Stupid things travelers do

When traveling, we often leave our common sense behind. That’s fine if we’re on a vacation – a missed connection here or a surcharge there isn’t a big deal when we’re off the clock. But for folks who travel for a living, doing something stupid can cost a company a lot of money.

I’m here to help. Or, more to the point, you’re here to help. Thanks to the hundreds of calls and e-mails I get as the ombudsman for the public radio show The Savvy Traveler and National Geographic Traveler magazine, I’ve put together a list of the five biggest boo-boos travelers make. Here they are:

1. Not getting the dates right when you book an airline ticket or hotel room.

This is by far the most common error, and it can happen to anyone, regardless of their level of experience. It’s particularly tricky with hotel rooms, because you’re staying overnight and departing the next day. But you often forget about that next day, so you end up booking one night too few (or too many). I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve screwed up the dates.

With airline tickets, it’s a slightly different problem. Most travelers fly on highly restricted nonrefundable fares, so once they click on the “book” button, the transaction is a done deal. There’s no going back, and a change will cost $100, which could be more than the value of the ticket.

(Why are airlines so strict about ticket changes? By selling these very restricted tickets, which they know travelers may not be able to use – after all, people’s plans change – they stand to make more money.)

How to prevent it: Pay close attention to the names and dates on the reservations you are making. Repeat: Pay attention! If you’re booking online, you have only one chance to get it right. If you need more of a cushion, use a travel agent. An agent can void a transaction more easily.

2. Not getting to the airport with enough time to get through security or check-in.

True, the airlines seem to change their recommended check-in times constantly, so it’s easy to get this wrong. At the moment, the conventional wisdom is to allow an hour for domestic flights and two hours for international flights. If you’re checking luggage, give yourself a little bit more time, especially if you’re flying domestically – allow more like 90 minutes. People are constantly cutting it closer than that, though. They think an hour is way too much, especially for puddle-jumper flights that last less than an hour. What’s the point of your airport processing time lasting longer than the actual flight?

You might make it through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints if you cut it close, but airlines have become much stricter about letting passengers on the plane under the wire. I’ve heard from lots of travelers who tell me they’ve been denied boarding because they were a few minutes tardy. Even if the plane still was there.

How to prevent it: Leave yourself more than plenty of time to get to the airport. It’s not worth cutting it close anymore. That’s because with new ticket restrictions, if you miss your flight, you might also lose the entire value of your airline ticket.

3. Checking luggage that’s fragile or valuable.

The airlines say they’re liable for up to $2,500 in checked luggage. But talk is cheap. Take a closer look at their contracts and you see a loophole big enough to fly a 747 through. Most carriers won’t cover artwork, books and documents, computers and other electronic equipment, money, any perishable items, photographic equipment, precious metals, stones or jewelry . . . the list goes on.

So while the carriers leave you with a sense of security as they take your bags and drop them on the conveyor belt, remember that by and large, it’s a false sense of security. Bottom line: If it’s valuable, don’t check it in.

How to prevent it: Ship it. Courier services will insure your belongings, so that if they are lost on the way, at least you’ll get compensated. But for priceless items such as heirlooms, the only way to make sure it isn’t damaged is to carry it with you.

4. Skipping insurance when you rent a car.

Let me be clear about this: Most of the time, your existing car insurance or credit card will cover your rental car. Not always, though. It’s best to check before you rent, and make sure you mention the kind of vehicle you’re driving. Some types of cars and trucks aren’t covered under your insurance or cardholder agreement.

If you’re not covered, then get covered. I can’t even begin to count the number of travelers who should have bought insurance but didn’t, only to face thousand-dollar bills after getting a rental into a fender-bender. And just in case you’re thinking of disputing your credit-card charges, think again. The card companies almost always side with the rental companies.

How to prevent it: Don’t just find out about what kinds of coverage you have. Carry the proof with you. A lot of car rental companies will force you to buy their insurance if you can’t prove you have your own.

5. Not knowing what to ask for when something goes wrong.

The toilets in your room don’t flush. Do you deserve a free night’s stay? A gate agent was rude to you. Should the airline offer you two first-class tickets as compensation? Of course not. But I’ve found many travelers ask anyway, usually because they’re so upset about the experience that they can’t see how irrational their request is. There’s no harm in asking for something. However, if you want a complaint to be processed in a timely manner, your request should also be reasonable.

I like to call this disorder “You’ve Ruined My Trip and Now You’ll Pay” syndrome. It can also include contacting reporters like me to try and play your case out in the media (a strategy that rarely works, even if I’m persuaded that you deserve the first-class tickets).

How to prevent it: Make the punishment fit the crime. Bad plumbing deserves an apology and being moved to a different room. Rude service? Saying “I’m sorry” is about all you should expect. If you feel that more is in order, I’d recommend sleeping on your grievance and then making another call to the airline or hotel in the morning, once you’ve had a chance to cool off.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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