Warning: When your flight is delayed, don’t walk away from the gate

By Michelle Couch-Friedman | March 26, 2018March 29, 2018

Lara Wallace arrived at the airport for her recent Frontier Airlines flight to find that her delayed flight had no anticipated time of departure. So she and her friend decided to leave the gate area and have dinner. But as they settled in for their meal, they were alerted that their flight was taking off without them.

Now Wallace wants our help to get Frontier Airlines to reimburse her for the cost of the new flight that she was forced to purchase and incidental expenses. But is she entitled to this compensation? Read more “Warning: When your flight is delayed, don’t walk away from the gate”

If a policy is unwritten, does it really exist?

By Jennifer Finger | May 17, 2017April 14, 2017

When Jon Dobson tries to get a bereavement rate on a Virgin Atlantic ticket, the airline forces him to purchase a high-priced ticket at the last minute but promises a refund for the difference between his airfare and a bereavement fare if he sends its agents the death certificate. But when he does so, the airline’s only response is deathly silence. Read more “If a policy is unwritten, does it really exist?”

The best consumer-friendly travel regulations you’ve never heard of

By Christopher Elliott | April 23, 2017March 14, 2017

If you’re an experienced traveler, maybe you know about the Department of Transportation’s 24-hour rule for airline ticket purchases, or EU 261, the European consumer protection regulation for air travelers, or the Fair Credit Billing Act. Read more “The best consumer-friendly travel regulations you’ve never heard of”

Stranded in Mexico City! Who is responsible?

By Diane Perera | April 1, 2017April 1, 2017

Laurie Mankin and her husband have tickets on American Airlines to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A travel delay and a resulting transfer to a different arline leaves them stranded in Mexico City. Mankin incurs costs to stay overnight, and has to buy new tickets to get to Puerto Vallarta. Neither airline will reimburse her. Can we help Mankin obtain a refund? Read more “Stranded in Mexico City! Who is responsible?”

How “special” do your circumstances have to be for a refund?

By Christopher Elliott | April 18, 2016April 18, 2016

No question about it, airlines have some of the most restrictive rules in American business. In the travel industry, nothing compares to the fine print in an airfare. Read more “How “special” do your circumstances have to be for a refund?”