Let’s Travel

Craig Clark
If you’re flying and concerned about COVID and germs, here are 8 ways to avoid them.
1. Wear a mask
2. Research airline policies around social distancing
before booking
3. Wash your hands
4. Pack an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
5. Wipe down your area
6. Consider going snack-free on short flights
7. Get the flu shot
More airline news, according to Elliott Advocacy: last year the airlines deliberately slowed down the pace of refunds of over 9 million air travelers— for obvious reasons. Keeping your money meant it had enough cash to continue operating.
By the time the federal government caught on to this trick, the industry had already weathered the worst of the storm, thanks to these interest-free microloans from millions
of customers.
You don’t have to become one of 9 million aggrieved air travelers this year. The trick? Know your rights to a refund — and don’t be afraid to let your airline know.
You have the right to a refund if your flight is canceled.
According to DOT (Dept. of Transportation) regulations, your airline must refund your money within 7 business days if it
cancels your flight. It may offer you a replacement flight, but you are under no obligation to accept it.
You have the right to a refund if your flight is rescheduled. If your airline makes a “significant” change to your flight and you decide not to fly, you get a refund. The DOT — not your airline — gets to define “significant.”
If you get downgraded. If you have a confirmed seat in
business class and the airline tries to send you to the bleacher seats, guess what? You get a refund if you decide to cancel
your trip. But what if you decided to cancel your flight
because it isn’t safe to travel? If you initiate the cancellation, you have to accept a nontransferable, expiring ticket credit, and you may have to pay a ticket change fee.