A $500 fee for being American and other absurd hotel surcharges
Nick Pilolla thought he’d made a reservation at the Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Casino through Otel.com, a European travel website.
FEE
Exchange rate rip-offs, and how to avoid them
As Jay Berman and his wife were checking out of the Henley House in London last month, a clerk asked if they wanted to pay their bill in dollars. It seemed like a good idea at the time, because they’d avoid Bank of America’s three percent foreign transaction fee.
The inn’s owners are out — why won’t they waive my cancellation penalty?
Here’s a case I’ve been mulling for a few days. It involves a highly-rated bed and breakfast, a loyal customer and an unwelcome change.
Where does the clever hotel wordplay cross the line?
The surcharged seemed like nothing to Andy Fixman — a “trivial amount” he says. But it meant everything to him.
This summer, airlines takes “ridiculous” to the next level
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, you hear from someone like Stewart Sheinfeld, a reader from Chicago who is flying to Morelia, Mexico, on the discount airline Volaris.
Are new airline fees anti-family?
If you didn’t know any better, you might think that the airline industry crossed yet another line just before the Memorial Day holiday, the traditional start of the busy summer travel season.
Spirit’s Baldanza: “We don’t force customers to pay for services they don’t want or need”
Spirit Airlines is at it again — first denying a dying war veteran a ticket refund, then announcing it would raise its fee for carrying a bag on its flight to $100. Passengers are outraged. A Facebook petition to boycott the carrier is gaining momentum.
Are fees for carry-on luggage just the beginning?
Since Allegiant Air’s decision to start charging passengers for carry-on luggage last week, you’d think that everything needed to be said about this outrageous new fee had already been said.
Are airlines lying about taxes?
How far will an airline go to make an extra buck? Fudge a few numbers on their taxes, maybe?
Pay a seat reservation fee — or your kids don’t fly with you
Being separated from your family while you’re traveling is every child’s worst nightmare. Every parent’s, too.