Too many travel cooks can spoil the travel stew. Many travelers make some of their own bookings on the Internet. They only get a travel agent involved for more complicated travel and to get the perfect vacation planning. That works out fine until sometimes they try to...
Amazing to say, there is a travel agent shortage today. I dropped in recently at an outdoor travel agent event for one of my favorite hotel groups. There, I met a sales representative who had flown in from Munich to visit their top agencies for the first time in three...
Southwest Airlines’ record-keeping is good — very good. First up, to be honest, like many travel agents, I don’t book Southwest that often. The airline that has, or had, a warm fuzzy relationship with consumers is difficult for those of us in the industry...
Southwest had an operations meltdown during widespread winter storms and the FAA canceled all flights when their IT system malfunctioned. The Southwest Airlines meltdown in late 2022 is already legendary. The blame game will continue for months. Some travelers also...
Many Americans have never stopped using travel agents. Others, particularly the younger generation, have never used one. Some travelers formerly had travel agents (or advisers), but because that person retired, or they just figured online was easier, they have...
Travel agents are here to stay. It is time that you learn how travel agents think. If you don’t use a travel agent then you can skip this post. But more than half of airline tickets are still being sold by travel agents. That was the case just before 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.
