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...
Seat-swapping on airplanes can be a reasonable plea or a scam. I’ve got a dozen rules to help you decide when to swap. Seat-swapping between passengers has reached epidemic levels. The airlines have an ever-going campaign to squeeze more and more passengers into...
A common flight credit rule should replace all “secret” workarounds to get your money from airlines Recently, Christopher Elliott, on his non-profit site, steers consumers through the many “flavors” of airline ticket credits. The thought of...
Keep an eye on your luggage. Airlines appear to be getting stricter about carry-on rules. Brad Ritter has seen the confrontations: gate agents rigidly enforcing weight and size limits on cabin luggage — and making travelers fork over an extra fee to gate-check their...
Airline seat selection fees are one of the most hated surcharges in the travel industry — and they should be illegal. It costs an airline nothing to reserve your seat. Yet passengers shell out anywhere from $25 to more than $100 for a confirmed seat assignment or to...
Personal observation and your smartphone can help you get essential flight delay and cancellation data to help you prevent travel meltdowns. I often fly between Philadelphia and Los Angeles. A few years ago, when I went to the gate for my flight, I saw that the plane...
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.
