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LATEST STORIES
Vacation rental insurance can save you from what you take for granted
The world of vacation rentals is far different from staying in a hotel. Hotels have requirements to have certain insurance. Vacation rental insurance may cover liability, but in many cases, you are on your own should there be a fire or hurricane. And, even if a pipe bursts, what happens to you? Or, you may get sick. Everyone should plan for the unexpected.
Infants traveling as a lap child and other infant air travel safety issues
Flying with a 2-year-old is taking an injury chance. But parents often take that chance to save money. On a flight not that long ago, a family was sitting not far from me. The mother sat next to her son, who was about four or five years old, and the father had their...
POLICY
Airports love money from passengers. They hate taxing locals
Airports and local Chambers of Commerce are trying to raise airport taxes. Simply stated, they want more money for themselves without asking their local taxpayers to foot the bill. They fear local taxpayers so passengers pay more.
Airport lounges are big business — they bring in loads of cash
Airline lounges serve millions of guests annually and make the airlines billions of dollars. Airline lounges are a “money-making” amenity for millions of travelers and for millions in airline revenues. The COVID pandemic unleashed consumer craving and revenge travel....
Why we need a common flight credit rule for airlines from DOT — now
Travel experts are touting “secret” strategies for extending airline ticket credits. The thought of having to figure out some workaround to get what should be yours is distasteful. Consumers need a common flight credit rule for airlines immediately to deal with this burgeoning problem. In fact, the rule should apply to all travel credits.
DOT needs more airline passenger service rules, not less
I never can feel sorry for airline passenger service requirements dictated by DOT that protect passengers. If anything, customer service protections need more strength and enforcement rather than less. The public needs help from DOT to keep the current program of regulations effective. Plus, we need some new rules.
TRAVEL ADVICE
Vacation rental insurance can save you from what you take for granted
The world of vacation rentals is far different from staying in a hotel. Hotels have requirements to have certain insurance. Vacation rental insurance may cover liability, but in many cases, you are on your own should there be a fire or hurricane. And, even if a pipe bursts, what happens to you? Or, you may get sick. Everyone should plan for the unexpected.
Infants traveling as a lap child and other infant air travel safety issues
Flying with a 2-year-old is taking an injury chance. But parents often take that chance to save money. On a flight not that long ago, a family was sitting not far from me. The mother sat next to her son, who was about four or five years old, and the father had their...
Four ways to make airplane boarding announcements more useful
Airlines are boarding flights earlier and earlier these days. Most US carriers now seem to be boarding domestic at least 30 minutes and sometimes as much as 50 minutes in advance. From an airline point of view, it increases the chances of an on-time departure. Here are a few things I wish they’d include in boarding announcements now that they have extra time.
Seven immutable luggage laws and other tips to prevent their theft and loss
Luggage theft and grabbing the wrong luggage by mistake happen regularly across the globe. My seven immutable luggage laws and other tips will help you prevent luggage loss. I wrote about luggage theft and loss not that long ago, but just last week, one of my friends...
CORONAVIRUS
Why passengers need common airline flight credit rules
We need common airline flight credit rules for airfare refunds and flight credit protection. The refund issue has been screwed up for consumers since the beginning. It is a major issue with more than $10 billion in outstanding flight credits, estimated by the Wall...
Why airlines need to fix a major sick-passenger change fee issue
Major US carriers getting rid of change fees was a welcome change for travelers, even if we weren’t in a pandemic. However, airlines still have no consistent sick-passenger rule for allowing changes due to illness.
Five ways travel may never go back to pre-COVID days — get ready for a “new normal”
After three years American travelers yearn for a "new normal" for vacation and business travel reality. Many Americans and travelers worldwide may feel as if the pandemic is over. Indeed, after almost three years, everyone wanted to return to normal. But the "new...
How COVID still affects travel even if the virus is weaker
COVID still affects travel. Don't fool with the coronavirus. Respect it. As a travel agent and someone who loves to travel, it's been great to see COVID restrictions loosening on travel worldwide. But COVID still affects travel even if the virus is weaker. Loosened...
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Accomplishments
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.
- 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 $3,500
- 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.
