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Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
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    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • Safe Travels
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
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    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
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    • Christopher Elliott’s books
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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 Ponzevic must pay $80 to check his bags on an American Airlines flight -- even though his bags are supposed to be "free." Can he get a refund?

Help! American Airlines charged me $80 for my “free” checked bag

May 1, 2025March 5, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

David Ponzevic must pay $80 to check his bags on an American Airlines flight — even though his bags are supposed to be “free.” Can he get a refund?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Someone is already occupying Elizabeth Kimpel's Vrbo vacation rental. Why won't the company refund her stay?

There’s another guest in our vacation rental! Can we get a refund, please?

March 11, 2025February 26, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Someone is already occupying Elizabeth Kimpel’s Vrbo vacation rental. Why won’t the company refund her stay?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Tom Scruggs pays Norwegian Airlines a $79 change fee to get on an earlier flight. But then the airline rebooks him on a later flight. Can he get a refund?

I paid extra to change my flight on Norwegian Airlines — can I get my money back?

March 2, 2025February 19, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Tom Scruggs pays Norwegian Airlines a $79 change fee to get on an earlier flight. But then the airline rebooks him on a later flight. Can he get a refund?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Emily Weir wants compensation from Lufthansa after her flights from New York to Delhi are delayed and rerouted. But Lufthansa won’t pay her a dime. What’s going on?

Lufthansa screwed up my flights to India. Do I deserve compensation?

August 7, 2025February 12, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Emily Weir wants compensation from Lufthansa after her flights from New York to Delhi are delayed and rerouted. But Lufthansa won’t pay her a dime. What’s going on?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Mary Brewer's vacation rental in Branson, Mo., is a mess, filled with bugs and dog urine. Why can't she get a refund for her vacation rental nightmare?

Bugs and dog urine in my vacation rental. I want a refund!

February 7, 2025January 29, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Mary Brewer’s vacation rental in Branson, Mo., is a mess, filled with bugs and dog urine. Can she get a refund for her bad vacation rental?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
When Joseph Hall returns his car to Budget, it drops a $450 cleaning fee on him. Does he have to pay all of it?

Do I really have to pay this $450 cleaning fee from Budget?

April 2, 2025January 22, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Joseph Hall returns his car to Budget, it drops a $450 cleaning fee on him. Does he have to pay all of it?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
The hotel David Marsh reserved in Cancun, Mexico, is not responding to his questions -- but it's keeping his money. Can Booking.com help him get a refund?

My hotel won’t answer me. How about a refund?

February 7, 2025January 15, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

The hotel David Marsh reserved in Cancun, Mexico, is not responding to his questions — but it’s keeping his money. Can Booking.com help him get a refund?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Justin Baribeau books a hotel room online. But now there's no record of his Booking.com reservation. Can he get his money back?

My hotel had no record of my Booking.com reservation. Why can’t I get a refund?

January 19, 2025January 8, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Justin Baribeau books a hotel room online. But now there’s no record of his Booking.com reservation. Can he get his money back?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Hertz says Shane Rich rented a car in Cabo San Lucas with two women. He says it's a case of mistaken identity. Now the company has suspended his rental privileges. How can he reverse their decision?

Hertz mistaken identity: I was blacklisted after Mexico rental mix-up!

October 14, 2025January 1, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Hertz says Shane Rich rented a car in Cabo San Lucas with two women. He says it’s a case of mistaken identity. Now the company has suspended his rental privileges. How can he reverse their decision?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
When Carlye Siegel tries to book two award tickets with Chase points, she gets an error message -- and the transaction fails. Now Chase won't refund the points. Is that allowed?

First, she got an error message. Now her Chase points are gone!

January 21, 2025December 26, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

What would you do if you encountered Chase rewards error, and suddenly all your points were gone? Here’s how to get through it.

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
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