Have you noticed all the free-range kids misbehaving at the airport lately? Not so long ago, free-range kids could only be found at the terminal playground areas or the gates, where their parents kept a watchful eye on them. But no longer. “It’s a free-for-all,” says...
Rental car safety is not necessarily at the top of a traveler’s mind when renting an automobile. They rarely wonder: Has the rental company properly maintained the car? Are there any recalls on the vehicle? Did they thoroughly clean and sanitize it? But lately,...
If you think you’re carrying too much luggage on your next trip, I’ve got news for you: You probably are. How much? Domestic airlines collected $7.1 billion in luggage fees, an increase of almost 5 percent from the previous year. This summer, we’ve...
Everyone wants to get on the plane first, and it’s getting out of control. Passengers want to cut the boarding line. I saw it recently while I was getting on a flight from Montevideo, Uruguay, to São Paulo. A man with a cane cut to the front of the line. “I have a...
A passenger flew from Dallas to Denver last summer; her baggage did not. She filed a claim. Frontier denied it as an overdue baggage claim. Why? Frontier says she waited too long. Collins says Frontier Airlines never gave her a chance to file a claim. Is it an overdue...
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.
