Severe air turbulence causes severe injury to passengers. Follow my four easy-to-use rules that protect you during severe turmoil. Last week, Delta Air Lines Flight 175 traveled from Milan, Italy, to Atlanta, Georgia. The Airbus A350 was about 40 miles from Atlanta...
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 checked-baggage fees. The comments show why airlines must deliver their...
Not a penny goes to travelers for tarmac delays. Here’s a dirty little secret about the Department of Transportation’s record $4.1 million fine against American Airlines for violating the tarmac delay rule, announced with great fanfare yesterday: Not a penny goes to...
The first airline surcharges for fuel appeared in 2003. At that time, oil had spiked to over $40 a barrel. Today, oil is in the $80 a barrel range. The original fuel surcharges were in the $10 range. Today, three things are true — and none benefit consumers — but...
Here’s help to convince your traveling companion to join you with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership so your travel can be easier and less time-consuming when you travel together. Recently, a friend asked me what I would suggest to get his wife to finally...
Making passengers pay for advance booking ticket validity rules is not fair. Airline rules appear to be returning to a new normal after the pandemic years. While ticket validity extensions may be ending, the end-of-change-fees — at least for now — are staying. The...
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.
