Skip to content
Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Destinations
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • Safe Travels
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Red List/Green List
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Christopher Elliott’s books
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • About
  • Contact Us
Get Help
Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Destinations
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • Safe Travels
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Red List/Green List
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Christopher Elliott’s books
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • About
  • Contact Us

The Travel Troubleshooter

The Travel Troubleshooter is a weekly consumer column that solves travel problems. Missing cruise refunds, lousy airline service, car rental surcharges — it’s all fair game for this feature. Each story presents a problem and fixes it in a quick Q&A format.

David Aronstein's Alaskan cruise took an unexpected turn when he contracted Covid-19. While the onboard medical team provided excellent care, he faced a new challenge upon returning home: a $750 bill for Paxlovid treatment. His insurance company required medical records to process the claim, but despite multiple attempts to obtain these from Holland America, David received no response. The cruise line directed him to fill out a release form and send it to their parent company, Carnival, but this yielded no results. David's perseverance highlights the importance of securing medical records immediately after treatment.

How do I get Holland America to send me my medical records? I keep asking.

January 6, 2026July 31, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

David Aronstein needs his medical records from Holland America. Without them, he can’t file an insurance claim for the treatment he received on a cruise. What’s the holdup?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Maxine Biggs booked a flight for her husband from Salt Lake City to Geneva via Booking.com, but United Airlines canceled it and promised a refund. Despite United sending the refund to Booking.com three months later, Maxine is still waiting for her $1,751, six months on. Repeated calls to Booking.com only resulted in empty promises and no concrete information. After contacting both companies on her behalf, it was discovered that United had mistakenly exchanged the ticket instead of refunding it. Finally, after much confusion, Maxine received her long-awaited refund.

Refund confusion after United Airlines cancels his tickets. But where’s the money?

September 25, 2024July 24, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When United Airlines cancels her husband’s flight, it promises Maxine Biggs a prompt refund. So why is she still waiting for her $1,751 six months later?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Glen Hartness faced an unexpected challenge after mistakenly booking the wrong night at a La Quinta hotel through the Priceline app. Despite promptly notifying both Priceline and the hotel, and receiving a cancellation confirmation from the hotel's front desk, Priceline refused to issue a refund. This frustrating situation highlights the strict enforcement of nonrefundable rates, even for honest mistakes. However, after escalating the issue, Priceline eventually agreed to process the refund, though the ordeal underscored the need for improved booking safeguards.

A Priceline booking problem leads to a nonrefundable hotel room — or does it?

July 29, 2025July 17, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Glen Hartness books the wrong night at a La Quinta hotel through the Priceline app. Why won’t Priceline refund the erroneous booking?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Cathy Balsewich's travel advisor offers her an Apple Vacations voucher for $200 at a hotel in the Turks & Caicos. Why doesn't it work? And are tour operator vouchers worth the paper they're printed on?

This Apple Vacations voucher doesn’t work! Can I get my money back?

July 15, 2024July 10, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

… Read more

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
If your airline changes your schedule and you ask for your money back, how do you get a refund? It should be automatic, but it isn't always.

How do I get a refund for my canceled Aerolíneas Argentinas flight?

July 4, 2024July 3, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

If your airline changes your schedule and you ask for your money back, how do you get a refund? It should be automatic, but it isn’t always.

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
After American Airlines downgrades Margarethe Hoenig on her flight from Dallas to Auckland, New Zealand, the airline promises her a partial refund. Then it says it can't. What's going on?

Downgraded on my American Airlines flight to New Zealand — do I get a refund?

May 11, 2025June 26, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After a passenger gets bumped to economy class, American Airlines promises her a refund for her flight downgrade. Then it refuses.

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Jacqueline Bartolini has a lost luggage problem with ITA. She's spent $992 to buy clothes, but the airline will only reimburse her for just $733. Who's right? 

ITA Airways lost luggage problem: Why won’t it cover my expenses?

December 2, 2024June 19, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Jacqueline Bartolini has a lost luggage problem with ITA Airlines. She’s spent $992 to buy clothes, but the airline will only reimburse her for just $733. Who’s right?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
When River Roberts accidentally spills food on his host's sofa, he's locked out of his Airbnb account. Will he ever be able to book another rental on Airbnb?

Help! I’m locked out of my Airbnb account after I spilled food on my host’s sofa

November 7, 2025June 12, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When River Roberts accidentally spills food on his host’s sofa, Airbnb bans him from the platform. Will he ever be able to book another rental on Airbnb?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Why didn't Jessica Radosevic get her $444 refund from the online travel agency Traveluro? Could it have something to do with the credit card dispute she filed?

How to solve this mystery of the missing hotel refund? Check your credit card

June 19, 2024June 5, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Why didn’t Jessica Radosevic get her $444 refund from the online travel agency Traveluro? Could it have something to do with the credit card dispute she filed?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
After John Bernath cancels his flight from Amman, Jordan, to Tel Aviv, on Royal Jordanian Airlines, a Booking.com representative promises him a full refund. So why has he received nothing?

I canceled my Royal Jordanian Airlines tickets months ago. Where’s my money?

January 9, 2025May 29, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After John Bernath cancels his flight from Amman, Jordan, to Tel Aviv, on Royal Jordanian Airlines, a Booking.com representative promises him a full refund. So why has he received nothing?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Older posts
Newer posts
← Previous Page1 … Page9 Page10 Page11 … Page62 Next →

What’s Your Problem?

If you have a consumer problem, please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. We’re always here to help. Our help is free.

Get Help

Our Newsletter

Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. Did we mention it's free?

Sign Up

What's This Site?

The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers.

Join Us

Follow Us

© 2026 Elliott Report | Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Get Help

Don't Miss a Story!

Elliott Confidential, our award-winning newsletter, keeps you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. 

Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!