Leisure travelers know business travel is a major factor, but leisure travelers are filling the business void. Full disclosure — for anyone who doesn’t already know — I’m a rare breed of travel agent. I book both business and leisure travel. So yes, I want...
As norovirus surges, Trump’s cutting of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program will kill off the VSP’s major work of keeping American cruise ship passengers safe. This year, a dozen outbreaks have occurred in which a total of 1,434 cruise ships’...
Aviation and environmental leaders work together to pass the Sustainable Skies Act. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, Airlines for America (A4A) CEO Nick Calio, and the Environmental Defense Fund’s senior vice president for climate Nathaniel Keohane, stood side by side...
It’s that moment of hesitation before you head out the door. The one where you ask, “What about my hotel room safety? Is it safe to leave my valuables in my hotel room?” It happens to me often, not just because I practically live in hotels but also because I often...
DOT is finally getting going on ancillary fees more than three years after President Biden’s call for more competition. Passengers really don’t care how many fees there are. Nor do they hate ancillary fees. Consumers just want a way to know the full cost...
If you want a less-stressful flight, it may be worth a splurge for preferred or premium seats. If you’re an elite level flier already booked for holiday travel you probably have your seat assignments confirmed, so you can disregard this post. Ditto if...
The May 7 Real ID deadline is just 31 days away. You’ll still likely be able to fly without a Real ID — for now — but you will suffer some pain, including airport security checkpoint delays. The Real ID deadline is thirty-one days away. The deadline will not be...
200 million Americans don’t realize foreign transaction fees can apply without foreign travel US consumers waste millions of dollars each year paying foreign transaction fees on credit cards. In many cases, they don’t even know they’re paying these...
When you have problems during airline travels, find a person to help you rather than depending on technology My client had a business class ticket to Paris from Newark, which meant the trip should have been a pleasure. Even with delays due to bad weather in New York,...
The most unanswered question tourists ask today: Where is the restroom? Finding a place to go to the bathroom has always been a problem for tourists. For years fast-food restaurants and coffee houses were the only places with public restrooms. And today, many...
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.
