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
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.
Adriana Gores overpaid her Comcast bill by $4,762 by mistake. Comcast refunded her on a prepaid debit card. The balance then dropped to $82, with a charge she says she never made and no statement showing where the money went.
Aaron McIntosh rented through the Avis Uber program to drive for a living. Avis billed his account erratically, his bank froze it, and while he waited for a new card he asked Avis one question: should I return the car?
