Articles

Money and Fees

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Wait! I Never Bought Flight Insurance

A traveler calls her airline to fix a seat assignment and ends up with a $35 charge for flight insurance that she never bought. What was the fee really for, and what can you learn from…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: The Vikings are Real on This Riverboat

Our reader tries to arrange a special side-trip before a Seine river cruise, but the company nixes the idea. What's more, it won't communicate with their travel agent. Can't it bend a…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: An Australia Tour That Wasn't Meant to Be

First our reader's flight is canceled. Then she misses another flight after her bus breaks down. Finally, she cancels her Australia tour. And then the tour operator refuses her request…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Canceled Flight, a Missing Refund

When our reader's honeymoon flight is delayed by two days, she buys a ticket on another carrier with the promise of a refund from her first airline. But now that the honeymoon is over,…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Hurricane Hit My Hotel, So Where's My Refund?

Our reader's hotel promises a refund for a nonrefundable hotel room after a hurricane strikes. But it's months later now and the hotel has gone into radio silence. Is the money gone…

Article / Money and Fees

How the Travel Industry Can Win You Back

We've become convinced that the travel industry is largely comprised of money-grubbing opportunists, and no fire sale is going to fix that. But here are a few things that might.

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: My Ticket Price Fell -- How About a Refund?

Our reader buys a package to Hawaii through United Vacations. But when the price of her ticket falls, United refuses to offer her a voucher for the fare difference. Why not?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Socked for My Friend's Single Supplement

Our reader cancels her vacation and her friend is squeezed for a single supplement. If she doesn't pay immediately, the tour operator threatens to cancel her vacation. Can it do that?

Article / Money and Fees

3 Ways to Avoid the Newest Travel Gotchas

One of the travel industry's favorite new tricks is waiting to tell you about onerous new terms until it's too late -- whether they're trying to modify a reservation or redeem their…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Refund for My Downgraded Airline Seat?

Our reader thinks she buys a first-class ticket to Peru on TACA. But it's actually economy class, and Cheaptickets.com only offers her a $400 voucher. Isn't she entitled to more?

Article / Money and Fees

Charge This: 7 Tips for a Successful Credit Card Dispute

A lot of unwanted charges are popping up on credit card bills -- fees that, if not removed, will end up being contested. Here's what you need to know in order to file a successful…

Article / Money and Fees

'No Waivers, No Favors' Reaches New Highs (and Lows)

The travel industry, hammered by the worst economic downturn in more than a generation, is taking a hard line in an effort to contain costs and preserve profits. Here's how to turn a…

Article / Money and Fees

5 Secrets Travelers Need to Know When Dealing with a Collection Agency

Travel providers are paying attention to every penny, and going after customers who may or may not owe. What should you do if a travel company sends a collection agency after you?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Your Airline Ticket's No Good Here

When our reader lands in Mexico City on her way to Tapachula, she's told her airline ticket from Cheapoair.com isn't valid. After paying for a new ticket, she waits in vain for a…

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshoter: No Ticket, But They Remembered the Bill

Travelocity sells but doesn't get tickets to a member of the military looking for a little R&R. The credit card company sides with the soldier, but Travelocity sends a collection…

Article / Money and Fees

Beyond the Buzz: How to Use Twitter for Travel Help

Even if you don't care about Twitter, there are two reasons you need to know about it: it can save you time getting through to customer service and it can save you money.

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Double Trouble on My Honeymoon

Our reader prepays for his Paris car rental through AutoEurope. So why did his car rental company suck another $368 from his account after he got home?

Article / Money and Fees

A Good Summer Travel Mystery: What About Travel?

Are you skipping the vacation or taking advantage of the deals? When it comes to travel, nobody agrees on what's going to happen this summer.

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Help! My Online Travel Agent is AWOL

Our reader's online agent promises to help her reuse a canceled ticket, but after hours on the phone and email, there's no action. Are her tickets gone?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Half a Room or Twice the Price

Our reader uses Hotwire.com to get a room in London, but she only gets half -- literally -- of what she's promised. Can the hotel do that?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Not-So-Magical Disney Vacation

Our reader has a disastrous Disney vacation, but his complaints are being ignored. What's he doing wrong that he can't get Mickey's attention?

Article / Money and Fees

Broadsided! 5 New Car Rental Fees to Avoid

Beleaguered auto rental firms are quietly adding new surcharges designed to lift revenues in a recessionary economy. Here are five charges that could sideswipe you on your next trip.

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Still Waiting for My Refund

A death in the family leads our traveler to cancel her trip. She may be entitled to a refund, but Lufthansa won't say 'yes' or 'no.' What can she do?

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: Uh-Oh! When Optional Car Rental Insurance Isn't

When our reader checks in at the Hertz counter in Zagreb, she's told more insurance is mandatory even though she was fully covered before her trip. Should Hertz provide a refund?

Article / Money and Fees

Our Own Worst Enemy: 5 Types of Travelers That Are Killing Tourism

Are lousy tourists sinking an entire industry? Here are five ways bad travelers can ruin the fun for everyone.