Conventional wisdom was to be an early bird and book airline tickets as early as possible. Back years ago, that was true, especially with mileage award tickets. Early birds got the rewards. I have memories of waiting up until midnight 330 days or so in advance in...
Here are 13 top tips to help you prevent missing and stolen luggage on your next international or domestic flight. I’m back home from the month’s long land and cruise vacation that I’ve been writing about. Checked luggage problems can hit any trip....
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...
Here is a recap of the DOT denied boarding rules today. Note the exceptions to these rules. Passengers must meet the required check-in times. No compensation is needed. Passengers should check the airline’s “boarding priority.” Passengers should know...
Eliminate lost valuables. You’d be surprised how many people lose them on vacation. A lot of valuables. I talk to travelers every day who have misplaced something while they are on the road, and they wish they had known how to eliminate lost valuables on vacation....
Smart travelers make these eight passport mistakes People who travel internationally are generally among the savviest travelers. But they can still make mistakes — and some of the most common ones involve passports. As you start international travel again, make sure...
Etiquette of air travel — Boarding, in-flight, deplaning, and waiting for baggage The etiquette of air travel is relatively simple. Look around, and most of the passengers follow the unwritten etiquette quickly. One needs to follow the golden rule. Treat everyone as...
Should you lock checked luggage when you fly? If you do, should you use a TSA approved lock or some other method like seals or zip ties? A number of years ago, my wife and I flew home from Los Angeles with one checked bag that we shared, along with our carry-ons and...
One year ago, Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg asked for funding to study the use of female crash dummies in car crash testing. Still no testing announced! An extensive study by Consumer Reports concluded that crash testing is biased. The National Highway and...
EU rule 261 means big compensation for transatlantic fliers — up to €600 for a three-hour delay on transatlantic flights. For years, Travelers United has been educating America’s flying public about the European Union (EU) rules. We have focused especially on...
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.
