MICHELLE COUCH-FRIEDMAN - Page 10 of 28

Swiss Air denied boarding aircraft mistake, refused boarding this aircraft, SWISS, Swiss Air International, airplane in the sky

Swiss Air denied boarding to me by mistake. Who will pay for this?

August 30, 2025February 5, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Stepping up to the Swiss Air check-in counter at Newark International, Zivia Berkowitz didn’t expect any problems. She was excitedly on her way to join an expedition team to hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

At least, that was the plan. But that isn’t what happened. Swiss Air denied boarding to Berkowitz – she says by mistake. So, instead of flying to Africa, she spent the night in an airport hotel scrambling to find last-minute replacement flights.

vacation rental with no electricity, Vrbo problems, vacation rental problems, Vrbo refund

Help! My vacation rental doesn’t have electricity. Shouldn’t I get a refund?

June 9, 2025February 3, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Few things are more important in a vacation rental than electricity. But when John Burns and his family arrived at their Parisienne houseboat Vrbo, they found it was missing that crucial element. So why won’t Vrbo refund their payment?

Victims of the Vantage Travel bankruptcy have credits to spend on Aurora Expeditions. This is an Aurora ship with an X. Confused claimants are rejecting their credits.

What Vantage Travel customers need to know before rejecting their credits

July 5, 2025January 21, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Confusion remains high for the former customers of the bankrupt tour operator Vantage Deluxe World Travel. The legalese in each notification from the bankruptcy court invariably brings a new wave of bewilderment for those unsecured creditors. Unfortunately, that confusion has now reached a fever pitch.

An Airbnb rental is located near a giant oil plant according to the satellite image, pollution from a power plant is damaging sea life.

The satellite image of my Airbnb rental is shocking — I want a refund!

August 24, 2025January 16, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Some of our cases get relegated to the dismissed file simply because of the attitude of the consumer. This Airbnb guest’s story was almost one of them.

Almost.

Carnival Cruise Line's Spirit sailing on the sea.

I forgot my ID and missed my $2,402 Carnival cruise! Will I get a refund?

April 22, 2025January 9, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Gabriele Fehr and her husband planned to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in the Caribbean aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Spirit. But in the end, they missed that special Carnival cruise and only their luggage took the $2,402 voyage.

The ultimate guide to planning a cruise, expert cruise guidance, what cruisers need to know about planning a cruise, taking a cruise guide, Michelle Couch-Friedman cruise fiasco expert

Planning a cruise this year? Here’s how to avoid common mistakes

July 28, 2025January 1, 2024 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Over the years, I’ve mediated hundreds of requests for help from distressed cruise line passengers. Many of these cruise fiascos were the result of passenger mistakes and could have been avoided by following some simple guidelines. With wave season just beginning, now is the perfect time to review Consumer Rescue’s ultimate guide to planning a cruise.

Here’s all the information you need to know about planning and taking a cruise.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel refund still possible, Ocean Explorer ship on the sea, VDWT operated this ship

From despair to victory: How we recovered $93,500 in refunds for Vantage Travel victims

July 5, 2025December 31, 2023 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Consumer Rescue had a bonanza of wins for Vantage Travel customers as we sprinted to this year’s finish line. Since early November, our advocacy team has retrieved nearly $100,000 for victims of the Vantage Travel bankruptcy.

Here’s some good consumer news to end 2023.

Taking a United Airlines flight to Greece, Santorini hillside.

United Airlines switched us to another airline. Can we get a refund instead?

February 12, 2024December 30, 2023 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

United Airlines surprised one family after it canceled their flight – an automatic switch to another airline. But the new itinerary on the new carrier didn’t resemble the original, and the passengers didn’t want it. So why did UA make the option of a refund seem impossible?

What is a United Airlines Travel Bundle? It’s a mystery to this passenger

January 5, 2024December 16, 2023 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Mary Bradley says she was billed hundreds of dollars extra for a United Airlines Travel Bundle on a self-booked ticket. She doesn’t know what these fees are, but she wants a refund. Can our advocacy team help?

Uninhabitable Airbnb rental in Paris problem

Mon Dieu! In real life, that cute Airbnb rental is uninhabitable. What now?

April 12, 2024December 4, 2023 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Airbnb guests Elizabeth Knox and her husband recently discovered bed bugs aren’t the only pests making accommodations uninhabitable in Paris. Soon after arriving at their cute rental in the City of Lights, they found another family already enjoying the apartment.

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