Bob Gourley works with technology every day. But for a recent trip to Oman, he left the phone in his pocket and shot with a 35 mm film camera instead. Thirty-six frames. “I stopped more,” he says. “I observed more.”
The government is about to let airlines off the hook for some flight delays. The change, which takes effect Oct. 19, moves 10 categories of delay and cancellation out of the airline’s column in federal reporting.
A federal committee created to give air travelers a voice inside the government meets this month for the first time in three years. It has four members, one of them for consumers, and an agenda limited to three disclosure documents.
An injury meant Andrew Greenman could no longer wear the $179 sneakers he bought on Amazon. After weeks of conflicting answers, an agent finally emailed him: the refund was coming in 24 to 48 hours. Then the money never arrived.
Dennis Drake returned his Dollar rental car in Albuquerque, told the agent about the leaky tire and the engine light, and flew home to Texas. Weeks later, Dollar billed him as if he still had the Jeep, and threatened repossession.
Ray and Denise Oswald returned their Budget rental at O’Hare and got a clean receipt for $312. Five days later came a $450 charge for smoke cleaning, backed by blurry photos of a generic white car. None of them smoke
Kishore Bitra thought he had found the perfect hotel. The reviews praised its upscale amenities and its attentive service. Then he checked in: broken air conditioner, dirty sheets, a property in disrepair. The reviews were all posted the same week.
Dirk Shearer says he was scammed out of $15,000 through a money transfer. He filed a claim, then a police report, then wrote to a consumer advocate for help. The advocate had to turn him down. Here is the reason.
For 25 years, two airlines refused to play along. Southwest checked your bags free and let you sit anywhere. JetBlue gave coach the most legroom of any domestic carrier. Neither had first class or a lounge. This week, both ended.
Debra Beasley is tired of watching travel insurance eat into every trip she books. Every time she books, another checkout screen offers optional coverage, and it all adds up. She has shelled out thousands, and premiums climb higher every year.
