Tagged: fees

Another Big Hotel Chain Makes Cancelling Costly

In June, Marriott changed its rules about cancelling hotel reservations. Before then, customers usually could cancel a room all the way until the day of check-in, sometimes the day…

Toll Proposed for San Francisco's Crooked Lombard Street

A San Francisco city supervisor has proposed a toll for cars traveling on the city's famously crooked Lombard Street in order to ease the 600-foot thoroughfare's overwhelming…

Toll Proposed for San Francisco's Famous Crooked Street, Police-Led Martial Arts Classes in Japan, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's cities and thoroughfares. * CAR TOLL FOR SAN FRANCISCO'S LOMBARD STREET PROPOSED TO EASE CONGESTION (Associated Press)A San…

Senator Promises to Fight New Airline Fees

Following an example set earlier by United Airlines, American Airlines announced last week that use of overhead bins on flights will no longer be free for every passenger.A…

Amazing Northern Lights Video, a Senator Takes on New Airline Fees, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's museums and airplane cabins.* NY SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER TAKES ON OVERHEAD-BIN FEES (UPI)Following an example set earlier by…

American Airlines Announces No-Frills Basic Economy Fares

Joining other major carriers including Delta and United, American Airlines has announced that it too will soon begin offering low, no-frills "basic economy" fares on certain…

No-Tourist Zone at Rome's Colosseum, No-Frills Basic Economy Fares from American Airlines, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's planes, trains, and ancient landmarks. * AMERICAN AIRLINES ANNOUNCES NO-FRILLS BASIC ECONOMY FARESJoining other major…

Reservations for Maui Volcano Sunrise, Great Barrier Reef in Peril, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's oceans, volcanoes, and airplane cabins.* THIS YEAR'S LOSS OF GREAT BARRIER REEF CORALS IS THE WORST ON RECORDIt might be…

New Regulations Proposed to Address Airline Passenger Complaints

The Obama Administration has proposed several new rules designed to address issues that airline passengers frequently complain about.Chief among them: a regulation requiring…

Airlines Reaping Windfall from Checked-Baggage Fees

Your luggage is making the major airlines a fortune.According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, passengers have paid an estimated $26.2 billion in…

Qatar Airport to Charge Departure Tax to All Passengers

Starting on December 1, if you happen to pass through Hamad International Airport near Qatar's capital city of Doha, you're going to be charged a "departure tax" of about $10 (35…

Delta Drops Phone Booking Fee

Delta Air Lines has dropped one of its most onerous fees: the $25 it collects to allow you to make a booking by telephone. Now, people who do not book using the Web—because they…

A Passenger's Warning About Ryanair—And Three Things Every Ryanair Customer Must Know

Although Ryanair is notorious among European travelers for henpecking its customers with extra fees—they view it as a necessary evil if you're desperate for savings—not everyone in the…

New Issues (And Fixes) for iPhone Data Usage

It's not your imagination. Your iPhone is using more data lately.That's because in a recent update Apple quietly added a little feature that will use cellular signals rather than…

Hilton To Charge More To Let You Cancel?

Remember last fall, when Hilton started testing a mandatory $50 fee for cancellations no matter how early they were made?Yeah, well, the hotel company finally picked up on what…

Hilton's New Mandatory $50 Cancellation Fee

The giant Hilton hotel brand is piloting a new way to make life miserable for travelers: It has started charging $50 for cancellations, no matter when they're made.Under the new…

The Time Has Come to Consider Re-Regulation of the Airline Industry

In a modern democracy, "regulation" is no longer a dirty word. Unregulated medications can hurt or kill you, unregulated monopolists can destroy competition, and unregulated…

A Major Airline Drops the Hated Fuel Surcharge! So Why Won't the Rest of the Industry Follow?

One of the greatest lies foisted upon the American public—right up there with "this won't hurt a bit" and "New Coke will be better"—was crammed down travelers' throats a half…

Hilton and Marriott Announce Strict New Fees for Last–Minute Cancellations

Just as Cinderella had to high tail it home before the stroke of midnight, from January 1st on, travelers heading to a Hilton or a Marriott property will have to remember to…

The Airlines Made HOW Much on Fees?

Remember when the airlines put extra fees in place and told us that it was because fuel costs had spiked?Yeah, they lied. Fuel costs went back into line, but the extra fees…

Spirit Airlines Gouges for Checked Bags This December

You call this Christmas spirit, Spirit? The much-reviled airline will renew its nasty regulation this December when it charges passengers even more to check a bag—just because it's…

Two More Airlines Start Charging for the First Checked Bag: Will Free Bags Go Extinct?

Sorry, Canada. Your Westjet just decided to start charging standard passengers for the first checked bag. One would think that would give rival Air Canada in an advantageous position…

Pay-As-You-Use Budget Hotels: Growing Worldwide, But Still Foreign to Americans

Tune Hotel Asoke, BangkokA few years ago in Europe, a new breed of budget hotel began to emerge, epitomized by Lindemann's hotels in Berlin. Although it was a generally…

Valet Padding: Another Trick Hotels Use to Suck More Cash Out of You

Fairmont Newport Beach: One of many hotels with mandatory valetPretty much everyone thinks resort fees are slimy. Yet the consumer uprising against them has merely simmered for…

Some Airlines Let You Bring Your Belongings But Not Take Them Back Home: Carry-On Rules are Erratically Enforced

I have just returned from an international trip. As you can probably imagine of a travel journalist, I have my packing down to a science. I take my standard amount every time. On my…