I Fought the Airline and They're winning.

[robert.]

I will topple them better then Davis did Goliath. They got $3,200 from me and i want it back.

[rogruth]

[MurphOnMillerAve]

You sure have our attention, Robert. Whazzzzup?

[webenda]

While we are waiting for Robert, here is one way to hack airline tickets...

Airlines charge more if they think you are in a rush to get back to where you started.
For example I have to be in London on Friday, July 6, 2018 and on Friday, July 13, 2018.
I don't want to stay there for a week, so I book roundtrips to return on Sunday each trip.
If I just do it the simple way the round trips are $5,258 and $4,068.
5258
4068


If I hack the ticket purchase by booking the return for my NEXT trip the following week. The price drops from $5,258 to $2,437.
2437
Then for the second trip, I book the reverse trip (London to Tucson) from the first flight, followed by the departure for my original second trip and the price drops from $4,068 to $1,954.
1954

Original tickets: $5,258 + $4,068 = $9326
Hacked tickets: $2,437 + $1,954 = $4391
Savings: $9,326 - $4,391 = $4,935

[robert.]

Anger and i needed to vent. My wife and daughter have dual citizenship. USA. And SLOVENSKY REPUBLIC. SLOVAKIA is a member of the SCHENGEN agreement. This allows citizens of the EU to travel EUROPE without a visa. On Sunday my wife and daughter were not allowed to check in for a flight to SLOVAKIA. They were going to stay for 95 days. Check in said "you need visas to stay that long." They would not honor their valid EU passports. Never leave an airport until you have your problem solved. I should have used my cellphone to video that clerk. If i had a video of her refusing to check in my wife and daughter. I could post in on youtube. She told my wife. "You need to buy a ticket to leave Austria. If she shows her proof of commitment in leaving AUSTRIA she can check into this flight." I have been on the phone for hours and hours with an airline that wont budge. Austrian airlines only response is "we were a no show for the flight"

[webenda]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel ... engen.html
With a valid U.S. passport, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. Do not overstay! You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area. To stay longer than 90 days, you must have a visa.

[robert.]

Wayne you statement echoes the airlines. Both travelers have 2 passports. One issued by the USA and one issued by the EU. 100% legal. This allows my wife and daughter to visit Slovakia visa free. This worked last summertime. No new restrictions have emerged in the past year.

[Roy]

Robert, I wonder if you are a victim of the thawing of relations between the U.S. and the rest of the world?

[webenda]

Only three months (90 days) are allowed for visa-free visitors, not 95 days.

Spend three months (90 days) in the Schengen area during any six-month period, you must wait another three months from the last date of departure from the Schengen area before you can apply to enter the Schengen area again without a visa. Those extra 5 days are a problem.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel ... engen.html

[healey36]

Robert, I wonder if you are a victim of the thawing of relations between the U.S. and the rest of the world?

One wonders how long before we need a visa to go to Canada or Mexico.

[robert.]

Wanye that is correct for people traveling on a USA. passport. My wife and child are traveling on an EU passport. Last summer they stayed longer. No rules or laws have changed concerning length of stay. I have spoken with NY/NJ port authority. Custom and immigration. Airlines. Embassies. All of them say "sorry these things happen. People make mistakes" OK that's fair. Now put my wife and kid on a plane to Austria. "No sir you need to buy a new ticket"

[robert.]

I need a passport to enter Canada. Pa's drivers license is not good enough.

[HONDO74]

Robert, I wonder if you are a victim of the thawing of relations between the U.S. and the rest of the world?

One wonders how long before we need a visa to go to Canada or Mexico.

You already need a passport to enter Canada or Mexico and return. The visa is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country.

When we took the cruise to Alaska the ship docked in Victoria the last night on the way home. We did not get off the ship. When the ship docked in Seattle the next morning we had to show our passports to enter the US. This was in 2012

Even if you are just traveling within the US, having a passport makes it much easier going through TSA if you are flying.

Presently according to some of the new laws, the drivers license from some states don't qualify to get you on an airplane...

[Roy]

Wanye that is correct for people traveling on a USA. passport. My wife and child are traveling on an EU passport. Last summer they stayed longer. No rules or laws have changed concerning length of stay. I have spoken with NY/NJ port authority. Custom and immigration. Airlines. Embassies. All of them say "sorry these things happen. People make mistakes" OK that's fair. Now put my wife and kid on a plane to Austria. "No sir you need to buy a new ticket"

Are they saying that your wife and kid benefited last year because the rule was not enforced?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

This is one of the reasons why I don't fly. Instead, I drive everywhere, even if it means taking far more time to get someplace.

For example, a new client wanted me to go to his home in Kansas City, Kansas to begin work expanding and fleshing-out his layout. He wanted to fly me there, and in fact, flew my assistant to his home; however, I drove the entire distance from the NYC - NJ area, for the convenience and lack of airport/flying fuss; plus, I needed the space in my SUV to transport all my crafting menagerie.

At least a decade ago, I was awaiting my flight home to Pittsburgh, from Newark, NJ, and was asked to surrender my seat to a fellow traveler, to get "bumped," I think it's called. At first, I hesitated; then, I agreed to wait for a later flight. When time for that flight arrived on the clock, I was asked again to let somebody else have my seat. I agreed, and was given a roundtrip ticket for anywhere in the world. I took the deal and gave up flying home on that occasion. Afterward, I drove the trip.

Nowadays, I'd never have the patience for all the rigmarole involved at airport security and at sitting for hours while awaiting takeoff. So, I guess I won't be going to Europe again, ever.