Tag Page travelProblems

#travelProblems
AuroraAntelope

why did avis call my suv downgrade an upgrade?

We finally made it to Hawaii after months of planning, and I was excited to drive around the island in a big, comfy Chevy Suburban. I even paid extra to make sure we’d have enough space for everyone and all our luggage. But when we got to the AVIS counter, they handed us the keys to a Chrysler Pacifica minivan instead. Sure, it fit all of us, but it’s not exactly the same as cruising in a Suburban, right? I mean, I specifically paid more to avoid the minivan experience! After the trip, I reached out to AVIS to ask for a refund since I felt like I got downgraded. Their response? They claimed I was actually upgraded. Upgraded! From an $80,000 SUV to a $40,000 minivan. How does that make sense? Has anyone else had a rental company try to convince you that a minivan is somehow better than a premium SUV? I pushed back, and after a couple of emails, they finally agreed to refund me $120 and tossed in a one-day rental coupon. It took some back-and-forth, but at least I got something. Still, I can’t help but wonder—do these companies just hope we’ll give up if they say no the first time? #carRentalStories #travelProblems #HawaiiTrip #Travel

why did avis call my suv downgrade an upgrade?
HarmonyHedgehog

dealing with stomach pain on long flights

Every time I get on a plane, especially for those short 3-4 hour hops, my stomach turns into a knot. I end up feeling bloated and gassy, and honestly, it makes the whole trip pretty miserable. Now, I’ve got a 13-hour flight coming up next week, and I’m already dreading how my stomach is going to handle it. I keep thinking about being stuck in that tiny seat, with nowhere to go, and just hoping I don’t end up doubled over in pain halfway over the ocean. I’ve tried skipping the in-flight meals and sticking to water, but that only helps a little. The last time, I even walked up and down the aisle a few times, but the relief didn’t last. I’m starting to wonder if it’s something about the cabin pressure, or maybe the food they serve on planes just doesn’t agree with me. Has anyone else had this problem on long flights? Is there a certain snack or drink that actually helps, or should I just bring my own food? I’d love to hear if anyone’s found a real solution, because I can’t be the only one who feels like their stomach is doing somersaults at 35,000 feet. It’s frustrating when everyone else seems to be napping or watching movies, and I’m just counting down the hours until I can get off the plane. #travelproblems #longhaulflights #stomachissues #Travel

dealing with stomach pain on long flights
TwilightTwist

tsa name mix-up: married vs maiden name headaches

So here’s what happened: I got married last year and did the whole name change thing—new driver’s license, new last name, the works. Since then, I’ve flown at least ten times, all with Delta, and never had a single hiccup at security. I figured everything was finally in order. But then, when I was checking in for a flight to Orlando, the Delta desk agent told me my maiden name was still showing up in their system. That’s odd, because I called Delta two years ago to update it, and I’ve been flying with my married name ever since. She tried to fix it but couldn’t, and told me to try my luck at security. I barely made my flight because the security line was a madhouse, but somehow I got through. On my way back, I decided to double-check with the Delta agent about my name. He looked it up and said everything was fine—only my married name showed up. But when I got to TSA, the agent stopped me and said my ID and boarding pass didn’t match because their screen showed my maiden name and even my old middle name, which I don’t use anymore. It was so frustrating because my ID and boarding pass both had my married name, but TSA’s system was pulling up my old info from somewhere. I’ve scoured my Delta account and there’s no trace of my maiden name anywhere. The only thing that’s changed recently is that I applied for TSA PreCheck, but I haven’t even done the appointment yet. Could that be the reason for this weird name glitch? Has anyone else had their old name pop up at TSA even after updating everything? It’s like the systems are fighting each other, and I’m stuck in the middle. I’m honestly worried about missing a flight next time if this keeps happening. Anyone else run into this kind of mess? #travelproblems #tsa #namechange #Travel

tsa name mix-up: married vs maiden name headaches
FoxtrotFennec

rental car damage claim: do i really have to pay?

I rented a car from one of those big-name companies—figured it would be easy and safe. When I dropped it off, nobody said a word about any damage. I even did a quick walk-around myself and didn’t see anything wrong. A few days later, I get an email with photos and a bill for a scratch on the hubcap. The thing is, the 'before' and 'after' photos don’t even match up: different angles, different lighting, and honestly, I can barely see the scratch in either picture. One of the photos they sent as 'proof' actually shows the scratch was already there before I rented the car! I’ve spent weeks calling customer service, getting bounced around from one department to another, and nobody seems to know what’s going on. Emails go unanswered. I feel like I’m shouting into the void. Now they’re threatening extra fees if I don’t pay up soon, but I can’t even get someone to talk to me about it. It’s just a few hundred bucks, but it feels so unfair to pay for something I didn’t do, especially when I can’t even get a real person to help me sort it out. Has anyone else run into this with rental car companies? Did refusing to pay mess up your credit or lead to more headaches? I’m torn between just paying to make it go away and standing my ground, but I don’t want to end up with a bigger problem on my hands. It’s so frustrating when you try to do the right thing and still get stuck in a mess like this. I’d love to hear if anyone has actually fought this and won, or if it’s just not worth the stress. #rentalcar #travelproblems #customerexperience #Travel

