TRAVEL PROBLEMS – Elliott Report

"No-reply" emails are frustrating travelers. Discover why companies use them and effective ways to get your questions answered.

Travelers are getting foiled by “No-reply” emails. Here’s how to get around that.

September 21, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Don't let travel mishaps ruin your trip! Learn smart strategies, from tech tools to old-school methods, for handling the unexpected.

Try these new tricks for solving unexpected travel problems

August 31, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Even the most experienced traveler can run into trouble every now and then. But how do you get out of trouble?

Traveler fights National Geographic over inconvenient flight change on a tour of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Can you fix this inconvenient routing on my National Geographic tour, please?

August 6, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Harrison Coerver has a problem with his upcoming National Geographic tour. One of his days has turned into a more than six-hour journey from Hanoi to Luang Prabang. Can he get it changed back to a nonstop flight?

Passenger downgraded on a flight booked through Booking.com struggles to get a refund. Discover who's responsible and how to escalate your claim.

Downgraded on my flight from Sydney to Tokyo. Why won’t Booking.com refund my money?

July 28, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

If you paid for a business class seat but got an economy class seat instead, you would expect an apology and a prompt refund from the airline, right? And if you used an online travel agent, you’d assume it would do everything it could to help.

Rental car company Sixt promised to reimburse customer for damaged tires but hasn't paid. See how persistence and escalation finally got the refund.

Sixt promised to reimburse me $385 for these tires. Where’s the money?

July 23, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Ray Cook damages two tires on his Sixt rental car, the company promises to cover the expense of replacing them. But months later, he’s still waiting for his money.

Linda Carnivale found herself in a frustrating situation after canceling a cruise and trying to get her $250 deposit back. With the credit card she used now closed, NCL claimed to have refunded the money, but Chase, her bank, said otherwise. A tense three-way call between Linda, Chase, and NCL led to a blame game with no resolution in sight. Linda's persistence paid off as she documented everything, but will she finally see her refund? The situation serves as a cautionary tale for anyone dealing with refund disputes between businesses and banks.

Help! NCL and Chase are arguing about my $250 refund, but I just want my money back

September 5, 2024August 28, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Linda Carnivale wants her $250 cruise deposit refunded. But now her bank and cruise line are arguing over who is responsible for the money. Does it matter? And can she get her money back?

Catriona Garry missed her flight from Edinburgh to Dublin due to Aer Lingus' staffing issues, which led to a three-hour wait with only one ticket agent. Consequently, she missed her connecting flight to Boston and was wrongly charged $1,200 in rebooking fees. Despite contacting Aer Lingus for six months and escalating the issue to their CEO, she faced delays and unhelpful responses. After a thorough review of her case, highlighting the responsibilities of Aer Lingus and their third-party partner, Swissport, the airline finally refunded her rebooking fees nearly seven months after her trip.

Aer Lingus made me miss my flight. Then it charged me these booking fees!

December 18, 2024August 21, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Catriona Garry misses her flight from Edinburgh to Boston because there’s only one ticket agent at the airport. Can she get $1,200 in rebooking fees refunded?

When Lesle Collins flew from Dallas to Denver, her luggage didn’t make the trip. Despite promptly reporting it to Frontier Airlines, she faced repeated delays and ultimately a denial of her claim due to a missed deadline. Collins insists she never received the necessary forms from Frontier, highlighting the importance of immediately filing a claim at the airport and keeping thorough documentation. While airlines like Frontier have strict timelines, they can make exceptions. After advocacy, Frontier reopened Collins' case, underscoring the need for persistence in resolving lost luggage issues.

Problem with luggage: I waited too long to file a claim with my airline!

May 12, 2025August 19, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Lesle Collins flew from Dallas to Denver last summer, her baggage did not. She tried to file a luggage claim — but she could not.

Rocco De Mella's recent journey with ITA Airways from Miami to Rome turned into a frustrating ordeal when a plane change resulted in the loss of his $160 seat upgrade. Despite promises of a prompt refund from multiple airline representatives, six months have passed with no resolution. Rocco's attempts to contact ITA Airways through various channels yielded no results, leaving him in limbo. However, a breakthrough came when a consumer advocacy site intervened, leading to the long-awaited refund. This case highlights the challenges passengers face with airline service changes and refund processes.

Downgraded on my ITA Airways flight. Why can’t I get a refund?

April 2, 2025August 7, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When ITA Airways changes Rocco De Mella’s plane from Miami to Rome, he loses the seat upgrade he bought. An airline representative promises him a prompt refund. But six months later, the airline still has his money.

Susan Thompson booked a fully refundable car rental through Priceline with Sixt but was denied a refund after canceling due to her travel companion's medical emergency. Despite having written confirmation of the refund policy, Sixt and Priceline initially refused to return her money. After persistent efforts and assistance from consumer advocacy, Priceline reviewed her case, leading to a full refund. This situation highlights the importance of understanding car rental cancellation policies, taking proactive steps to secure refunds, and seeking help when companies are uncooperative.

My car rental is fully refundable. Why is Priceline keeping my money?

November 13, 2024July 22, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Can a car rental company just change its refund rules whenever it wants to?