Successfully flying with young children means parents need to anticipate their children’s needs and prepare for those needs long before leaving for the airport. Flying with young children can be difficult, especially on long flights. Youngsters are easily bored,...
For some of us, “Old Fashioned” is the way to travel — with paperback books. Admission upfront — I’m a travel agent and a regular traveler. It is easy to understand the advantages of reducing weight and bulk in luggage and limiting what’s in a...
Some parents continue to endanger infants by flying them on their laps. While flying during the COVID pandemic, I’ve seen parents try to evade the face mask mandate for their children while other parents try to fly with their infant or toddler in their lap,...
What appear to be a-la-carte service costs are really resort fees in disguise On August 18, 2021, the Wall Street Journal profiled the fourth-largest hotel group in the country. MCR hotels were touted for charging guests for individual hotel amenities. The main hotel...
Should passengers pay for services not delivered — namely checked-baggage fees? This column was taken from a set of comments presented by Travelers United to DOT regarding an NPRM for refunding baggage fees. The comments show why airlines must deliver their checked...
Extra fees mean different things to airlines, travelers, and corporate travel departments. Airlines love service charges and surcharges. They result in pure profit. And can cover just about anything. Travelers look at the bottom line — the final cost of the trip....
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 $3,500
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.
