Here’s the problem with scheduling your travel and accommodations as a package deal: if you need to reschedule or change one part of the package, you run the risk of losing other parts of the package deal. Victor used Jetblue Getaways to buy a flight and hotel package, and not a cheap one. When he needed to change his travel dates less than a week before the trip, he called up to cancel the package. Nope, said JetBlue. They wouldn’t let him cancel the stay he had booked through them at the Waldorf. That was weird, because when he called up the Waldorf directly, they were happy to cancel his booking. It’s just that JetBlue won’t give him the money back, even as a credit for future travel. [More]
travel
Broken Seat Belt And Massive Customer Service Failure Mean I Miss Grandpa’s Funeral
By 7.25.12
Elizabeth missed her grandfather’s funeral because of a broken seat belt. Well, that’s not entirely true. United Airlines claimed that there was a broken seat belt on the plane she was supposed to take from Chicago to Savannah, then kept pushing back and ultimately canceled the flight. By the time they finally canceled the flight, there were no more flights to Savannah for days. A broken co-pilot seat belt and a massive customer service failure is what kept Elizabeth and other passengers in Chicago. [More]
Orbitz CSR Makes Dumb Mistake, Costs Me $500
By 7.23.12
April called up Orbitz to make a change to part of her flight itinerary, because customers can’t be trusted to handle that kind of thing ourselves, and must speak to a trained customer service representative. The helpful employee she spoke to apparently can’t be trusted to handle reservations, either, because–click!–he canceled the whole thing when she only needed to change part of the reservation. Now she apparently has a large credit with United, when not all of her travel was on United. How wonderfully useless. [More]
Best Western Gives My Accessible Room Away To Non-Disabled Person, Shrugs
By 7.11.12
Britt is a paraplegic. While planning a recent trip, she reserved an accessible room at the Best Western where she and her boyfriend would be staying. A room that she could move around in, and that would not require her boyfriend to lift her into bed and onto the toilet. You know, allow her some independence and dignity. When they actually checked in to the hotel, though, they learned that the accessible room had been assigned to another traveler. Worse: according to staffers, this traveler was a regular guest who wasn’t disabled, but just likes having a bigger room. [More]
Orbitz Thinks Mac Users Want To Pay More For Hotels
By 6.26.12
Travel reservation site Orbitz says it has data showing that customers who use Apple computers to book their hotel rooms have a tendency to go for pricier rooms, so Orbitz has just gone ahead and decided that when Mac users visit Orbitz, they will see more expensive options first. [More]
Travelocity's 'Confirmation' Doesn't Mean You Really Booked A Hotel Room, Silly
By 5.8.12
The idea behind booking a hotel room or other travel through a site like Travelocity is that they’re supposed to, um, actually book the travel that you pay for. They didn’t manage to do that for the hotel room Graham tried to book in Maine. He booked nine weeks ahead, then learned that the reservation was imaginary two weeks before the trip. [More]
Stuck In Mexico Without Any Bags Thanks To Gate-Checked Carryon
By 5.7.12
Edwin’s wife flew to Mexico last week, toting only her carry-on luggage. United Airlines personnel made her gate-check the suitcase, telling her that it was too big and that she would definitely get it back when she landed. She hasn’t seen her suitcase since, and suspects it might have been stolen. United, as of yesterday, refused to give Edwin or Mrs. Edwin any answers. [More]
Puppy Vs. Airline Personnel: How Misinformation Messed Up Our Vacation Plans
By 3.29.12
On its surface, the facts of David’s story are the very definition of a “first world problem.” His family missed part of their tropical vacation because misinformed American Airlines personnel wouldn’t let their puppy on the plane. They incorrectly believed that St. Maartens, their destination, requires incoming animals to be microchipped. It’s true that no one has to vacation with their pet, but sometimes transporting an animal by air internationally is necessary due to a move or a family emergency. And when that happens, hope that you don’t encounter the American Airlines employees who cost David’s family a lot of money by keeping them off their flight. [More]
TripAdvisor Gives Up On "Dirtiest Hotels In America" List
By 1.9.12
Well, this is depressing. Travel review site TripAdvisor has chosen to abandon the genius idea of releasing a “Dirtiest Hotels in America” list. Why? They want to “focus on the positive.” What the hell? Who wants to read about a bunch of clean hotels full of happy people? Bah humbug! [More]
Business Travelers Much More Likely To Fly Economy Internationally
By 12.15.11
Business travelers are starting to give up their free mini bottles of booze and plush, wide seats in favor of lower prices, says a new report. The shift is especially evident in those flying in Europe, as the recent economic crisis has more choosing economy tickets over business class. [More]
3 Ways To Recoup Money Wasted On Trips Gone Bad
By 12.12.11
When you’re on vacation, high expectations crushed by mishaps can transform you into a steaming ball of rage. It’s easy to lash out at those you feel who have done you wrong, but it’s smarter to take a step back and use tact and strategy to get problems fixed. [More]
Yes, It Is Possible To Score A Deal On Last-Minute Holiday Travel
By 12.7.11
So you haven’t booked your flights for Christmas or New Year’s, and maybe you’re freaking out a little bit over traditionally high prices over the holidays. Don’t fret, there are still a few ways to nab some travel deals even at this late date. [More]
3 Tips For Sticking To Your Diet While Traveling
By 11.22.11
The holidays not only bring diet-ruining parties, but travel vortexes that trick you into changing your eating rules as you make long trips. If you have any hopes of emerging from holiday travel without the phenomenon known as “Christmas butt,” you’ll at least need to get to your destination without going overboard. [More]
Call T-Mobile Customer Service And Reality Will Shift Beneath Your Feet
By 11.16.11
At what point is a company responsible for the things that its customer service reps tell customers? Gus got a new T-Mobile smartphone on an unlimited plan, then took a job in the oil industry that requires him to travel out of the country frequently. While he could have a company phone, he’s still under contract. He chose to keep his T-Mobile plan with a company subsidy, and not pay an early termination fee. When he called T-Mobile to find out how much roaming in Colombia would cost with his plan, the startling answer was that he wouldn’t have to pay any roaming fees at all. He quadruple-checked this with the customer service rep, who confirmed it. But he should have just hung up and broken through the walls of reality to reach another rep, who would have told him something entirely different. [More]
Couples Sues Airtran For $100,000, Alleging Cockroaches Infested Their Flight
By 11.14.11
A couple is suing Airtran for $100,000 after they saw cockroaches on their flight, and they say they have to pictures to prove it. [More]
Jack The Cat Has Died
By 11.7.11 — Updated: 2.25.13
Jack, the cat lost at JFK and then found two months later, has died. [More]
Virgin America Is Pleased With Their New Reservation System
By 11.2.11
Despite experiencing some of the inevitable hiccups from transferring a legacy system to a new one, Virgin America tells me that they’re overall “pleased” with how the reservation system transition they started on Saturday is going. [More]
Virgin America's Brand New Sabre Reservation System Hits Turbulence
By 11.2.11
Virgin America has hit some extreme turbulence ever since they switched to a new Sabre Airline Solutions reservation system on Saturday. Travelers are lighting up the inter-boards with complaints that they can’t make or change their reservations, and call centers are swamped, with customers having to wait over four hours on hold. [More]
