On the Spot: Advice from The Times Travel editor
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Learn self-defense. Gather information. Ask for help and for what you want. Be slightly suspicious.
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“You’ll be in Room 702, Miss Hamm, ” the hotel desk clerk said.
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Question: I am 85 years old and short — 4 feet 10 inches.
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Wow Air’s demise may have sent ripples through the airline industry, but for leisure travelers, it was more like a chill.
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U.S. travelers can move easily from country to country, for the most part.
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Our last visit — “our,” because I am on this journey with you — to the topic of California’s Real ID driver’s license made my head hurt.
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I just finished reading the Feb. 14 “On the Spot” (“You Have License to be Frustrated”).
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We have no control over some of the misfortunes of air travel.
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My husband and I are both 65, and we are frequent travelers outside of the U.S.
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Question: We are planning a trip to Cuba.
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I flew United at Thanksgiving with my 6- and 11-year-old children.
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Holiday travel time is upon us, and we will be renting yet another car.
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As a traveler, I find that the best surprise is no surprise.
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Question: As a 100,000-mile flier each year for more than 15 years, I’ve had the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck — expedited screening — for several years through the Global Entry Program.
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Three colleagues. Three rental cars. One problem.
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My first group tour was a four-city trip to China in 2001.
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You’ve returned from vacation and that post glow is fading fast.
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Reader Margo Kasdan of Seal Beach recently asked On the Spot whether travel insurance advertising was a giant scare tactic to get people to buy insurance.
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Riddle me this, travelers: When is a car not a car? When it’s an albatross.
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Question: I recently received offers from two of my frequent-flier airlines that want me to buy their insurance.
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For the first time ever, I was in green, rainy Portland and there wasn’t enough water.
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A reader recently wrote to ask about a language-immersion program.
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Question: On Oct. 2, I bought a one-way ticket on Frontier Airlines and the fare with taxes was $59.
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As consumers, we’re thinking about data breaches all wrong.
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I finally applied for and received a Known Traveler Number [from the Transportation Security Administration] as did my wife.
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Question: We noticed a few years ago that our luggage started coming down the baggage chute on its front instead of on its back.
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Just when we thought it was safe to stop writing about Real ID, along comes a bump in the road.
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Question: We want to sail round trip for seven days on a cruise ship from Vancouver, Canada, that stops in Alaska, then disembark in the morning and that same day board a second cruise ship (another line) and sail from Vancouver to Los Angeles.
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Question: I have had some significant flight delays into and out of LAX over the last few months that have been attributed by airline personnel and air traffic control to runway construction.
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Question: Recently, I flew into L.A. on a nonstop flight from Paris.
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Question: When we tried to apply for a visa to Brazil, which seemingly needs tourist dollars, no appointments were available that would allow us to make our trip, booked one month from now.
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Question: Six family members — four adults and two children — flew into John Wayne Airport from New York.
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Question: I travel every year to Europe and have a stopover in Amsterdam.
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Question: My daughter is expecting a baby around Thanksgiving, and I need to buy a ticket from Los Angeles to New York’s JFK.
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Question: Several of us are taking a cruise that leaves from Tokyo.
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Question: Recently, a longtime travel friend died.
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I live in the San Fernando Valley and much prefer traveling out of Burbank airport.
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Question: I have just gone through a surprising experience in trying to book a flight from LAX to Charlotte, N.C., on American Airlines, using miles one way and purchasing the return ticket.
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Question: I have read that a tourist will get a better exchange rate using euros rather than U.S. dollars in Cuba.
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Pay attention or pay the price.
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No wonder booking an airfare is the bane of nearly every leisure traveler’s existence.
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Question: My sister and her 14-year-old daughter are traveling from Kalispell, Mont., to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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Question: My sister and I were in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in March, and our tour guide took us to some temples in Angkor.
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Question: I reserved a Royal Caribbean cruise of the Mediterranean.
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Question: Our son has been accepted into a university language program and is planning a semester abroad in Paris, leaving in August and returning probably in late December.
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Question: We recently went to one of our favorite getaways, booking just hours before we arrived.
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In writing about travelers with disabilities, I’ve been cautioned by experts that every person’s situation is different, which means there is no standard solution that will work for everyone.
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Question: Twice a year for more than 10 years, I have been flying to Zurich, Switzerland, from LAX.
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Question: My husband and I plan to travel from Los Angeles to Roanoke, Va.
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Germs are everywhere, including horrifying amounts on your cellphone and tablet, according to a study by Which?
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Question: I recently booked flights from LAX to Washington’s Reagan National for my husband, two daughters and me.
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Question: My credit union was the first of my credit card companies to send me the new chip and PIN card.
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Question: In the last few years, my husband and I have become frustrated with hotel thermostats.
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Question: I’m interested in going to Cuba soon but information is not easy to come by and some of it is conflicting.
