Navigating the British train system I recently returned from my first visit to the United Kingdom. While there was a lot I wanted to see and do, I knew I wouldn’t get to all of it within 11 days, and I’ve made an extensive list of things to do on future trips — the...
DOT abandons the public interest and embraces the airlines’ interests Sadly, this article written in 2018 is still true. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has been captured by the airlines. It abandons the public interest. The very industry that the DOT was...
A code-share close-connections can ruin a trip Everything about their vacation in Switzerland went like clockwork. That is, until their flights home. It was a code-share close-connection hassle. In this case, my clients had used miles for one ticket, a United Airlines...
I am traveling in Africa at the moment. Just landed in Senegal, which African veterans call “Africa lite.” However, the experience of shifting from the organized world of North America and Europe to the more chaotic developing world of Africa reminded me...
Travelers can survive a plane crash Surviving a jetliner crash has been mentioned several times since the April emergency landing of Southwest Airlines, flight 1380, Many air travelers have asked if its passengers could have survived if the plane crashed. Fortunately,...
Travelers trying to ensure a great vacation should check for travel agent benefits One of my clients, a local doctor, comments to me that when she mentions using a travel agent, some of her colleagues and friends often react with surprise — “You still use a...
Dealing with rapid airplane decompression Editor’s note: This post was originally published on March 21, 2011. We are republishing in light of reader interest and recent events. Only about 40 to 50 rapid aircraft decompression accidents occur each year, so...
Don’t be ASLEEP to prevent bed bugs While most people say the worst problem bed bugs can cause for travelers is suffering the itching and soreness from their bites, some of my readers have set me straight recently. I agree with them. Prevent bed bugs from...
Parents and the FAA should put child safety first In a recent study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, scientists from the University of Reading determined that severe aircraft turbulence could increase by 149 percent in the coming years, due to climate...
Helicopter safety needs attention. We’ve already had two highly publicized flight-seeing helicopter tour crashes. Between the crash in the Grand Canyon and one last month in New York City, ten tourists died. On the other hand, last year was the safest year for...
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.
