TRAVEL Archives

Are airlines allowed to downgrade you from business class to economy? And if they do, what do they owe you?

Downgraded from business class to economy on KLM. But they messed with the wrong passengers!

May 11, 2026June 17, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Are airlines allowed to downgrade you from business class to economy? And if they do, what do they owe you?

Traveling this summer means packed flights, jammed roads, and full hotels. Flexibility is key: fly to nearby cities, explore less popular destinations, and consider stopover programs. Use tools like Airbnb's flexible dates search and Google Flights' flexible schedule options to save money and enhance your travel experience. Bend, but don’t break.

Try this pro trick for an affordable and stress-free summer vacation

June 15, 2024June 8, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Life is full of compromises, and that will never be more true than when you’re traveling this summer.

Junk fees -- hidden, mandatory extras added to your final bill -- have mushroomed in recent months and travelers are crying foul. The government is waging a public war against these annoying extras, but businesses still love hitting their customers with extras because fooling them into paying more is highly profitable.

Travelers are drowning in junk fees during the summer of surcharges

November 24, 2024May 25, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Junk fees — hidden, mandatory extras added to your final bill — have mushroomed in recent months and travelers are crying foul. The government is waging a public war against these annoying extras, but businesses still love hitting their customers with extras because fooling them into paying more is highly profitable.

Airlines will rake in a record $964 billion from passengers in 2024, up 7.5 percent from last year. Here's how to get a cheap ticket anyway.

Fight back against high airfares! Here’s how to get a cheaper flight now

September 25, 2024March 9, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Airlines will rake in a record $964 billion from passengers in 2024, up 7.5 percent from last year. Here’s how to get a cheap ticket anyway.

Elaine Simmons' cruise vacation turned into a nightmare when her NCL flight reservation vanished. Left scrambling at the airport, she paid an exorbitant $1,796 to secure alternative tickets. Despite pleading with NCL for reimbursement, they directed her to their travel insurance provider, AON, which rejected her claim. Even disputing the charge on her credit card proved futile. Exasperated and out of options, Elaine sought mediation. With resolve, she turned to an advocacy team, hoping they could compel NCL to take responsibility for their oversight and compensate her for the unexpected expense.

I paid an extra $1,796 to get to my cruise. Why won’t NCL reimburse me?

September 5, 2024February 28, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After Elaine Simmons’ flight reservation is lost, she pays an extra $1,796 to get to her NCL cruise. Why won’t the cruise line help her recover the money?

In a quest for better customer service, frustrated travelers like Robert Grunfeld are recording their calls with airlines. While this tactic can yield mixed results, experts suggest alternative strategies, highlighting the complexities of customer service interactions and the evolving legal and ethical considerations in the digital age.

Frustrated travelers start recording customer service phone calls. But does it work?

January 16, 2024January 13, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Oh, the lengths some people will go to get better customer service. Like recording phone calls with a customer service agent.

Steve Feiertag's journey from Palm Beach to Reykjavik takes an unexpected turn when Chase Ultimate Rewards mistakenly downgrades and cancels his business class flights. Facing a loss of $5,000 and left without assistance, Feiertag turns to Christopher Elliott, a consumer advocate, in a desperate attempt to salvage his travel plans.

Help! Chase Ultimate Rewards downgraded my flight — and then canceled it

January 6, 2025January 9, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Steve Feiertag’s flights from Palm Beach to Reykjavik are messed up, but Chase Ultimate Rewards won’t help him fix them. Is he about to lose $5,000?

David Hendrick faced a perplexing situation with Booking.com after discovering fraudulent bookings on his account. Despite immediate action and contacting customer service, his account was disabled. This led to a frustrating cycle of trying to reinstate his account and transfer his bookings, highlighting challenges in navigating customer service protocols.

Booking.com suspended my account. Can you help me get it back?

May 13, 2025January 3, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After discovering two fraudulent reservations, Booking.com suspends David Hendrick’s account. How can he get it reinstated?

When Dale Cerney checks into his resort in Kauai, it doesn't have a reservation for him. Will Booking.com pay for the mistake?

Booking.com lost my reservation! Can you make it pay?

May 13, 2025December 20, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When Dale Cerney checks into his resort in Kauai, it doesn’t have a reservation for him. Will Booking.com pay for the mistake?

Lynn Best had the absolute worst time when she flew from Seattle to Rome on Condor Airlines recently. Her airline made her pay for her plane tickets twice. Now she's trying to get a refund and wants to know: Is it legal for an airline to charge you twice for the same ticket and then keep your money?

Can an airline charge you twice for the same ticket?

January 4, 2026December 18, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Lynn Best had the absolute worst time when she flew from Seattle to Rome on Condor Airlines recently. Her airline made her pay for her plane tickets twice. Now she’s trying to get a refund and wants to know: Is it legal for an airline to charge you twice for the same ticket and then keep your money?

Don't Miss a Story!