At a good restaurant, diners can’t go wrong when they order wine; even the least expensive is very drinkable. When traveling, drinking wine with meals, especially across the US and Europe, is part of the experience. After a lifetime of drinking wine and then...
Vacation rental insurance is not like hotel insurance — plan ahead. The world of vacation rentals is far different from staying in a hotel. Hotels have requirements to have certain insurance; you are protected against a fire in your accommodations and major weather...
Mom’s travel lessons added life to sights we visited Mothers Day is tomorrow. It is a good time for me to reflect on my travels with Mom. My mother taught me how to get the most from travel. From Mom’s travel lessons I learned how to savor travel, how to...
Springtime public gardens provide natural magic from April to May and early June The New York Times covers springtime in eight different springtime public gardens across the country. Public gardens allow visitors a natural respite for visitors. Now, with Spring here,...
Decorating the tree at home is a remembrance of travel — even when it is a Merry Christmas ornament from Alcatraz At the Cummings household, hanging each Christmas ornament on the tree is an exercise in remembering travel. We get to daydream, with snow on the ground...
Memories of vacations past fill our dinner conversations “My favorite city is Venice and my favorite country is Greece.” So said my 17-year-old grandson Phinneus Lucy. He and his mother, my daughter, Laura Cummings, and I sit around reminiscing about vacations past...
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.
