Author: Michelle Couch-Friedman

Michelle Couch-Friedman is the executive director of Elliott Advocacy. She is a consumer advocate, writer, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialist and psychotherapist 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.

Can you fly without a mask if you have a doctor’s note?

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Can you fly without a mask at this stage of the pandemic if you have a doctor’s note? Since late summer, the blunt answer from most airlines is no. Katheryn Stueckle’s son can’t physically tolerate a face covering, but she has no problem with American Airlines’ updated mask requirements. However, she would like a refund for the flight she purchased before the airline changed the policy.

American Airlines says she purchased the flight after it eliminated medical exemptions to the mask requirement. As a result, it denied the refund.

Can we help? Read more “Can you fly without a mask if you have a doctor’s note?”

Looking for an Overseas Adventure Travel refund? Here is the good news!

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Did Overseas Adventure Travel or another tour company promise you a refund during the pandemic and then renege later? If so, you’re certainly not alone. One of the most frequent complaints we’re fielding involves tour operators changing contract terms after the coronavirus cancellation wave began.

The good news? One of the top tour operators has recently changed its stance once more — this time, in favor of its customers. If you’ve been battling for a refund from Overseas Adventure Travel or Grand Circle during the pandemic, you’re in luck. (Reprint) Read more “Looking for an Overseas Adventure Travel refund? Here is the good news!”

I locked myself out of my Airbnb! I want a refund

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

What happens if you lock yourself out of your Airbnb rental thousands of miles from home? Will your host or the caretaker immediately come and rescue you?

Xiamin Qi recently discovered the answer to both questions after she locked herself out of her Airbnb rental in Barcelona. Despite the host warning her about the self-locking feature of the front door, she says jet lag caused an oversight. That fatigue caused Qi to walk out of the building and leave the keys inside.

Now she is asking the host to refund $500 for her trouble. But is this a reasonable request? (Reprint) Read more “I locked myself out of my Airbnb! I want a refund”

Can my guide cancel my trip to Italy and keep my money too?

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

When coronavirus started closing down Italy, Meryl Silver wondered if she would be forced to cancel her upcoming trip. She didn’t have to wait long for an answer. In early March, the private photographer who was hosting the workshop she was to attend, announced he was “rescheduling” the event. So why won’t he return her $1,200 deposit? (Reprint) Read more “Can my guide cancel my trip to Italy and keep my money too?”

Is this really a $951 car rental mistake?!

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Andrew Dupuy made a “little” mistake when he returned his recent car rental in Seattle. He says an innocent oversight caused him to drop the vehicle off at the wrong place. Only after it was too late to fix the problem did he see the shocking price tag of his error.

Now Dupuy is asking if he’s really stuck with the $951 penalty the car rental company charged for this mistake.

Can we help? Read more “Is this really a $951 car rental mistake?!”

What happens when your travel agent never paid for your cruise

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

What if you flew across the Atlantic Ocean for a much anticipated cruise only to find out that your travel agent never paid for it?

That’s exactly what happened to Peggy Wimberly. She got an awful surprise when she showed up in Barcelona for her Mediterranean cruise aboard MSC’s Meraviglia. Although Wimberly had made full payment for the trip months before, her travel agent never paid for the cruise. As a result of the nonpayment, MSC canceled the reservation weeks before the sailing. And although MSC eventually allowed Wimberly to board the ship, it cost her an unexpected additional $1,633 — and the loss of her preferred cabin.

Can the Elliott Advocacy team figure out what went wrong here?  Read more “What happens when your travel agent never paid for your cruise”