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.
A day before Satrupa Kagel’s flight from Tokyo to San Francisco, she finds out American Airlines canceled her ticket. Is she on the hook for the $3,548 she had to spend for a last-minute ticket?
Tracy Joselson and her husband book a Windstar cruise with a promised all-inclusive package. But then the cruise line takes away the package. Can they cancel their cruise?
Leigh Roberts and her wife book an extra seat on a trip from Orlando, Fla., to Venice, Italy. But United resells the seat to another passenger. Can Roberts get a refund?
After a scooter accident, Jim Hutslar cancels his British Airways flight. Expedia offers him a $1,987 ticket credit. But British Airways refuses, claiming he was a “no show” for his flight. Is the money lost?
Linda Carnivale wants her $250 cruise deposit refunded. But now her bank and cruise line are arguing over who is responsible for the money. Does it matter? And can she get her money back?
Catriona Garry misses her flight from Edinburgh to Boston because there’s only one ticket agent at the airport. Can she get $1,200 in rebooking fees refunded?
Enterprise charges Josephine Donatelli $515 after it discovers a missing head restraint in a rental vehicle. But was it her rental vehicle?
When ITA Airways changes Rocco De Mella’s plane from Miami to Rome, he loses the seat upgrade he bought. An airline representative promises him a prompt refund. But six months later, the airline still has his money.
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?
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?
