In this commentary
- A personal story about a reclining airline seat illustrates how quickly a trip can turn uncomfortable if you don’t speak up.
- Most travel trouble—from scams to unruly guests—can be avoided through proactive preparation and situational awareness.
- Common problems to watch for include fake police shakedowns, car rental “ding and dent” scams, and sophisticated bogus travel websites.
I should have known she was going to be trouble. I was stuck in seat 36J on a flight from Tampa to Zürich, Switzerland, and before the plane even started down the rain-slickened runway, the passenger in front of me turned to her companion and asked, “How do I recline this seat?’
Recline the seat? Bad idea!
Edelweiss Air, the Swiss charter airline I was on, offers a scant 31 inches of seat pitch in economy class. I’m 6′ 1″. The physics translates into nine hours of torture on an overnight flight.
As a traveler, you can spot trouble, too — and this holiday season, with travel hitting more records, there’s plenty of trouble to be spotted. (Related: This is how to easily avoid common holiday travel mistakes.)
“Travel problems can be mitigated before they become problems,” says Harding Bush, associate director for security operations at Global Rescue. But it takes something that’s in short supply today: situational awareness, research, and common sense.
I learned a lesson from the Swiss seat leaner
Back to my overnight flight airline disaster. I peered over the seat and saw that the passenger was short and she also seemed to be articulate and well-dressed. Surely, someone like this would never lean her economy class seat all the way back, I thought. I don’t need to say a word.
Wrong. No sooner had they served dinner (which was unfit for human consumption) than she jammed her seat as far back as she could. Her seat nearly locked my knees in place. I was already half asleep, but my son, who was seated next to me, took a picture of the spectacle. I was wedged in like a cork in a bottle of Port. There was not even an inch between her seat and my face. (Related: Aspire to travel the world? Read this before you go.)
“Never be afraid to speak up,” says Becky Blanton, a writer and frequent traveler from Richmond, Va. “But don’t be a Karen, or a jackass, or demanding and rude. That doesn’t get you anywhere.” (Related: Pro tips for traveling safer during the 2024 holidays.)
I’m embarrassed, but I didn’t say anything for the duration of the flight. I just suffered quietly. In retrospect, I should have struck up a friendly conversation when she asked about reclining the seat. I could have said something like, “Save a little space for me, maybe?”
But Blanton is right — don’t be a pushover. But also, don’t be a jerk.
What’s the worst travel trouble you’ve ever encountered? Was it a scam, a difficult passenger, or something else entirely?
Have you ever stayed quiet during a travel problem and later wished you had said something?
What’s your single best tip for staying out of trouble on the road? Share your story and your advice in the comments below.
What kind of trouble should you expect when you’re traveling?
Trouble comes in all shapes and sizes when you’re going somewhere. Here are a few recent run-ins our readers have had.
The fake cop
Every trip has its risks. For Lauren Milligan, a career advisor from Glen Ellyn, Ill., it was a run-in with a fake traffic cop. Good thing she’d brushed up on Mexican scams before her last vacation. Sure enough, on the way home from an outdoor market, they were pulled over by a fake cop, who quickly offered to settle her “ticket” for a cash payment. (The fake cops demand you pay your ticket immediately.) She talked her way out of the fake ticket by saying she had to fly back to the States the following morning and had no cash. “¡Que aventura!” she says. (Related: These are the most dangerous assumptions travelers are making in 2025.)
The ding and dent scam
Here’s one of the biggest problems travelers run into when they rent a car: a bill from their car rental company for damaging their car. I’ve also seen this in hotels and vacation rentals. There’s only one way to avoid that problem: Take “before” and “after” photos of the vehicle, including the license plate, VIN, and dashboard readings (mileage and fuel level). And if there’s even the smallest ding or dent, ask for a different car. “Don’t leave the rental car location if you are not 100 percent satisfied with the condition of the car,” says Tom Harriman, an attorney from Clarksville, Md. “Even if you are in a hurry.” (Here’s our guide to planning your next trip.)
Read more insightful reader feedback. See all comments.
Bogus travel sites
Yep, they’re still out there, and they’re pretty clever. Scammers try to mimic or impersonate popular travel websites, spoofing familiar branding, logos, and company verbiage. They’re so convincing that even an, ahem, experienced consumer reporter sometimes has trouble recognizing them. Darius Kingsley, head of consumer banking practices at Chase, said there’s an easy solution. Go directly to the website instead of finding it through a search. “Always pay through the service’s official website,” he says. Going off-site or paying with a money transfer is just asking for trouble. (Related: I never thought I’d give this Thanksgiving travel advice.)
