaccine passport required for many destinations across the globe and more. Despite increasing COVID-19 infection rates, particularly in areas populated with vaccine-hesitant residents, many pandemic travel restrictions are being...
Ancillary airline fees must be disclosed during the buying process to make the free market work. This talk was given in November 2013 before IATA’s World Passenger Conference (at which no passengers seem to be invited to attend) held in Dublin, Ireland. The post...
New passport programs can speed travelers through passport control — first, you need a passport! The coming post-pandemic start-up of international travel means the need for passport renewals to travel. Plus, the lack of personnel and crowded flights means the need 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.
Airlines Refunds: DOT enforcement notice that all airline tickets canceled by the airlines must be repaid to include all airfare, taxes and added fees with cash not airline credits.
Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives
Creation of the DOT Consumer Advocate to focus on aviation consumer protections
Full Fare Act — Advertised airfares now include all 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 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.
