Does anybody have any recent experience with exiting the Schengen region via Schiphol airport in Amsterdam? We have a 1:15 layover there in two weeks where we change to our return flight to Boston on Delta.

Thanks

Let's talk about travel IQs today. Who's got it, and who doesn't?

I recently had issues when my wife and I traveled from Dulles to Taiwan on Turkish Air.  On the way there, we did an extended layover in Istanbul which made each of the legs of the trip about 11+ hours.  Given the length of the trip, we paid for early seat selection (so we would be together) and bulkhead seating (I'm over 6ft tall) so it would be more comfortable.   

On one of the outbound legs, my inflight entertainment system (IES) stopped working shortly after takeoff.   First there was no volume - the flight attendant brought me new headphones. When that didn't work, they told me to turn the system off at my seat but then the touch screen would no longer respond at all.  The attendant then reset the system for my seat several times, but nothing worked.  The flight was completely full, so I had to just sit there for hours until we landed.  On one of the return flights my wife had the same problem with her seat.  Even after hitting the call button, it took over an hour to get an attendant.  (Actually, no one ever responded to the call button, I just had to flag someone as they came by.)  The same steps were tried - new headphone, turn the system off/on, reset by the attendant.  This time there were empty seats, so they just had her move to an empty. 

Upon return home, I contacted customer service and requested a partial refund of the cost for early seat selection and bulkhead seating, but they said there was no record of any issues on either flight because I never contacted an attendant. I assured them I contacted an attendant several times in both cases.  I explained that I cannot control whether the attendant made a report of the issue, but it was unreasonable to think that I would sit for 11 hours in a seat I paid extra for without saying anything.  I asked them to check the computer system which should show that the attendant did a system reset for that seat. (I know they did something because each time the monitor would go black and restart.) I even reminded them that it's not good safety practice if attendants are not logging issues that occur during flights.  After several rounds of email, they just kept saying I didn't speak to the attendant and the matter was closed.  Is there anything else I could/should have done other than write a negative review?

So my good friend and I went to Scandinavia in May. We traveled separately since we live in different (and distant) US cities. He got sick near the end of our three week trip and was hospitalized for four days. When he was realeased from the hospial, we both flew home (2 days early). I chose to fly the same as his initial segment Stockholm to LHR to make sure he was ok.

So my original return itineary was Lufthansa - Copenhagen to Munich, and Munich to Seattle and AS ownard. My revised itinerary was BA to LHR, and AS LHR to SEA, and onward. I could have booked my homeward itinerary for less money if I had not wanted to travel with him on that first leg. I had both travel insurance thru' Orbitz and a separate polciy with TinLeg. I've not applied for reibursement from Orbitz or TinLeg. While, I believe, the doctor may have put in writing that he should go home, I don't think there was a note about him being accompanied. (If he was doing marginally, I might have traveled with him home.)

With 20 20 hindsight when one is traveling like this- with a companion but not traveling together until the destination - would I be eligible for an insurance refund. Is there a better way to do this? Should I still file an insurance claim?

There is no alternative Alaska air flight. Unfortunately we booked through the cruise line airline booking program, Ezair. So I guess we have to book through them or at least that is what we are doing.

We had seats in economy plus on Delta for a flight in a couple of months. We got an email indicating we had been moved to a later flight.

We looked and our original flight number still existed but departed a minute later. We wanted to be on that flight.

Delta was out of Economy Plus seats on our original flight. We paid to change to first class to stay with our original (except for the minute change!) itinerary.

Should we ask Delta for a refund of the price difference? If so, politely but firmly complain/request now or after we finish traveling?

My husband and I have a Marriott timeshare that we are debating about keeping. I believe at one point I saw a website that specialized in assessing timeshare programs, so I searched online and kept coming up with "how to get out of a timeshare." That's not what I want--I'm looking for a reputable resource that does honest assessments of timeshare plans and their offerings. We think Marriott's encouragement to "buy some extra points" and get enhanced member benefits is probably not worth it but would like to research.

Does anyone happen to know what I'm thinking of? Thank you.

My AA flight from San Diego to Chicago got diverted to Milwaukee due to storms and we were delayed overnight.

I live in the northern suburbs of Chicago so decided to take the train the following morning rather than fly to O’Hare as it was quicker and my credit card insurance covers alternative means of travel home.

The issue I have is that I need to get proof for my claim from American Airlines and their records state the flight was delayed 276 minutes, which is plainly not correct. I have gone back to aa’s customer services twice but just get given the same answer, despite me sending them photos of the departure gate screen showing it had been delayed overnight.

Any suggestions what I should do?

Thanks

I'm traveling to Spain and Italy soon and wonder if the horrifically long wait times I've read about to clear EES are real. I'm traveling with my son/wife and his two toddlers so long waits in line will be very challenging! Thanks!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1409788151026180?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6AJuK9 Ironically, I just posted a comment about this on one of your forums this week that was about animals in restaurants. I love animals and we have many but I do think that Airlines should have some pet-free flights for people with allergies. This is a tough reality for those of us who are allergic and suffer with animals on planes. It might be a good article.

www.facebook.com

I booked some nonrefundable premium economy round trip tickets on British Airways for my family for our trip to Greece in mid September.  Since we booked the flights through a travel agent in April, my older daughter became pregnant 
with identical twin boys, due to arrive most likely in the second half of December. Given her high risk pregnancy, she is not allowed to travel, let alone internationally, per her doctor’s note and instruction. And no, we did not purchase insurance.  Lesson learned. 

British Airways will provide credit for my daughter and son in law to travel until April, 2028. But they will not provide a refund for their tickets.  They wrote to our travel agent the following:   As per the British Airways policy governing refunds under medical circumstances, full refund eligibility is limited to customers who are pregnant during their travel dates and travelling to a country affected by the Zika virus.  As the customers are not travelling to a Zika-affected country, the circumstances do not meet the eligibility criteria for a full refund under this policy. We are therefore unable to authorise a full refund for either traveller.

This policy seems incredibly restrictive. Regardless I cannot imagine my kids being able to travel internationally during this window with two new born babies.

So here are my questions: 1) Does anyone have any advice how to appeal this to obtain a refund?  2). Alternatively, might there be a way for my wife and me to be able to have these credits transferred to us?

Many thanks.

I got changed from a 1 hour layover to a 5 hour layover without any input. I am not amused and there is nothing I can do; I tried.

Many cruise companies are advertising European River Cruises. Due to a prolonged drought and extreme heat, many of the rivers have become unnavigable. The Danube is only 4" is some spots. However, instead of canceling these cruises, the companies are offering a modified cruise with some adjustments to the expeditions offered. But instead of a leisurely river cruise between cities, it has become continuous prolonged Coach rides. The companies do offer a refund; however this offer comes less than 48 hours pre- embarkation. So beware!

I would like to investigate insurance outside of what my travel company offers. Do you have any suggestions?

We'll be flying back from Toulouse in mid-September to Boston via Amsterdam. We have a 1:15 layover in Amsterdam, and I'm a little worried about what we need to go through to get to our connecting flight back to Boston. Do we exit EES in Toulouse or Amsterdam? Is there another passport check in Amsterdam?