http://consumertravelalliance.org/?p=338 the voice for consumers in travel Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:22:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://consumertravelalliance.org/?p=338&cpage=1#comment-1318 International Travel Trade Organization Weighs in on ‘Unbundling’ | My Travels Blog Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:36:17 +0000 http://consumertravelalliance.org/?p=338#comment-1318 [...] The bottom line is that represents of a business travel organization, which might be expected to be empathetic to the airline business, is very concerned over hidden fees and surprise add-ons. We individual travelers find ourselves paying all sorts of extras on top of our “bargain” fares, but for corporate travel, these surprises add up to a big debit on a company’s balance sheet. (The release should read “wreaking havoc, not “wrecking havoc,” but I’m splitting grammatical hairs over a very valid point made by an international trade group — albeit one that I don’t remember ever having heard about before.) Since Congress tends to listen to business much more than to us voters, I hope that this will make an impact that will help all of us who fly. Note: The end of the release also referenced an organization called the Consumer Travel Alliance’s ”just-released analysis of hidden fees.”  [...] [...] The bottom line is that represents of a business travel organization, which might be expected to be empathetic to the airline business, is very concerned over hidden fees and surprise add-ons. We individual travelers find ourselves paying all sorts of extras on top of our “bargain” fares, but for corporate travel, these surprises add up to a big debit on a company’s balance sheet. (The release should read “wreaking havoc, not “wrecking havoc,” but I’m splitting grammatical hairs over a very valid point made by an international trade group — albeit one that I don’t remember ever having heard about before.) Since Congress tends to listen to business much more than to us voters, I hope that this will make an impact that will help all of us who fly. Note: The end of the release also referenced an organization called the Consumer Travel Alliance’s ”just-released analysis of hidden fees.”  [...]

]]> http://consumertravelalliance.org/?p=338&cpage=1#comment-1297 Robert Doty Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:52:38 +0000 http://consumertravelalliance.org/?p=338#comment-1297 Outrageous Airline Fees AND service..I recently bought a ticket from Delta to fly my 14YO daughter to Michigan from Colorado. Less than a year ago Delta's policy was that at 14 they could opt out so to speak and fly as an adult. If they flew as an unaccompanied minor there was a $50 each way surcharge. Not now. First of all you need to make the reservation directly with Delta...add $50. Then you need to of course pay for one checked bag two ways...add another $50. Then, get this, you have to pay for the 'unacompanied minor' both ways at $100 each way!...add $200 for a total of $300 for a ticket that originally cost $308. What was really outrageous was that both ways my daughter was boarded last and sat at the rear of the plane. Then when she returned to DIA I stood in the gate area waiting and waiting for her to exit. When she didn't I looked all around thinking I had missed her. People were beginning to line up for the next flight and I was beginning to worry - although she had texted me when they landed so I knew she was here somewhere. Then I spotted her coming down the jetway with an agent. What happened? She was told to sit in her seat until an agent came to get her and THE AGENT FORGOT AND LEFT THE AREA!!! She had been discovered by the cleaning crew. Thank you so much Delta!!! Outrageous Airline Fees AND service..I recently bought a ticket from Delta to fly my 14YO daughter to Michigan from Colorado. Less than a year ago Delta’s policy was that at 14 they could opt out so to speak and fly as an adult. If they flew as an unaccompanied minor there was a $50 each way surcharge. Not now. First of all you need to make the reservation directly with Delta…add $50. Then you need to of course pay for one checked bag two ways…add another $50. Then, get this, you have to pay for the ‘unacompanied minor’ both ways at $100 each way!…add $200 for a total of $300 for a ticket that originally cost $308. What was really outrageous was that both ways my daughter was boarded last and sat at the rear of the plane.
Then when she returned to DIA I stood in the gate area waiting and waiting for her to exit. When she didn’t I looked all around thinking I had missed her. People were beginning to line up for the next flight and I was beginning to worry – although she had texted me when they landed so I knew she was here somewhere. Then I spotted her coming down the jetway with an agent. What happened? She was told to sit in her seat until an agent came to get her and THE AGENT FORGOT AND LEFT THE AREA!!! She had been discovered by the cleaning crew.
Thank you so much Delta!!!

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