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Elliott Report

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AIRLINE REFUNDS

Rhonda Bryant’s trip to San Francisco was ruined when American Airlines canceled her connecting flight. Despite a new federal rule requiring automatic refunds, she spent nearly seven months chasing down $403 the airline withheld. Her case reveals how major carriers sidestep refund rules—and what you must do when they do. From “trip in vain” policies to DOT complaints, here’s what travelers need to know when the refund isn’t automatic.

Are airline refunds automatic now? For this canceled American Airlines flight, they weren’t

October 27, 2025October 27, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

All Rhonda Bryant wanted was a refund for her airline ticket. She’d booked three tickets with American Airlines for a trip from Portland, Maine, to San Francisco. But when American canceled her connecting flight from Charlotte to San Francisco after hours of delays, her plans fell apart. 

Categories Advocacy
Thomas Larson booked a flight with a 93-minute layover, but an American Airlines agent refused to check his bag — claiming it wasn’t long enough. Forced to buy a second ticket, Larson faced airline finger-pointing and silence. Who’s responsible when partner airlines don’t agree on the rules?

“Not enough time for your bags”: How a 90-minute connection rule upended a flight

October 29, 2025October 20, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Thomas Larson thought he’d done everything right when he booked a flight from Raleigh-Durham to Ketchikan, Alaska. He’d bought a multi-airline itinerary through Alaska Airlines: The first leg was on American Airlines to Phoenix, then continuing on Alaska Airlines to Seattle and Ketchikan.

Categories Advocacy
Passenger seeks full refund after Aer Lingus switches aircraft due to a strike, leading to a charter flight. Understand your rights when airlines change service, negotiation strategies, and how to get a fair resolution in flight disruption cases.

Aer Lingus Switched my aircraft. Am I entitled to a refund?

June 5, 2025June 2, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Is an aircraft switch enough cause to ask for a full flight refund? Stephanie Szigetvari wants to know — and the answer might surprise you. It surprised me, and I don’t surprise easily.

Categories Advocacy
Erin Wright was banned by American Airlines, accused of intoxication and engaging in sexual activity with a stranger during a flight. But Wright insists it's a case of mistaken identity — she’s a 24-year-old lesbian who wasn’t involved. Determined to clear her name, Wright turned to an advocacy team for help. Although American Airlines eventually reinstated her, Wright’s fight wasn’t over. She posted a viral TikTok video and fought for a refund for an extra ticket she had to buy. What really happened on that flight?

Banned by American Airlines for being “intoxicated and engaging in sexual activity” — but was it her?

June 28, 2025October 7, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

American Airlines says Erin Wright was drunk and had sex with a man on a recent flight, and now she’s banned. Wright says American Airlines didn’t give her a chance to tell her side of the story and that this is a case of mistaken identity — and she can prove it

Categories Advocacy
Keith Dawe has been waiting since 2020 for Expedia to refund his airline tickets. But neither the online agency nor his airline can find the missing money. Where is it?

Expedia said it refunded my airline tickets, but it didn’t. What should I do?

September 25, 2024April 24, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Keith Dawe has been waiting since 2020 for Expedia to refund his airline tickets. But neither the online agency nor his airline can find the missing money. Where is it?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter

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