Why won’t travel insurance cover my flight cancellation?
Michele Kemp and her family cancel a flight after her sister falls ill. Good thing she bought travel insurance, right? Wrong. But how can she get her money back?
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.
My United Airlines tickets expired — can you make them unexpire?
United Airlines. When Susan Chibnall and her husband cancel their tickets to Switzerland, United Airlines promises them they can use their credit for a year. So why have their tickets expired?
Do I deserve a refund for a lightning strike?
After a lightning strike zaps Brittany Burns’ vacation, she tries to secure a refund for her airline ticket. But is she entitled to it?
Hey TAR Airlines, where’s my ticket refund?
TAR Airlines offers Michael Fried a refund or a generous credit after it cancels his friend’s flight. Why won’t it do what it promised?
I canceled my reservation for a full refund — so why did Sleep-Inn charge me $400?
When Robert Williams cancels his reservation at a Sleep Inn through Travelocity, he receives a verification — but no money. What gives?
It has been four months — where is my reimbursement check from Iberia?
When Iberia Airlines promises Susie Burton compensation for her lost luggage, she waits. And waits. And waits. Four months later, she calls our advocacy team. Can they help?
Shut out of my inn in Montreal
When Paul Nahass’ son is locked out of a bed-and-breakfast in Montreal, he’s forced to find alternate accommodations. Can he get a refund for his new hotel?
I thought I was paying for checked luggage, not priority boarding
When Mary Lou Hartline buys an American Airlines ticket, she inadvertently pays extra for priority boarding instead of checked bags. Can she undo the mistake?
Porter Airlines offered me two “free” nights at a hotel, but I just wanted to go home
After Evelyn Morton’s Porter Airlines flight from Toronto to Washington, D.C., is canceled, the airline offers to put her in a hotel for two days. She has a better idea, but will Porter go for it?
Why won’t travel insurance cover my flight delay?
AXA Assistance USA promises John Schwegel that it will cover the cost of a ticket home after his flight is delayed. But then it doesn’t. How do you persuade AXA to change its mind?