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Question: On Dec. 26, my 11-year-old great-nephew, CJ, boarded a United Airlines flight from LAX to Denver and then on to Durango, Colo.
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Question: I’m frustrated that airfares have not followed the decline in oil prices over the last few months.
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Voice used to be the big issue for overseas travelers, but not anymore, said Sebastian Harrison, founder of Cellular Abroad, which offers products to address a host of international connectivity issues.
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Question: Using L.A.
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Prepaid cards let you make purchases wherever the debit-card brand is accepted, and they can be reloaded Question: After telling our bank we were traveling abroad and being assured we should have no problem getting cash from ATMs, we ran into problems.
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Question: Ever since my Chase card removed foreign transaction fees, the cynic in me has wondered whether it didn’t just adjust the currency conversion rate to cover at least part of the lost fees.
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Question: In the Oct. 12 Letters column in the Travel section, a letter headlined “Gloomy Skies” recounted that a US Airways customer service representative said that the airline was not legally obligated to honor seat reservations.
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Question: On trips to Italy and Spain last year, a hotel in each country asked me whether I would like my bill charged in dollars or euros.
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Question: A reader writes that she plans to give up her apartment, store her belongings and live and travel outside the U.S. for a year.
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Question: We signed up on Oceania for a cruise to India and the east coast of Africa.
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The reasons an airline may drop a flight or route are plenty, experts say, but it all boils down to economics. And don’t expect advance notice — unless you’ve already booked tickets.
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It’s not even the middle of October and I’m already worried — on your behalf — about booking Thanksgiving and year-end holiday travel.
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Options include air vents, masks and requesting seat mate to put shoes back on. Your best bets are with flight attendants and the carrier’s rules on offensive odors.
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Question: I recently returned from a trip booked through Kayak/Vayama and had a disturbing experience.
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Question: Here is something I cannot figure out: On a US Airways flight my parents want to take from Chicago’s O’Hare to San Francisco on Dec. 23, a first-class nonrefundable ticket is not available, but a first-class flexible ticket costs $1,222.
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I just returned from a vacation in Ireland, with a short break in Paris.
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Question: Frequent traveler Daniel Fink of Beverly Hills recently received an email from American Airlines that said, “We’re creating a consistent experience when traveling in first class on American and US Airways.
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September is National Passport Awareness month, so this might be a good time to look at this gold standard of identification, especially if your book is 9 years old.
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Question: From years ago, I have about 115,000 American Airlines miles.
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Calls from the IRS? Stranded traveler emails from friends? Both are likely scams. Alert friend, then download and run some reputable antivirus software — your computer might be infected.
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Some airlines are proactive in the face of trouble, others not. It’s up to the carrier, not the jittery flier. The best you can do is plead your case. And read the airline’s contract of carriage.
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Most international ATMs support up to 12-digit PINs, but some accept only four digits. If your PIN is longer than four digits, your options include shortening it, changing banks or perhaps trying a different machine.
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We’re not yet past Labor Day, but it’s already time to start thinking about traveling for the year-end holidays.
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Question: On May 16, when we returned to our car parked at the Santa Barbara Amtrak station, a group of people was gathered in the lot.
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Rental car rates are going up. Here are four rules for keeping your cost down.
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Question: My husband and I recently returned from an overseas trip.
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Question: Will I ever be able to get a frequent-flier ticket again? Answer: Probably.
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Question: A San Diego reader booked tickets for himself and his family for a vacation in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, a Caribbean resort known for its beaches and golf courses.
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Question: What if you have airline tickets to a country and near the departure date the State Department says this is a dangerous area to travel to?
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Question: I recently acquired round-trip business-class tickets for Europe using reward points — more than 200,000 points — with credit card awards.
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Question: I’m going to Europe this summer.
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On the Spot: You might think that no one would object to receiving a few dollars as thanks for a small service, but that’s not always true.
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On the Spot: Able to leave at a moment’s notice and are adventurous about locale? Look for package discounts and ‘flash sales’ on social media, and check out Expedia, AARP and other websites.
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On the Spot: Airlines have too few seats for the many customers with awards miles on the books. Guess who’s going to lose.
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On the Spot: It’s best to leave valuable, irreplaceable items at home. But if they must come along, and they go missing, it’s best to report losses immediately. And remember, not everything is covered.
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On the Spot: Confusion reigns over what the TSA’s PreCheck program entails, but there’s no escaping the airport screening process.
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Need to Know: Two hours into a recent cross-country flight, passengers were notified that just one lavatory was working. Are there guidelines for regulations for such a situation?
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On the Spot: Travel questions. Those with a sore back might want to shop hotels for the mattresses installed in rooms. A targeted exercise routine, diligently maintained, also helps.
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On the Spot: If you must travel with expensive items, here are some tips on how to help keep them secure, though nothing’s foolproof.
