Author: Michelle Couch-Friedman

Michelle Couch-Friedman is the executive director of Elliott Advocacy. She is a consumer advocate, writer and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialist who spends as much time as possible exploring the world with her family. You can contact her at Michelle Couch-Friedman or on Linkedin. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Read more of Michelle's articles here.

The airline lost my bag. Do I really need to call the police?

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Somewhere along the way on Alexandra Epee’s journey home from London, the airline lost her bag. She arrived on time at the baggage claim carousel, but her luggage never did. Then her experience went from annoying to bizarre when a British Airways agent told her to call the police. She did so. But the authorities just directed her back to the airline, and she found herself caught in an endless loop.

Now Epee wants the Elliott Advocacy team to get to the bottom of this lost luggage fiasco. Can we? Read more “The airline lost my bag. Do I really need to call the police?”

This is the worst honeymoon horror story I’ve ever seen

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Lauren Weichmann missed her honeymoon and she wants you to hear her horror story.

After their wedding, she and her new spouse boarded a Frontier flight for their much-anticipated honeymoon to Cancun. Upon landing, the giddy couple made their way to the immigration window and handed over their passports. But when Mexican authorities asked Weichmann’s husband for his required visa, the couple’s honeymoon came to a premature halt. He didn’t have a visa — and the border agents rejected him for entry to Mexico.  Read more “This is the worst honeymoon horror story I’ve ever seen”

This passport mistake will ruin your vacation every time

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Trevor Seamon made a devastating passport mistake over the holidays, and it ruined his family’s dream vacation. In all the preparation for the journey to Italy, he neglected to check the validity of their passports. That error led the Seamons to arrive at the airport with passports expiring within 90 days — invalid for travel. Denied boarding, they missed their eagerly anticipated trip and ended up right back home at the end of the day.

Seamon believes Air France is responsible for this passport mistake, and he wants our team to negotiate a refund. But is the airline responsible for the family’s ruined vacation? Read more “This passport mistake will ruin your vacation every time”

What happened to my $7,662 American Airlines flight credit (and my Hawaiian dream)?!

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Tom Suminski intended to redeem his stockpiled $7,662 American Airlines flight credit for a Hawaiian vacation. But he says an airline representative gave him faulty redemption instructions that led the credit to expire right under his nose.

All of it.

Now the family’s tropical dreams are in jeopardy. Suminski is asking for our help to get American Airlines to reinstate his flight credit. But is this just a lost cause? Read more “What happened to my $7,662 American Airlines flight credit (and my Hawaiian dream)?!”

I got the worst view on the cruise! I want a refund

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Sevil Macmot found the view from her guaranteed oceanview cabin aboard Costa Cruises’ Mediterranea stunningly terrible. She says her dream vacation was ruined when the cruise line assigned her to the cabin with the worst view. Instead of Norwegian fjords and the deep blue sea, she saw hanging lifeboats and technical equipment out her window.

Now Macmot wants to know who selected her for this disappointing cabin with the terrible view — and why.

Oh, and she wants a refund, too. But is that a reasonable request? Read more “I got the worst view on the cruise! I want a refund”