Unruly guests
When you travel, your powers of observation are important, says Kellee O’Reilly, a consultant and frequent traveler from Wayzata, Minn. For example, if you’re having a romantic dinner at a restaurant, look around. “If you see a family with three unruly children, ask the host to seat you somewhere else,” she says. Always be a step ahead to avoid trouble, and ask the staff to become your ally. This applies to other situations as well, including hotels with potentially bad rooms, airline seats, and even a rideshare driver who gives you an “off” vibe, she says. Think two or three moves ahead like a chess game. (Related: Want better customer service when you travel? You must be joking.)
Say something
What do all these things have in common? Smart travelers are proactive when it comes to staying out of trouble. They anticipate everything from dented rental cars to bogus sites, and they speak up right away instead of waiting for someone to address the problem. (Related: You need more vacation time in 2025. Here’s how to get it.)
“Don’t settle for the dregs when you were promised high quality,” says Mitch Krayton, a travel advisor based in Denver.
Oh, and one more thing.
The most effective way to handle travel trouble is a two-part strategy: address problems early and politely. Don’t wait for a bad situation to get worse, like the author did with the reclining seat. But when you do speak up, do it with a calm and pleasant demeanor. A polite request is far more likely to be successful than an angry demand. As the experts say, packing your manners is one of the most powerful tools a traveler has.
Want to stay out of trouble? Don’t forget to do this
I deal with consumer problems all the time, and I can tell you they’ve gotten much worse this year (here’s my advice for resolving any consumer problem). In fact, I’m sitting on a record number of cases for 2024. I expect that trend to continue.
How not to become a statistic? Well, one of best ways to sidestep trouble is to pack your manners.
“Remain pleasant,” says John Gobbels, chief operating officer of Medjet, an air medical transport program for travelers. “That’s the number one way of preventing escalation. You could approach the situation with hostility, but honestly, you will get your problem handled much, much better if you’re nice.” (Related: Slow travel: Why is everyone losing it with the laggards?)
Next year, travel trouble can come in many forms, from seat leaners to rowdy travelers. And while the problems don’t fit into a neat category, the solutions do. Look around, be prepared and use common sense. You would be shocked by how many travelers fail to pack these simple strategies when they hit the road. (Related: Everyone hates tourists. Here’s how to be a better traveler next summer.)
Then again, if everyone did, I might not have a job.
How to stay out of trouble when you travel
- Verify your booking sites — To avoid fake travel sites, go directly to the official website of the airline, hotel, or car rental agency. Never pay through a third-party money transfer service; always use the official, secure payment portal.
- Document the condition of your rentals — For any rental car, hotel room, or vacation property, take detailed “before” and “after” photos and videos. If you notice any prior damage, report it to staff immediately and ask for a different car or room.
- Practice situational awareness — Anticipate problems before they happen. Research common scams for your destination. If a driver, fellow passenger, or restaurant gives you an “off” vibe, trust your instincts and remove yourself from the situation.
- Speak up early, but be polite — If you see an issue developing, address it immediately instead of letting it fester. Approach staff or the other person with a calm and pleasant attitude. A polite request is always more effective than an angry demand.
- Pack your common sense and manners — Ultimately, the best tools for avoiding trouble are common sense and politeness. Be prepared, trust your gut, and always treat service workers with respect. It’s the simplest and most effective travel strategy.
FAQs
- Is it okay to recline my airline seat?The article suggests being considerate. While you have the right to recline, doing so without regard for the person behind you can cause problems. A quick look back or a polite word can prevent an uncomfortable flight for everyone.
- How do I avoid car rental “ding and dent” scams?The best way is to take detailed “before” and “after” photos or videos of the vehicle. Document the license plate, VIN, and dashboard readings. If you see any prior damage, report it and ask for a different car before leaving the lot.
- How can I spot a bogus travel website?Scammers can perfectly mimic real sites. To be safe, experts recommend always going directly to the official website by typing the address yourself, rather than clicking a link from a search engine or an email.
- What’s the best way to handle an unruly passenger or guest?The advice is to be proactive. If you see a potentially disruptive situation, like a rowdy group near your table, politely ask the staff to be seated elsewhere. Thinking a few steps ahead can prevent a confrontation.
- What is the most effective way to solve a travel problem?Experts agree that the best approach is to address issues early and politely. A calm, pleasant request is far more likely to be successful than an angry demand. Packing your manners is your most powerful tool.