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On the Spot: As airline mergers and downsizing increase the passenger load on flights, frequent-flier miles become devalued and harder to use. Playing the game takes fortitude, cunning, determination.
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On the Spot: Surprise roaming and data charges can be staggering. Here’s 14 tips to save cash while staying connected.
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On the Spot: It’s smart to leave home with some foreign currency, but if you need more while traveling, ATMs are your best bet. Just remember — you may have to pay transaction and bank fees.
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On the Spot: Angry customer wonders whether it’s legal for his carrier to charge to maintain his reward — it is.
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Some car rental contracts have geographic restrictions and/or ask for a receipt from a nearby gas station. Enforcement may be up to you.
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On the Spot: Clueless fliers randomly picked for expedited screening are already slowing down the fast lane. Factor in higher holiday traffic and you have a potential mess in the making.
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Knee and hip replacements often sound the alarm at airport screenings. It won’t change until TSA adopts uniform screening technology.
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On the Spot: A man staying in a luxury hotel is aghast when his pillowcase isn’t changed after his pillow falls to the floor. Is he being too picky?
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On the Spot: TSA policy is to leave notification if a bag is searched. No note? It could be the airline. But unless flier reports issue within 30 days — as in this case — it’ll remain an unsolved mystery.
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On the Spot: An emergency ticket change for a flight out of a small, remote airport results in sticker shock for a couple.
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They lost their Global Entry cards. But do they need them in hand to use the program? Or will a passport or driver’s license do?
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Consolidator tickets fall into a gray area, so be sure to know the risks before booking your travel.
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On the Spot: Those comfortable with cartography might prefer their directions on paper. Otherwise, listening to directions may be the way to go.
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On the Spot: A lost-forever airline award letter is a cautionary tale on why you should keep track of your bounty, via photographs or an app.
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Tours are opportunities for solo travelers to meet people and study programs allow for independence.
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On the Spot: Going it alone can be difficult, but it is getting better, with single cabins on cruise lines, travel-matching services and even specialized tours.
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Reading the fine print — who does? — on that insurance coverage yields surprises but not much joy.
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On the Spot: Tight airline connections often leave travelers stranded, especially in busy airports. Choose longer windows, if possible.
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On the Spot: Readers’ stories on being detained at Customs for minor arrests in the past a mark of travelers’ varied experiences.
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Expedited passports are available through the State Department, at the U.S. Passport Agency or by hiring a passport expediter.
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On the Spot: The TSA program works as advertised: Quick trips through immigration and customs. Plus, thanks to its PreCheck component, easier security screens at some U.S. airports.
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When your travel plans are disrupted, sometimes it’s best to call the airline. But other times it’s best to call the online travel agency.
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Reader’s 43-year-old pot arrest resulted in an acquittal, but it shows up when he’s detained at Miami airport customs after a trip abroad.
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Return your car late or to the wrong drop-off location and prepare to pay extra.
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A hotelier wants to be helpful but not run afoul of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
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The Federal Trade Commission warned 22 hotel operators that the practice of adding resort fees might violate the law. The commission, however, did not disclose which hotels were warned.
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A system of tiered fees would be more fair, but you still have some choices. Think twice before buying travel insurance though.
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On the Spot: Change fees are a fact of flying, but not all airlines charge the same so shop around. Also, consider buying refundable tickets.
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On the Spot: When it comes to fixing errors on an airline ticket, it’s not what you know but whom that can save the day. That’s where travel agents can come in handy.
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A worker books a business flight at the firm’s expense, then quits. Now the company has little hope of getting the ticket transferred or paid back.
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On the Spot: The trick is to find a travel agent you like and trust. The American Society of Travel Agents is just one group that can help
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A woman who often travels internationally for work needs a new passport quicker than the usual four to six weeks. There are ways.
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Doctors say that as we age jet lag often gets worse, and Ambien and similar drugs may not be the best solution. Some details on how to find your rhythm.
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On the Spot: Here it comes again — an issue fraught with emotion, political overtones, economic and sociological implications. Not to mention confusion.
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On the Spot: Since 1963, the U.S. has forbid travel there, with certain exceptions. Trying to go anyway, through Tijuana, can lead to big trouble.
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Planning a cruise itinerary can be complicated. A reader wonders if booking through a travel agent is helpful.
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A reader needs advice about shipping toiletries ahead for a trip abroad for several weeks.
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Headaches at high altitudes are common, especially if there’s been no time to acclimate. Are some people prone to more serious reactions? What about jet rides?
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A reader wants to take a riverboat cruise in Europe with her husband, who had a stroke two years ago.
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Casual fliers can get Global Entry benefit, but don’t expect miracles: Not all carriers participate, and an interview is mandatory.
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Airlines will usually try to locate the owner of a lost passport, but once the document is given to the State Department, there’s little to be done but reapply.
