By Soo Youn Publication: Washington Post On Friday, Jenny Grondahl flew from Phoenix to San Diego, carrying a souvenir: a cardboard sign she wanted to frame when she got home to Southern California. It read “Arizonenses Con Biden” with a cactus and was made by an artist named Javier Torres. Travel better with news, tips and […]
A woman flying from Las Vegas on Southwest this spring says she was confronted by an airline employee for showing too much cleavage. In another recent case, an American Airlines pilot lectured a passenger because her T-shirt bore a four-letter expletive. She was allowed to keep flying after draping a shawl over the shirt. Both […]
Source: SkiftAuthor: Dennis Schaal A federal judge’s ruling allowing an American Airlines antitrust suit against Sabre, Travelport, and Orbitz Worldwide to proceed could provide some impetus for the parties to finally sit down and conduct some serious negotiations. Without ruling on the veracity of the claims, the judge decided that if the airline’s allegations were […]
Southwest Airlines charged Romona Cobian $11,407 for a ticket to Los Angeles. “My stomach just flip flopped. I thought ‘oh, what’s going on?’ They’re going to deplete my bank account.” They did, leaving Cobian with no way to pay her credit card bills, buy gas or even food. Her debit card statements show Southwest charged […]
Small travel agencies beware: When you advertise an airline fare that does not include all mandatory taxes and fees in the total amount, you could end up paying a fine of up to $27,500 per infraction. Under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s new price advertising rule, which took effect on Jan. 26, carriers and ticket […]
In both the United States and abroad, there are regulations concerning checked baggage that all airlines must adhere to. Be sure you understand your rights so you get what you deserve in the event of delayed, damaged, or lost luggage http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/06/airlines-baggage-luggage-suitcases-regulations-delays-fees-rights
The Big Kahuna The California Sellers of Travel Law The OSSN Agent The Official Newspaper of the Outside Sales Support NetworkSeptember / October 2001 By Al AnolikARTA General Counsel The California Sellers of Travel Law was enacted in September 1994. “Sellers of travel” who are located in California, or located outside of California but selling […]
Where’s Your Luggage? Airline Lose Your Bags? You’ve Got Lots Of Company, But Options Too By Diane C. Lade Staff writer Talk about a bad trip: New airport security measures that limit carry-on items, and force travelers to pack more into checked bags, are coming at the same time the airlines are logging the largest number […]
What To Do With United Air Miles ABC7 KGO-TV Originally published by ABC7 KGO-TV Dec. 5 — With all the problems United Airlines is experiencing, what should frequent flier mileage holders do with their United miles? Travel attorney, Al Anolik, suggests Mileage Plus members use their miles — and fast. The safest way to go […]
Tips For Not Losing Luggage Originally published on Kron4’s website It is one of those things that ruins a vacation – the airline losing or misplacing your luggage. It’s a nightmare that affects millions of airline passengers a year. The good news is only one half of 1% of luggage checked-in gets lost. But with about a billion pieces […]
Real Simple Magazine October 2004 Life: When Accidents Happen By: Craig Offman Now What? Fender benders, dog bites, dry-cleaning disasters, and more – know your rights when things go wrong. "Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts." Nikki Giovanni, Of Liberation SITUATION: You’ve just landed in Dallas for […]
Northwest, Ex-Sales Rep Battle Over Waiver Codes TravelAge West Originally published at: http://www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=343 Northwest Airlines charged in a lawsuit that Howard Yang, a former account executive, and five San Francisco travel agents conspired to defraud the airline by using waiver codes to evade advance-purchase and minimum-stay requirements. The airline claims that it suffered at […]
NWA sues agents, ex-rep for waiver code fraudBy Laura Del Rosso http://www.travelweekly.com/articles.aspx?articleid=25851 SAN FRANCISCO — Northwest Airlines is charging in a lawsuit that a former account executive and five local travel agents who specialize in ethnic markets conspired to defraud the airline by using waiver codes to evade advance-purchase and minimum-stay requirements. The airline […]
NBC interviews Anolik regarding fliers’ rightshttp://www.travelweekly.com/articles.aspx?articleid=23182 NEW YORK — Travel attorney Alexander Anolik was interviewed at length here recently for an upcoming segment of NBC’s "Dateline," which is preparing a report on consumer rights in dealing with the airlines, specifically focusing on baggage claims. San Francisco-based Anolik is ARTA’s legal counsel and offers the legal […]
More Fliers Forced To Give Up Seats: Overbookings Surge as Airlines Trim Schedules; Passenger Compensation Unchanged Since 1978. By Scott McCartney, Wall Street Journal Airline flights are getting bumpier—before they even leave the gate. The number of people involuntarily bumped off flights bounced up more than 40% to 185,368 in the second quarter, compared […]
