Is my lost ticket a lost cause?
Virgin Atlantic promises Jerry Levine it will send him a paper ticket for his flight from San Francisco to Johannesburg. But when it doesn’t, the airline is less than helpful in tracking it down. Is his lost ticket a lost cause? And what should he do now?
Two bills, one collection agency — and zero options
Before Sophia Mei books a cruise online through Travelocity, her screen goes blank and she loses her reservation. Or so she thinks. A phone agent helps here complete her booking, but soon it’s clear that she has two reservations for the same cruise. And before long, a collections agency is after her to pay for both tickets. What should she do?
A ski vacation that was all downhill
Colleen Bosler prepays for a hotel at a ski resort during Christmas. But she misses her plane, forcing her to reschedule. The resort offers her credit, but she has to cancel her make-up vacation, too. The hotel is giving her until May to use the credit, or it will expire. Is that fair?
Hey Priceline, I want my taxes back!
When he cancels his trip to Istanbul, Kevin O’Connell tries to get a refund for the taxes and fees on his flight. But his online travel agent, Priceline, is giving him the runaround. How does he get his money back?
Insurance is extra on this “hot” Mexican car
Tom Gainor pays for a rental car through Hotwire.com, but when he gets to the car rental counter in Mexico, an agent strong-arms him into buying insurance that more than doubles the cost of the car. Neither Hotwire, nor the rental company seems to care. Is there any way of getting his money back?
A married name, a singular headache
Shaun Francis’ daughter has the wrong name on her airline ticket. It’s her married name, and her passport still has her maiden name. The airline is happy to fix the ticket — for a $400 fee. But is that right?
Pick up the phone, pay twice the price
Joseph Dunlap runs into a snag when he tries to buy an airline ticket online for his mother. So he calls the online agency, Expedia, and is sold a ticket that costs twice the online rate. Do rates really vary by that much? Well, yes — and no.
Hey, where’s my ride?
Her vacation package includes transfers from the airport to her hotel. But when she lands in Kingston, Jamaica, there’s no van to pick her up. What does N.M. Johnston’s tour operator, Apple Vacations, owe her?
We’re out of cars — and you’re out of luck
When David Nicholson arrives at the National Car Rental counter in Guadalajara, Mexico, he’s told they’re out of cars. And he’s also on his own. Shouldn’t National have tried to find him another car? Well, yes. So why isn’t it responding to his complaint letter?
Two bills, one room — and zero options
Rick Petersen prepays for his hotel room in Duluth, Minn., through Hotwire.com. But a few months later, he’s charged for it — again. Now, neither the hotel nor Hotwire seem to care about fixing the double-billing error. Is Petersen out of options?
A bill, but no reservation
Wendell Mrugala makes a hotel reservation through Orbitz. But when he contacts the online agency to confirm his room, he’s told there’s no reservation. Mrugala makes another reservation, but is surprised when he learns the first reservation has gone through. Is there any hope for a refund?
A surprise fee for my hotel room
Ilene Coffey’s room at an Orlando hotel comes with an unexpected surprise: a $50 fee for a “short stay.” When she protests, her hotel and online travel agency tell her she must pay. What’s worse, she can’t back out — if she does, her credit card will be charged for the stay. Is there a way out of this mess?
Did Mickey take my SUV for a spin?
Something is wrong with Lynn Seehafer’s SUV, which she valet parked at a Disney World hotel. She thinks it’s been taken for a joyride. But has it? And to what extent is Disney responsible for the vehicle?
Business class (almost) all the way
Anita Fancon and her husband want to fly from Tucson, Ariz., to Bordeaux, France in business class. They have the miles they need, and they’ve already cashed them in. But do they have the seats? American Airlines says they do, except on the flight from Dallas to London. Is there anything Fancon can do to secure the seats she’s already paid 180,000 miles for?
Hassled over my ‘no hassle’ miles
Jan Venegas buys tickets to Hawaii with her Capital One “No Hassle” miles. But when her airline goes out of business, her credit card company refuses to return the hard-earned awards. Is Venegas stuck with a worthless ticket?