Lawmakers warn travelers about increased holiday travel scams, including phishing, impersonation of airlines and hotels, and fake websites, urging consumers to verify sources and be cautious to avoid financial losses amid a surge in online travel fraud.
The Hotel Lucia in Portland has been criticized for its exorbitant and deceptive resort fees, which include charges for amenities like bike rides and elevator use that are listed as complimentary on their website. Additionally, the hotel offers cannabis sales during the booking process, raising further questions about their practices. Resort fees are often seen as scams because they obscure the true cost of a stay and make price comparisons difficult.
Frontier Airlines is facing widespread abuse of its wheelchair service, with many passengers using it to skip lines and secure priority boarding despite not needing assistance. CEO Barry Biffle highlighted the issue, noting that it costs the airline $30-$35 per request and can cause delays for other travelers. The Air Carrier Access Act mandates non-discriminatory service for disabled passengers, complicating enforcement. Similar issues have been reported by other airlines like Southwest, with social media and platforms like TikTok exacerbating the problem by promoting such "travel hacks."