Solo suckers? 4 ways the travel industry discriminates against singles
The dreaded single supplement isn’t new. If you travel by yourself, and stay in a room or cabin meant for two, you’d expect to pay a little more. But lately, travel companies have come to see singles as suckers.
Help, my leg is missing
When Karen Kernohan discovers part of her flight from Calgary to Rome is missing, British Airways claims “extraordinary circumstances” are to blame and refuses to compensate her. Is she really out of luck?
US Airways fires skycaps, replaces them with Wall-E
US Airways is firing its skycaps and replacing them with Wall-E in 23 cities — in a manner of speaking.
Travel agent rescues cancer patient’s scuttled cruise
Don’t tell Jennifer Pulles that travel agents are obsolete. Her travel professional saved the day for her parents, underscoring the value of using a human travel agent for important trips.
Elliott’s E-Mail/June 26, 2008
In a summer filled with travel problems, it’s good to think about solutions from time to time.
Hilton raises room rate after confirming price in writing — now what?
What if your hotel jacks up the price of your room after you’ve received a written confirmation? If it’s a too-good-to-be-true rate, like a fat-finger fare, you’re outta luck. But how about if it’s a legit booking?
Troubled airline refunds nonrefundable ticket to unemployed passenger
Here’s something you don’t see every day. A deeply troubled airline with a reputation for rigidly enforcing its nonrefundability rules has issued a full refund to a recently-unemployed passenger. Has the carrier found its heart?
Up a creek
Aren spent this morning building a bridge over the Wolf Hollow creek. When he wasn’t being stalked by a bear.
Flowers? For me?
Erysse and her grandmother picked daisies this afternoon. They’re her mother’s favorite.
Maid on a mission: 6 secrets for avoiding housekeeping hell
If you’ve had a run-in with an aggressive hotel maid recently, you’re not alone. As managers try to squeeze more work from their employees, cleaning staff is becoming more fixated on servicing your room as fast as possible. Here’s how to avoid housekeeping hell.
No reservation in Las Vegas
Mary Jane Prough reserves a room in Las Vegas through Hotwire.com. But the resort she’s supposed to stay at has never heard of her, and she’s sent to a different hotel that’s out in the boondocks. What is Prough owed for the reservations snafu?
Fishing with grandma
Aren caught a perch and several sunfish with his grandmother today while they were down at the pond.
Airlines jettison compassion, hoping it will lift earnings
The so-called “flat-tire rule” that allows airlines to rebook passengers who are delayed for reasons beyond their control went flat last year. But now there’s evidence that the proverbial wheels have come off this plane.
Did we say dollar? We meant euro
Back in the day of dollar/euro parity, it didn’t make much of a difference which currency you paid with when you were on vacation. But with one euro now fetching a mind-boggling $1.55 (this chart tells the whole unfortunate story) the way you pay could make a huge difference to your bottom line.
Elliott’s E-Mail/June 17, 2008
What will they think of next? We have to stop asking ourselves that question. Because whenever we do, the airline industry finds something else they can charge us extra for. Last week, US Airways shocked us by saying it would make us pay for drinkable water. Yes, water. And that’s not all …