Tara Cannon and her husband Rand have traveled with their two kids for 19 years — since they were babies.
23.07.2024 - 18:58 / travelandleisure.com / Delta Airlines
It’s been a tough week for travelers with widespread cancellations and delays after an IT issue disrupted the flight operations for some of the largest airlines in the world. Delta Airlines, in particular, has struggled to recover. Thousands of its flights have been canceled or delayed over the last few days, and the U.S. Department of Transportation launched an investigation into the airline as a result of passenger complaints.
For those who have faced a delay, cancellation, or other interruption, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has an easy way to file a complaint, which tracks the issue and potentially provide a resolution.
The DOT encourages travelers to first reach out to the airlines regarding the problem, as it can often be solved faster than filing a complaint.
“Before you contact DOT for help with an air travel problem, you should give the airline a chance to resolve it,” the DOT shares on the complaint site. “Airlines have trouble-shooters at the airports, usually called Customer Service Representatives, who can take care of many problems on the spot."
In circumstances where the airline doesn’t solve or acknowledge the problem, passengers can visit the DOT’s Air Travel Service Complaint or Comment Form.
The form can be completed by the passenger, or a relative of the passenger, which can be helpful when filing on behalf of a child, or a passenger who is unable to complete the form themselves. The complaint form also asks for information about the airline, flight itinerary, and description of the problem. Travelers can also upload different files, such as documents or images, to help illustrate the reason for their complaint.
The complaint form should not be used for safety issues as those are handled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In addition to the form, passengers can visit FlightRights.gov for a listing of the benefits and rights they are entitled too.
“I want to emphasize that in the last two years, we've dramatically expanded passenger protections,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg shared in a December 2023 interview with Travel + Leisure. «If you do have a problem after the fact, you can use that website to reach out to us with a complaint. We hope it doesn't come to that but we have helped passengers get $2 billion in refunds and counting. So if you do need our help, we are here to have your back.»
Tara Cannon and her husband Rand have traveled with their two kids for 19 years — since they were babies.
Points and miles are an incredibly useful way to fly more cheaply and comfortably. However, using them also means that you will often have fewer options than if you bought your flight with cash. That's because airlines release limited award availability, especially when it comes to popular dates and routes.
While most American cities aren’t considered easy to navigate by foot, a recent study by travel insurance experts AllClear ranked one popular Southern city as the most walkable in the country. AllClear examined topographical information for more than 240 cities around the world, taking into account average elevation and range, and assigned each city a score — and ultimately, it was New Orleans that was named the most walkable city in the U.S. and the fourth most walkable city globally.
When you've done as much travel as Lee Abbamonte has, you know a thing or two about the places worth visiting within the US.
A late-summer or fall getaway is now possible without breaking the bank. Spirit Airlines recently discounted hundreds of flights to popular destinations such as Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and more. The low-cost carrier advertised the fare sale on their «Popular Flight Deals» section of their homepage, where travelers can enter in their home airport to find the best deals for them. As part of the popular deals, Travel + Leisure spotted deep discounts for under $29 including Dallas (DFW) to Las Vegas (LAS) for $22 one-way in August, and Baltimore, MD (BWI) to Orlando, FL (MCO) for $21 in September 2024. Additional flight deals include:
As a frequent traveler, I sometimes take flights with long layovers.
Wynn Resorts has just closed a deal to buy another 70 acres of land on Ras Al Khaimah’s Marjan Island, giving the operator a total of 155 acres and ownership of a quarter of the entire island. Wynn is already developing a $3.9 billion resort in the emirate.
Oceania Cruises is launching a new tool for travel advisors.
Some have called it the parenting tax: when caregivers are forced to pay for the privilege of sitting next to their children on a flight.
It’s always a good time to start planning a vacation, and one airline is rolling out deals to help keep the cost down.Allegiant Airlines, a low cost carrier based in Las Vegas, recently published dozens of new «Last Minute Flight Deals,» starting as low as $33. Best of all, the deals extend to popular vacation destinations such as Asheville, Destin, Nashville, Orlando, Tampa, and more Travelers can find the deals on Allegiant’s website, and even filter the options based on their home airport and budget per flight. The website also has a helpful map that shows routes from a home airport. The flight deals are valid on travel throughout August 2024, and available as supplies last. Travel + Leisure spotted a variety of additional one-way deals including:
Claire Sturzaker took her first solo backpacking trip for free. Now, she's been to 40 countries and has tips for other budget travelers like her.
Planning and booking a fall or winter getaway just got cheaper. Southwest Airlines recently announced a new Wanna Get Away fare sale with airfares as low as $49 one-way to popular destinations. Best of all, travelers can snag discounted tickets to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and other warm destinations throughout the winter. The fare sale ends on July 29, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST, and is valid on travel through January 29, 2025. The sale may be especially helpful for anyone planning a vacation to Hawaii, as inter-island travel is also discounted. Passengers can score $49 one-way flights from Honolulu International Airport to Hilo (Hawaii Island), Kahului (Maui), and Kona. Travel + Leisure spotted a variety of the $49 one-way fares available including: