Here’s some interesting research that challenges the conventional wisdom about travel in America: U.S. motorist do drive the speed limit — unless they’re on I-15 in Nevada and Utah, better known as “America’s Autobahn.” That’s according to a survey released this morning by TomTom, a manufacturer of navigation systems.
January 2010
Last week’s story about how the Transportation Department has adopted a more pro-consumer attitude didn’t include the recent fine against United Airlines and news of its new Web site.
If you collect frequent flier miles, you already know what happens when you don’t play by the rules. You know there are exceptions to the rules. But what if you play by the rules, and still lose?
When your airline cancels a flight because of weather, are you entitled to a full refund? Elizabeth Hearn wanted to know after she booked a flight from Norfolk, Va., to Shreveport, La. — a flight that was canceled because of a Nor’easter late last year. Neither her carrier, American Airlines, nor her online travel agency, Priceline, would give her back the $400 she had spent.
No refund for my canceled ticket. Plus, rude hotel managers, a consumer-friendly DOT and problems with star ratings.
Gary Benedik was driving through Memphis recently when he decided to stop for the night. He made a reservation at a Holiday Inn, but discovered a short while later that the hotel was too far out of the way. But by then it was too late: he’d already been charged for the room.
Attention, air travelers: The government has your back.
It used to be so simple: The price you were quoted for an airline ticket, rental car or cruise used to be the price you actually paid.
When Ed Boston books a two-star hotel in Flint, Mich., he expects a reliable property with minimal amenities — not the dump he ends up in. He asks his online travel agency if he can change hotels, and it says “no.” What now?
This is a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at about 7 a.m. today at Orlando International Airport. If you stepped across the barrier (I wouldn’t recommend it) and talked with one of these air travelers, you’d discover they have one thing in common: They’ve all been profiled. They’re standing in the Spanish-speaking line. There’s a screener [...]
Is the TSA already profiling passengers? Plus, trouble with Hilton’s blackout dates promise and no resort fees in Vegas, baby!
Nate Bear has been a Hilton frequent guest for more than a decade, having earned Gold VIP status during hundreds of hotel stays. One of the benefits he likes the most is Hilton’s No Blackout Dates rule that seems pretty straightforward: “If there’s a standard room available at any Hilton Family hotel or resort worldwide, you can redeem points for it. No exceptions, no fine print. It’s that simple.”
A few weeks ago I got into trouble for claiming it was difficult to find a hotel in Las Vegas that didn’t charge a resort fee.
Turns out Delta Air Lines’ frequent flier miles don’t expire after all.
Kathleen Pierz is one happy Continental Airlines customer this morning. After a series of misunderstandings involving Delta Air Lines’ codesharing agreement with Continental, she’s been shown the ultimate courtesy. Delta might have another word for it, though. Here’s the situation: Last fall, Pierz booked a codeshare flight through Delta on Orbitz. When she checked in, [...]
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