To maximize overall Amtrak safety, the US national passenger railroad should first deploy its new Airo trainsets to the Northeast Corridor to replace their oldest trains, manufactured prior to modern rail safety standards. Amtrak recently introduced its new Airo...
If you’re flying on a European airline in 2023, you have more rights than you may think. The reason? EC 261 (also referred to as the EU 261), the European consumer regulation, gives broad protection for passengers — far broader than anything US airlines offer. But...
Caregiver and airline wheelchair policies Always, always when traveling with anyone who needs wheelchair assistance, make sure to contact the airport and airline prior to arriving for caregiver and wheelchair policies. The earlier the better. In the US all airlines...
New packing systems may help with the coming new world of domestic travel Recently, I got sucked into watching packing system videos on YouTube. Sure, many of them, and oodles of time can be wasted watching them all. After watching for a while, I selected these...
Amazing to say, there is a travel agent shortage today. I dropped in recently at an outdoor travel agent event for one of my favorite hotel groups. There, I met a sales representative who had flown in from Munich to visit their top agencies for the first time in three...
Airline flight delays and flight cancellations have become almost routine. Here are 8 hacks that you can use to defend yourself against their effects. In the last year, we’ve seen total meltdowns of airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) causing...
Where is the DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg? Since Trump, airline passengers see no change in regulation, the ATC is ignored, and railroad safety is clearly compromised. I have refrained from writing this column for several months. Anyone who works with me (or reads my...
If you’re planning a vacation rental stay, you need to do one thing before you kick off your shoes and unpack — if you don’t want to end up with surprise vacation rental cleaning fees. Grab your phone and start taking pictures. Lots of pictures. I speak from personal...
GAO report tells DOT to protect consumers better Five years ago, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined a series of problems with the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) airline consumer protections. These changes have not been made...
Southwest Airlines’ record-keeping is good — very good. First up, to be honest, like many travel agents, I don’t book Southwest that often. The airline that has, or had, a warm fuzzy relationship with consumers is difficult for those of us in the industry...
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 $3,800
Denied boarding (bumping) compensation increased to a maximum of $1,550.
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.