rental car damage claim: do i really have to pay?
LunarLiger

delayed luggage cost me $150 in uber rides

Last weekend, my partner and I flew into LA, thinking it would be a smooth trip. But her suitcase ended up at the wrong airport—classic, right? She needed her stuff that day, but the airline said they wouldn’t deliver it until late at night. So, she had to spend $150 on Uber rides just to pick up her own bag and get back to where we were staying. Honestly, that’s a chunk of change, especially after a long flight. We’ve been talking directly with the airline, not the airport, but they haven’t offered to cover any of the Uber costs. Has anyone else had to pay out of pocket like this when the airline messes up? It feels unfair to be stuck with the bill for their mistake, especially on a domestic flight. I’m just wondering if anyone’s actually gotten compensation for these extra travel expenses, or if we’re just out of luck. I can’t be the only one frustrated by this. #travelproblems #luggagewoes #airlinestories #Travel

delayed luggage cost me $150 in uber rides
IvoryInception

which backpack actually works for travel and class?

I’ve been losing sleep over picking the right backpack for my Europe trip—seriously, I think I’ve watched every YouTube review out there. I need something that can handle my laptop for classes, but also won’t make me look like I’m hiking the Alps when I’m just hopping on a budget airline for a weekend getaway. The worst part? Every time I think I’ve made up my mind, I picture myself trying to stuff it under a RyanAir seat and panic all over again. Right now, I’m torn between the Herschel Classic XL (30L), CabinZero Tech, and the Calpak Luka. I keep imagining myself in a tiny European classroom, trying to look put-together, but then fast forward to me sprinting through an airport, backpack bouncing, and I wonder if any of these bags can actually do both jobs. And don’t even get me started on packing cubes—are they really worth the hype, or just another thing to overthink? Has anyone actually managed to find a backpack that works for both class and travel, and doesn’t get you side-eyed by airline staff? I feel like I’m destined to pick the wrong one and regret it the whole trip. I’d love to hear what’s worked (or totally failed) for you, especially if you’ve survived RyanAir’s personal item drama. #travelproblems #backpackdilemma #studyabroad #Travel

which backpack actually works for travel and class?
SupernovaSerpent

still no sign of my lost bag after madrid layover

After a long flight from Toronto to Madrid with Air Canada, I had a 3-hour layover before catching my Iberia flight to Algiers. You’d think that would be enough time for my bag to make the transfer, right? Apparently not. My suitcase never showed up in Algiers. I filed a Property Irregularity Report right away, and the next day Iberia emailed me saying my bag was ready for pickup at the Algiers airport. I rushed over, but the staff there looked at me like I was crazy—no bag in sight. The following day, I got another email saying the same thing, but again, nothing at the airport. It’s been six days now, and I’ve called Iberia customer service at least 15 times. Every time, I get a different answer, but nobody seems to know where my bag actually is. They say they’ve escalated my case, but I haven’t heard a thing. I’m honestly tempted to just fly back to Madrid and search the terminal myself, even though my bag doesn’t have an AirTag or anything. I’ve read online that Iberia has a reputation for losing luggage, but this is ridiculous. Has anyone actually managed to get their bag back from Iberia after something like this? How long did it take you? I’m starting to lose hope here, and I’m running out of clean clothes! #lostluggage #iberiaairlines #travelproblems #Travel

still no sign of my lost bag after madrid layover
RetroRover

how do you handle mail when away for months?

We’re about to head out of the country for three months, and I’m already stressing about what’s going to happen to our mail. I wish we had one of those old-school mail slots in the door—just imagine coming home to a mountain of letters and catalogs! But no, we’re stuck with the standard mailbox, and the post office only holds mail for 30 days. After that, they expect you to pick it up or have it delivered, which doesn’t help when you’re thousands of miles away. I really don’t want to burden friends or neighbors with picking up our mail for three whole months. It feels like too much to ask, and honestly, I’d rather not have anyone poking through my bills and junk mail. I looked into renting a PO Box, but I’m not sure if it can handle three months’ worth of mail—especially with all the random flyers and magazines we get. Forwarding everything to another address seems like a hassle, too, and I’m worried about missing important stuff or it getting lost in the shuffle. Has anyone else run into this? What did you actually do when you were gone for more than a month? I feel like there should be a better solution, but maybe I’m missing something obvious. I’d love to hear if anyone found a trick that actually works, or if you just came home to a mailbox overflowing with soggy coupons and overdue notices. It’s one of those little things that turns into a big headache when you travel for a while, isn’t it? #travelproblems #mailissues #longtrip #Travel

how do you handle mail when away for months?