Lufthansa settles in Hall commission suitOriginally Published on www.travelweekly.com EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — Lufthansa and travel agency representatives reached a settlement in the Sarah Hall commission class-action suit, with Lufthansa creating a performance-based incentive program and making all of its Web fares available online for agent bookings. The settlement is subject to court approval. This […]
LOST LUGGAGE EXPERIENCE FRUSTRATING FOR TRAVELERS Originally published on Kron4’s website It is one of those things that ruins a vacation…the airline losing or misplacing your luggage. It’s a nightmare that affects millions of airline passengers a year. While only one-half of one percent of luggage checked in gets lost, that still means five […]
How To Sue An Airline from Travel ConfidentialTM newsletter March, 2000 Air travelers who have been wronged may find that there’s nothing more intimidating than seeking legal action against an airline. From the smaller inconveniences of flight delays and lost luggage to the overwhelming tragedies of personal injury and loss of life, a […]
Groups may merge airline antitrust suitsBy Laura Del Rosso Originally Posted On: TravelWeekly.com SAN FRANCISCO — Two grassroots agent groups hoping to launch antitrust lawsuits against the airlines are talking about a possible merger. The two groups are Cleveland-based United Travel Agencies of America (UTAA) and Reno, Nev.-based AntiTrust Travel Agent Compensation (Attac). In the […]
Fifth travel law symposium slated for Jan. 15Originally Posted on: www.travelweekly.com WASHINGTON — Travel Weekly and ARTA announced plans for their fifth annual National Travel Law Symposium. Taking the theme, Travel, Technology and the Law, the event is set for the Washington Marriott hotel on Jan. 15. The 2003 symposium, open to all interested travel […]
Debit memos coming hot, heavy and ‘stupid’By Nadine GodwinOriginally Published at: www.travelweekly.com NEW YORK — Travel lawyers, from their unique vantage point in the industry, report an increase this year in the number of airline debit memos, the dollars demanded in the debit memos and illogical justifications for debit memos. As travel attorney Mark Pestronk put […]
Cancelled Flights Don’t Always Mean Refunds Originally published on Kron4’s website BAY AREA (KRON) — With airlines cutting back on flights, Contact 4 has been hearing more complaints from consumers who say they’re not getting refunds although they’ve paid in full It wasn’t a mechanics strike, but a terrorist strike that caused Dina Lisha’s problems. […]
The Bottom Line On Airline Bumping Originally Published at: http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_180203058.html Reported by: Jeanette Pavini (CBS 5) SFO is expecting big crowds over the 4th of July holiday weekend. More than half a million travelers will pass through the airport between Friday and Tuesday. That means you should arrive at least 90 minutes before a […]
ASTA set to sue defunct line’s estateBy Rebecca Tobin Originally Published at: Travelweekly.com ALEXANDRIA, Va. — ASTA is going to court to stop the estate of Renaissance Cruises from suing travel agents for commissions paid on cruises that never sailed.The Society this week intends to file a class-action suit in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern […]
Anolik: Ease agent penalty for stolen ticketsComplete presentations:Barry Roberts, Roberts & HundertmarkDoug Crozier, Heifetz, Crozier, LawMark Pestronk, Law Offices of Mark PestronkTerry F. Lazar,Global Reservation SystemKathleen O. Argiropoulos, Airlines Reporting Corp.Bruce Bishins, U.S. Travel Agent RegistryOriginally Published at: TravelWeely.com By Fran Durbin WASHINGTON — San Francisco attorney Alexander Anolik said he believes he has come […]
By Fran Durbin http://www.travelweekly.com/articles.aspx?articleid=16210 AIRFAX, Va. — Pedroza Travel Agency of Los Angeles defeated ARC in a stolen-ticket-liability case — and escaped liability of an estimated $1.8 million — by citing an ambiguity in ARC’s ticket-security rules. The rules allow agents to keep one spare box of tickets on the premises for each printer "maintained" […]
’We never had any problems. There were no bells or whistles from American.’ Karen Meyer co-owner Tour World Travel Wichita Falls, Texas By Laura Del Rosso SAN FRANCISCO — A Texas travel agency facing a $400,000 debit memo for misuse of government fares filed suit here against American Airlines for "acts of interstate extortion," claiming […]
Travel LawBY ALEXANDER ANOLIK In countries the world over, travel and tourism is one of the largest service industries. In the United States, tourism is one of the three largest businesses in the nation, and the second largest employer. As leisure time and disposable income have increased, and with more corporate travelers servicing their businesses […]
