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In late summer, United Airlines announced a new program where a select number of travel agents would no longer be allowed to use the airline’s merchant account to process ticket purchases. This maneuver was an obvious attempt to save the three to four percent credit card processing fees. The Consumer Travel Alliance saw a more ominous outcome — the possible loss of important consumer protections.
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A popular sign in small restaurants and stores many years ago used to say “In God We Trust,” all others pay cash. These days, however, in the travel industry, suppliers are putting their trust in credit and debit cards. It’s the cash they don’t want.
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I’ve previously recommended the credit card issued by Chase in conjunction with the Amtrak Guest Rewards frequent-rider program as one of the best frequent-traveler credit cards, depending on whether you travel regularly on Amtrak, and if so on which routes. It has high fees for foreign transactions, cash advances, or interest if you don’t pay [...]
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In a ruling issued 22 October 2009, the judge hearing the Federal class-action lawsuit against credit card companies for fraudulently hidden and/or inflated fees for credit, debit, and ATM transactions in foreign currencies has overruled all of the objections to the settlement and to the plan for allocating what’s left of the third of a billion dollar settlement fund after the lawyers get their fee. The only major change made by the judge was to cut the lawyers’ fee down from the US$85 million they asked for to a little over US$50 million (plus expenses).
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Ned has been driving in Paris and the Normandy region of France this past week. He has some tips and observations to help you drive in France as well as suggestions for the French government to improve driving in France.
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Airlines are a strange business. Every other industry in the world pays commissions to salespeople. Car salesmen make a commission. Insurance saleswomen make a commission. Drug salespeople make commissions. Baseball agents make commissions. But, travel agents make no commission from airlines for tickets they sell.
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United Airlines has relented and agreed to a 60-day waiting period before imposing their new draconian billing directives issued to 28 travel agents less than a month ago. The new requirements limit the agencies to paying all credit card fees and then forwarding fare payments to United by cash transfers.
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Cash is king. Or is it? We all know the economy has impacted the travel industry, and consumers who want to travel. Sometimes in surprising ways.
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The White House is proposing a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. This agency will oversee consumer lending and take the consumer side of lending away from the banking regulators who have presided over credit card and mortgage abuses. What will this mean to travelers?
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Taking advantage of low airline fares to Europe this summer? Ned has some tips and precautions for you to implement, to keep your cameras, cash, and other valuables out of the hands of thieves in Europe and destinations elsewhere.
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