Death by selfies is becoming far too common. It seems as though the competition for social media followers, likes, loves, and comments is too often turning smart adult brains into mush and causing deaths and serious injury. I’ve written about death by selfies by...
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...
You’ve entered the shoe wars zone. Imagine settling into your economy class seat on a 13-hour flight, only to find a stranger’s shoes occupying the space beside you. That’s what happened to Jaskaran Gautam when he was flying from Tokyo to New York...
The real issues with the air traffic control system (ATC) are the budget rules and the Congress. Travelers United has been working on reforming the ATC system for most of the past decade. I hate to say it, but the biggest problem is the House of Representatives and...
Increasingly, the Air Traffic Control nightmare doesn’t appear to be limited to just Newark Airport. Issues snowball, and who knows how overworked and stressed air traffic controllers will react? The problems are still going on as you read this. This means...
Here are 20 tips to help you prevent identity theft and maintain security while traveling. I have 20 tips to help you prevent identity theft and maintain your security while traveling. In the U.S., Americans have experienced a large increase in identity theft and...
Springtime public gardens provide natural magic from May to early June The New York Times covers springtime in eight different springtime public gardens across the country. Public gardens allow a natural respite for visitors. Now, with spring here, they bloom...
It’s no secret that airlines want no paper boarding passes. They want things as automated and digital as possible. In a perfect world they wouldn’t pay any airport staff, reservationists or have bookings made through travel agents. Airlines don’t...
The normal increased round-trip airlines baggage fees now cost between $70 and $80 per checked bag. Baggage fees, one of the most hated in the industry, have increased again during the last year. All the airlines, from American Airlines to United Airlines, have...
Sometimes an important event is impossible to get to by air. First, due to work, finances, family, or other issues, getting to a really important event early isn’t possible, I get it. But often as a travel agent, I will have clients try to cut it close. Maybe...
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.