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY International travelers could have something new to worry about if terrorism alerts ever again force airlines to cancel specific flights as they did over the recent holidays. Who pays for hotel rooms, meals and other expenses incurred by travelers forced to wait a day or more for a flight […]
By Chris Woodyardand Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY The airline industry is having a problem with wide bodies. Not big planes — rather, big passengers. As many Americans have grown wider around the middle, they are having an increasingly hard time fitting into economy-class seats. Now, airlines are taking action. Starting Wednesday, Southwest Airlines will […]
By Kevin Brass and R. Scott Macintosh http://www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=2483 A federal judge in travel agents’ landmark class-action suit against the major airlines has approved a controversial settlement agreement with Lufthansa Airlines. The proposed settlement was the first in the antitrust case filed under the name of travel agent Sarah Futch Hall and had been opposed by […]
On the Road with Bill McGee Most of us intend to prevent trouble before it even starts by making good travel planning decisions and straightening out problems as they arise. But every traveler knows that sooner or later they’ll take "The Trip from Hell." And then the trip turns into being all about filing a […]
By Jerry Chandler www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=471 A key plaintiff’s attorney, in an action alleging nine major airlines conspired to cut commissions, said the lawsuit is still on track – this despite a counterclaim by one of the carriers. San Francisco attorney Al Anolik, general counsel for ARTA, said he expects a suit filed by Sarah Hall, owner […]
If a seatmate smells bad, come clean to the crew — quicklyFrom the Los Angeles TimesTRAVEL Q&ABy: Laurie BergerDecember 4, 2005 Originally Posted: www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-travelqa4dec04,1,5954551.column Question: On a packed, 16-hour flight to Japan, my three children and I were seated in a row next to a family that had not bathed recently. The odor […]
TRAVEL Q&AYour rights when a flight is delayedBy: Laurie BergerOctober 2, 2005 Originally Posted on: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-travelqa2oct02,1,3459604.column WHEN planes don’t fly as promised, passengers often resort to pounding their fists rather than demanding their rights. Travel Q&A recently advised readers to arm themselves with a copy of their airline’s delay-and-cancellation policy when they fly ("When […]
TRAVEL Q&ANonrefundable? It sometimes pays to fight company policyWhen you must cancel a trip, it is possible to get back your money. Just be persistent and follow up meticulously.Laurie BergerNovember 6, 2005Originally posted on: http://www.latimes.com/services/site/premium/access-registered.intercept Question: One month before departure on our 23rd Princess cruise, my husband was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and rushed […]
Too good to be true? Maybe it was.Travelers said they paid $900 to $1,000 each for tickets. Officials are looking into whether an agency took the money and ran. LA TIMES By Laurie BergerSpecial to The TimesOctober 2, 2005 Originally Posted on: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-galaxy2oct02,1,7757374.story CALIFORNIA, New York and Illinois authorities are investigating a travel […]
TRAVEL Q&A Dodging the hasslesBy: Laurie BergerJuly 10, 2005 Originally Posted: www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-travelqa10jul10,1,7529732.column If you like trouble-free travel, forget about going anywhere during the summer. It seems as though everyone — and their kids, pets and grannies — is on the road, clogging rooms, seats and rental cars. And that means more chances for things […]
Passport and tickets are just a start Other documents can prevent hassles – Jane Engle, Los Angeles TimesSunday, February 27, 2005 Originally Published: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/02/27/TRGBJBFU3D1.DTL Alexander Anolik was enjoying a carefree, early-morning jaunt before leaving Monaco last year, driving his rental car down streets used in that seaside principality’s renowned Grand Prix motor races. The good […]
It takes more than a passport to speed you on your way Carrying the right documents can prevent trouble, especially for parents or those with medical conditions. TRAVEL INSIDERFrom the Los Angeles TimesBy Jane Engle November 28 2004 Originally published here. Alexander Anolik last year was enjoying a carefree early morning jaunt before leaving Monaco, […]
Banking on Travel March 19, 2004 TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS By Heather Won Tesoriero As appeared in the Wall Street Journal of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose Metropolitan Area; Denver Metropolitan Area; Springfield – Holyoke Metropolitan Area; and Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. WITH HIGH-PROFILE bankruptcies this past year shortchanging some travels, many are unaware of a […]
