Airline tricks and unhelpful customer support

As you can imagine my inbox was full of stories from consumers, many asking if they were entitled to compensation for being delayed or their flight cancelled. To be honest I was shocked at the types of tricks that the airlines used and how unhelpful some of them were.

I read stories of passengers being delayed for 18 hours, without any assistance from the airline. I shouldn’t write this because it’s going to happen to me now, but I have never been delayed for more than 30 minutes. I’ve put that down to good luck more than anything else.

I remember dreading my flight home from Hobart via Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, hoping that all my connections were on time.

Airlines avoiding their responsibilities

At the moment I am writing a guide about passenger’s entitlements to compensation and assistance when a flight has been delayed or cancelled so I won’t go into the detail here, other than to say that the airlines flying into the EU should be aware of their responsibilities through EC Regulation No 261/2004.

So, what was your worst flight delay and did the airline assist or compensate you?

Please contact me for more information on advertising here.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Share your worst airline flight delays

I am always giving out travel advice, yet, sometimes, I fall foul of my own stupid travel mistakes.

Checked into the wrong hotel

This incident happened last year. I decided to take a long weekend trip to Venice, and all was going well. I found the street where my hotel was located, checked-in, unpacked, had a shower. Then, I looked at the notepad on the bedside table and noticed that it was the wrong hotel!

What was annoying is that I had given the receptionist the print-out and the name of the hotel was clear to see, yet they checked me in. My stupid mistake I know. I explained my situation and that it was the wrong hotel. I couldn’t get out there quick enough. The hotel I had booked was four doors up the street.

Ten mile walk back to the apartment

A few years back I went on holiday to the Greek island of Crete. My brother was relaxing on the beach, so I decided to take the local bus to a village that I heard had a great market, the name I can’t remember. I jumped off the bus, wandered around for a few hours and had a bite to eat.

In the evening I set off to find out that the last bus had left for Bali, the village we were staying at. I had no mobile phone, and I think I left my common sense back home too. Ten miles later, sweaty, sunburnt and stressed I arrived back at the apartment, while my brother sat in a local bar relaxing.

Missed the flight to Berlin

In 2008 I was going to the PhoCusWright @ ITB conference in Berlin. The night before I hadn’t slept too well, and well, slept in an hour longer than I should have. I dashed to the station to catch the train to Liverpool; the train was delayed at Manchester so I missed check-in by 25 minutes.

So, what mistakes or situations have you found yourself in while travelling?

Please contact me for more information on advertising here.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Time to share my travel mistakes

Independent traveller protection issues

I am not sure at this point how many consumers will be affected.

Consumers were able to book accommodation via the website but I understand that travel agents also used them. The company also owns resort taxis, a specialist airport transfer service. I wanted to post this now in case any consumers are looking for assistance.

The problem is most consumers who have booked through a travel agent will not be aware.

Both the Apartments abroad and Resort Taxis website provide very little in the way of information but they are advising consumers affected by the closure of the company to contact Begbies Traynor who are involved in the administration.

Please add your questions below and I will update the post with more information soon.

Please contact me for more information on advertising here.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Apartments abroad and Resort taxis ceased trading

Helping Haiti or PR

In the last week though I have seen a number of companies (including a few in travel) promoting the fact that they have helped people in Haiti by delivering some form of aid or donated a chunk of cash. I cannot help but think that this is more about PR, hoping for media attention from their kindness.

Hunting for media attention

It’s great that companies want to help, but why do they need to tell the world that you have donated money or sent aid to Haiti if you simply wanted to help? A lot of what I have read has been on Twitter and Facebook and maybe it is just me but, I cannot understand why you promote your involvement.

Am I being unfair or are companies promoting their kindness simply hunting for media attention.

Please contact me for more information on advertising here.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Companies donate to Haiti for PR or to make a difference

Baggage searched at Schiphol airport

This year I will be taking my first jaunt over to the US and I cannot wait to experience the security there. I remember back to when I was 17 and travelling through Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. I must have looked guilty because all of my bags were searched, probably for drugs.

Strict airport security in Sydney

The airport security in Sydney, Australia was pretty strict, arriving from Kuala Lumpur I had my luggage checked and quizzed about my trip, how much money was I carrying and why I had no accommodation booked in Tasmania. Luckily, I was staying with a friend in Hobart, and had her contact details on me.

Even though I was not guilty of anything illegal, I felt guilty.

Your airport security experiences

I think if anything airport security is going to become even stricter, I can see check-in times increasing to allow for passengers to get through the airport. So, what are your experiences with airport security, have you been interviewed, do you get your baggage searched a lot, feel free to share.

Please contact me for more information on advertising here.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Worst airport security experiences