Here’s a case where a ticket contract and the reality of an experience find themselves on a head-on collision of sorts. And I’m kinda in the middle.
refund
It may sound insignificant, but to Mona Ogden, the fireworks at Disneyland are a big deal. She even spent $900 to upgrade into a “club-level” room at the Disneyland Hotel on a recent visit because they promised “a view of the Disneyland Park fireworks show from above with in-house soundtrack.”
When Greg Caravelli’s flight to Cancun, Mexico, was cancelled in October because of Hurricane Rina, his tour operator, Apple Vacations, offered a full refund. United Airlines, which was supposed to fly him back home, returned his money. But the airline on which he was flying to Mexico, USA 3000 Airlines, did not.
Jeri Kellerman’s visit to Washington does not go as planned. There’s a power outage at her hotel, and she spends the night in darkness and freezing cold. Now she’s only being offered 50 percent off her room. Is she owed more?
Here’s an update on a car rental case that was denied and then un-denied. It involves a Rent-A-Wreck franchise, a customer from Philadelphia, and corporate Rent-A-Wreck.
Serban Constantinescu’s Scandinavian tour didn’t get off to the best start. He missed a flight connection from Cleveland to New York because of bad weather, and was a no-show for his hotel in Copenhagen.
Thomas Travia bought a ticket from Philadelphia to Omaha on Southwest Airlines but couldn’t use all of it. Nothing unusual about that — plans change all the time, and the airline offers some of the most flexible ticket change policies in the industry.
Basili Alukos spent almost a month in the hospital this summer and his doctor told him he couldn’t fly. He had several trips planned, including one on Spirit Airlines.
When Marcella Knight opened the door to her vacation rental property in Rehoboth Beach, Del., a few weeks ago, she saw a dump. Not only was the unit dirty, but it was also in dire need of maintenance, she says.
Priceline promises to refund Ian Dennis’ vacation package when he makes a typographical error. But then it reneges, leaving him with a big bill. How can he prove he was offered a refund if the conversation took place by phone?
Sometimes, even death isn’t a good enough reason for a refund.
When hurricane Irene plowed through the Northeast late last summer, she didn’t just leave half of New England underwater. The storm also ruined a vacation or two, including the tour of Niagara Falls Jim Allendoerfer had set up for his fiancee and her family.
A death certificate can be a trump card for travelers who want a refund. Whether you’re locked into a nonrefundable hotel room or a consolidator ticket, proof of a relative’s death can loosen the rules — if not get them waived entirely.
After Ursula Maul’s husband passes away suddenly, she tries to get a refund for his nonrefundable ticket. But neither her online agency, nor her airline, will help her. Does she have any other options?
Donald Buisman splurged on his flight from Kansas City to St. John in the US Virgin Islands by booking two first class seats on United Airlines. After all, it was his fifth wedding anniversary, and he could pay with a combination of miles and money: 45,841 points and $1,747.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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