Originally Published at ABC7 KGO-TV/DT 12-11-03 Nov. 12 2003 — Pets are an important part of the family, so you can imagine how devastated a Napa couple was when a major airline lost their dog. 7 On Your Side’s Michael Finney explains. Airlines are required to report how many bags they lose, as […]
By Kevin Brass www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=2493 10/6/2003 A federal judge has approved the first settlement in the Sarah Futch Hall antitrust case against the major airlines, prompting speculation that more settlement agreements may soon follow. The deal with Lufthansa has been considered a bellwether for future negotiations in the class-action lawsuit, which charges 17 major airlines with […]
JetBlue Action Prompts Suits, Federal Scrutiny 9/29/2003 By R. Scott Macintosh TravelAgeWest Originally published at http://www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=2480 The use of jetBlue passenger information for a government project has sparked a federal inquiry, class-action lawsuits and widespread outrage over what civil rights groups are calling a grave violation of consumer privacy rights. Passengers in California and […]
By Kevin Brass 9/15/2003 http://www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=2459 Mysterious documents slated for shredding seven years ago may play a key role in travel agents’ current antitrust lawsuits against the major airlines. The airlines turned over the documents, which included e-mails, memos and phone logs, during the discovery process for the industry’s lawsuit against the airlines in the mid-’90s, […]
With an increase in bankruptcies, travel insurers’ business booming By Barry EstabrookNew York Times Posted Sept. 4, 2003 For those aboard the ship World Discoverer, an Around the Ring of Fire cruise proved memorable — perhaps too much so. The small luxury ship sailed last spring from the Japanese island of Hokkaido with a full […]
By R. Scott Macintosh and Judi Erickson TravelAgeWest Originally published at: http://www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=2448 The Department of Justice has found the proposed settlement with Lufthansa Airlines in agents’ landmark suit against the major carriers raises “serious concerns under antitrust laws.” In a letter filed with the court and sent to attorneys last week, the department asks Lufthansa […]
By Kevin Brass http://www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=2352 Attorneys for agents would receive a $1 million upfront payment and lead plaintiff Sarah Futch Hall would receive $100,000 as part of the landmark antitrust-case settlement with Lufthansa, according to recently filed court documents. Although the outline of the deal was announced in late June, the upfront payments to the attorneys […]
www.travelagewest.com/newsarticle.asp?articleid=2323 By Kevin Brass 7/7/2003 Within hours of signing a settlement agreement with Lufthansa Airlines, Jeanine Flaugher, one of the lead plaintiffs in the class-action agent suit against 17 airlines, changed her mind about the deal. “It stinks,” said Flaugher, who owns Flowers Travel in Belleville, Ill., with her husband, John. “Even though I signed, […]
By Anne Banas, Smarter Living Staff — USA TodayFebruary 2003 In the event of war, terrorism, or other forms of international unrest, your travel plans may be disrupted. Whether you’re wondering what recourse you have if your travel arrangements are canceled, or if you’re feeling uneasy about traveling and want to cancel your plans yourself, […]
Changes for Checked Luggage Originally published on Kron4’s website Posted: December 27, 2002 at 5:47 p.m. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — By December 31st, all airports across the country will be using new procedures to check for weapons in your luggage. The TSA — or Transportation Security Administration — is advising consumers to leave bags unlocked […]
Travel Rights Originally Published by ABC7 KGO-TV November 13, 2002 Nov. 13 — After yesterday’s airline crash, your travel plans may have changed drastically and you may be wondering what to do with a non-refundable ticket you couldn’t or didn’t use. Travel attorney, Alexander Anolik, says you have consumer rights, but that it’s up to […]
Airlines: Get Out Of The Gray AreaEnhanced SyStems Target Back-To-Back, Hidden Ticketing Practices By SARAH WELT OCTOBER 11, 1999 Enhanced SyStems Target Back-To-Back, Hidden Ticketing Practices By SARAH WELT OCTOBER 11, 1999 Two years after a crackdown by several major carriers on controversial ticketing practices (<I>BTN</I>, Oct. 6, 1997), airlines are still in hot pursuit […]
SEPTEMBER 20, 1999 — Last month, Travel Agent Arbiter William McGee ruled in favor of a small Los Angeles-based travel agency to relieve it of liability to the Airlines Reporting Corp. for tickets stolen in 1997. The decision came as the result of a request for reconsideration by Pedroza Travel after the arbiter first ruled […]
SEPTEMBER 20, 1999 — Last month, Travel Agent Arbiter William McGee ruled in favor of a small Los Angeles-based travel agency to relieve it of liability to the Airlines Reporting Corp. for tickets stolen in 1997. The decision came as the result of a request for reconsideration by Pedroza Travel after the arbiter first ruled […]