Travel Troubles

Here’s what happens when things go wrong for travelers on the road, in the air, at hotels, and in vacation rentals.

The Travel Troubles category at Consumer Rescue is a collection of real-life stories about travelers who’ve encountered unexpected issues during their adventures. Each tale is dramatic but is a cautionary example, offering valuable lessons and practical advice.

The Travel Troubles section is meant to educate and empower travelers, helping them avoid similar issues and know what to do when things go wrong.

Travelers who encounter a problem they can’t resolve on their own should ask for help from our advocacy team. Our direct mediation service is fast, friendly, and always free!

It is not possible to use a library card to fly internationally. So why did this passenger think she could?

No, it is not possible to fly internationally with a library card!

January 25, 2024August 31, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Elgy Gillespie was on her way to the airport for a trip to Ireland when she lost her passport. No problem, she thought. Having recently read an article that suggested she could fly with just a library card, she was confident that she could talk her way onboard her international flight.

But when a Norwegian Air Shuttle agent unequivocally denied her boarding without a passport, she was stunned by his lack of understanding.

Now she wants our advocacy team to intervene.

Elgy’s story serves as a warning not to believe everything you read online. It also is a reminder of the importance of ensuring that all of your required travel documents are firmly in hand before stepping up to the airport check-in counter.

If you lose your passport on your flight, you could end up in jail. This passenger found out the hard way.

I lost my passport on my flight and ended up in jail!

September 23, 2024August 31, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

At some point during her international flight from New York to Madrid, Alberta Chen lost her passport. As a result, she ended up at the immigration window in Spain with no passport to show to the officers. What happened next was a traveler’s worst nightmare. Chen was taken from the airport, placed in detention overnight and then deported back to the United States the following day.

Now she wants to know how she can get a $2,400 refund for this vacation fiasco.

Alberta’s distressing misadventure underscores the importance of safeguarding your passport and other travel documents at all times. If you don’t, you might find yourself in a similar predicament on an express round-trip international journey — no sightseeing included.

This couple's honeymoon ended in disaster at the airport. Whose fault is this and can we help?

My honeymoon ended in disaster at the airport! Who owes me $7,000?

February 22, 2024August 31, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Daniela Jedlicki’s honeymoon recently ended in disaster before it even began. She says a series of mistakes caused the couple to be denied boarding their honeymoon flight to Turks and Caicos. Jedlicki blames both her booking agent and insurance company for those errors.

Now she’s asking our team to find out who owes her $7,000 for this honeymoon disaster.

Unfortunately, the culprit of this travel fiasco is someone she never suspected.

This passport mistake is one that will easily ruin your vacation. This traveler wishes someone had told him sooner.

This passport mistake will ruin your vacation every time

March 11, 2024August 27, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Trevor Seamon made a devastating passport mistake, and it ruined his family’s dream vacation. In all the preparation for the journey to Italy, he neglected to check the validity of their passports. That error led the Seamons to arrive at the airport with passports expiring within 90 days — invalid for travel. Denied boarding, they missed their eagerly anticipated trip and ended up right back home at the end of the day.

Seamon believes Air France is responsible for this passport mistake, and he wants our team to negotiate a refund. But is the airline responsible for the family’s ruined vacation?

This Vrbo guest booked a vacation rental that doesn't seem to exist. Can we help?

I wasted $2,000 on a vacation rental that does not exist!

February 12, 2024August 25, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Paul Trosclair says he just spent nearly two grand on a vacation rental that does not exist. To make matters worse, Vrbo sided with the person he believes is a thief disguised as a host.

Now Paul hopes our advocacy team can prove this vacation rental is nonexistent and get his money back.

But can we do it?

The host of this vacation rental appears to

If a vacation rental owner lists the wrong location, shouldn’t Vrbo refund your money?

June 26, 2023August 24, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Karen Barney used Vrbo to book a vacation rental to celebrate Christmas in Puerto Vallarta with extended family. But after she pressed the confirm button, this first-time Vrbo user got a surprise from the vacation rental owner. It turns out the property wasn’t actually in Puerto Vallarta. Even more surprising? The rejection Karen received when she asked Vrbo to fix the problem by canceling and giving her a refund.

Now Karen is hoping our team can convince Vrbo to refund the money she spent on this mislabeled vacation rental.

Is this Airbnb host purposely mislabeling his shared space rental?

Did this Airbnb host forget to mention something really important?

August 13, 2023August 24, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Scrolling through Airbnb one evening, Jeremy Little thought he’d found the perfect vacation rental for his family’s trip to London. With scenic views and a spacious layout, it had everything he, his wife, and children could need…and more. Unfortunately, the “and more” turned out to be a real deal-breaker: total strangers sharing the common area. That’s something the host failed to mention until after Jeremy booked and paid for the Airbnb.

As a shared space rental was never part of his family’s vacation plans, Jeremy immediately asked Airbnb to cancel. Much to his surprise, the listing giant allowed the cancellation but refused to refund the payment.

After many unsuccessful attempts to retrieve his money, Jeremy hopes our advocacy team can help. But with Airbnb firmly on the side of the property’s Superhost, is there anything we can do?

This Thrifty car rental customer returned the vehicle to the wrong agency. Will this car rental mistake cost her $2,000?!

What happens when you return your rental car to the wrong company?

October 5, 2023August 19, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you know travelers can make all types of expensive car rental mistakes. But Rose Hidalgo’s $2,000 error was the first of its kind for our advocacy team. She recently dropped a Thrifty rental car off, as scheduled, at the Oakland International Airport location.

The problem? She returned the rental car to the wrong agency.

Expedia says United Airlines won't refund just the part of the flight it canceled.

Can United Airlines cancel my flight and refuse to give me a refund?

April 15, 2024August 12, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

United Airlines just canceled Pamela Money’s return flight from a remote area of Canada, so where’s her refund?

She says an Expedia agent cheerfully informed her that United Airlines would give her a voucher instead of cash. But that doesn’t sit right with this passenger, and she’s hoping we can get her money back.

What’s really going on here?

Don't fall for this vacation rental scam -- never use Zelle to pay.

How to easily lose $500 to a vacation rental scam? Pay with Zelle

August 24, 2024July 29, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Falling for a vacation rental scam surely is not at the top of your list of things to do this summer. It certainly wasn’t in Don Boyk’s plans. But that’s exactly what happened when a thief disguised as a Vrbo host persuaded him to send a $500 deposit via Zelle.

His cash was soon in the hands of the scammer and Vrbo informed him the listing was fraudulent.

Now Don hopes we can find a way to save him from this vacation rental scam and retrieve his money.

But if a consumer uses Zelle to send cash to a stranger, is there any way to get it back?