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(c) Elliott Publishing.

Here We Go Again
Cheap Charlie · July 28, 1999

"We heard the bell ring. We have felt the whip," the head of the Air Transport Association Executive Committee contritely stated last month. It is easy to say, but after an early year period of "airline passenger rights" nothing has changed.

You have got to hand it to the airlines. After a beginning period of negative publicity from Senate and House representatives, the airlines are right back where they started -- now with Congressional blessings.

Congressmen and Senators are clucking about how they "got the airlines attention." Baloney.

The airlines simply released to the press and Congress the very rules and policies they have been following for years and Congress and the media all claimed victory. OK, there was one small change regarding not fighting the increase in lost luggage liability. But the power of secrecy prevailed. If no one knows the rules, any rules seem like an improvement.

There is good news. In this case, with airlines outlining their policies, at least there will be some public standards, even if they are not very different from the airline's closely-held previous policies. I have to agree that the airlines can handle passenger service problems better and more fairly than the government. The continued flexibility of airline policies will still allow persistent passengers to have their grievances settled.

Notes on previous columns: I have had days with up to 50 e-mail responses to my columns. Amazingly, the mail is almost evenly split between readers who feel I am too hard on the airlines and rental car companies and those who want more bashing. I am trying to walk a middle line.

I think the airlines and car rental car companies do a wonderful job, and that when customers know company policies, they can get the best deals available. Knowledge is power in the travel world. Plus, it helps to be nice to airline personnel at the airports. They are nice to those who are nice to them.

Regarding Air Fare: Flight attendants tell me that when you order a special meal, contrary to my suggestion that you will be able to switch to the normal meal, in some cases, you may not. The airlines are only loading enough meals for the exact number of passengers on board. So, there may not be an additional meal available. If you are planning on ordering a special meal, plan on eating it.

Regarding American Exclusive: When American Express received my friend's letter requesting mileage earned back to January 1998, they agreed basically to split the difference with him. I think it was a fair deal. Common sense prevailed.

Regarding Net Discrimination: Haven't heard much from the airlines, however, Travelocity which runs the American, US Airways and Southwest online reservation system has told me that adding senior fares is one of their top priorities, but technically complicated.

Regarding Fly for Free USA Not: Customers sent e-mail that says many of the deals are almost impossible to find. One traveler called 90 days in advance and was told that there were no airline seats available for the times they chose to travel. The bottom line is that the restrictions on theses "deals" are tighter than any travelers will find with normal airline tickets. When a deal sounds too good … watch your step.

Regarding CDW Scare Scam: One reader noted, that if you do not own any car at all, you may want to purchase liability coverage. If you have your own car, you are covered for liability. If you do not own a car, check into the liability coverage. Though most rental car companies have secondary liability coverage up to the state (in which you are renting the car) minimum insurance requirements, you may want to purchase additional liability insurance.

Charlie Leocha is the Boston-based author of Travel Rights: Know the Rules of the Road and the Air Before You Go. Cheap Charlie appears every Monday on this site. E-mail him at cheapch@aol.com or access his Web site.