TRAVEL CONSUMER RIGHTS Archives

After a stay at Holiday Inn Express, Millie Crawford was surprised to find a $59 charge for a damaged lamp she says she never touched. With conflicting stories from hotel staff and no clear evidence, she escalated the dispute, filed a chargeback—and won. Here’s how travelers can fight back against bogus hotel damage fees.

Holiday Inn surprise charge: a $59 bill for a lamp I didn’t damage!

November 24, 2025November 17, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Millie Crawford didn’t think much about the lamp in her Holiday Inn Express room. Not until a $59 charge appeared on her credit card days after she checked out.

Bonnie Roeder-Burns tracked her delayed bag with an AirTag. When it finally arrived, valuables were missing—but Iberia Airlines denied her claim, citing no visible damage. With help from a travel advocate and strong documentation, she pushed back—and won. Here's what travelers must know about proving loss and fighting back after pilfered luggage.

Pilfered luggage problem: Why won’t Iberia help me?

November 10, 2025November 10, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When items vanish from your luggage, can you trust your airline to make it right?

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.

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