St. Louis, Missouri, November 18, 2024 – The Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has tips to help make your vacation go smoothly this winter. Travel trends for 2024 look similar to those for 2023: PwC Reports that nearly half of Americans are planning a vacation trip and 73% of travelers plan to drive. PwC also says the rate of flight cancellations is trending below pre-pandemic levels, easing some travelers' concerns compared to last year. This means
December will be a busy month for travel – and traveling is stressful at the best of times. Unfortunately, for some travelers, scams can make vacation travel even more painful. “BBB often receives reports of scams targeting travelers while they are traveling,” said Michelle L. Corey, president and CEO of BBB St. Louis.
“Planning carefully and making sure you know the signs of common travel scams can help you avoid any unpleasant surprises. »If you're traveling, book early and compare prices. Book several weeks in advance to get the best price and use flight comparison websites to compare airline prices.
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Read the cancellation policies carefully. Many airline tickets are non-refundable and some may not provide a full refund if your flight is canceled. Every online travel agency, airline and broker is different. Also check the accommodation's cancellation policies before booking.
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Understand airline fees. Additional fees for baggage, seat selection and other services can add up quickly! Read the fine print to avoid hidden fees.
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Consider travel insurance. Insurance can protect you against cancellations, delays and other unforeseen problems. Find Trusted Businesses with BBB and have a complete understanding of what the policy does and does not cover.
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Know the signs of cancellation scam. In this scam, you receive an email or SMS informing you that your next flight has been canceled and you need to rebook at the number provided. If you call the number, the “airline” will offer to book a new ticket for an additional fee – stealing your money or credit card information.
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Avoid TSA PreCheck scams. BBB has received reports of scammers posing as TSA PreCheck and asking travelers to pay a fee to sign up for or renew the service. Remember that if you are apply for TSA PreCheck for the first time, you don't have to pay an online application fee: you'll pay it in person at a TSA registration center!
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Are you traveling internationally? Check with the American Travel Association for any notices or issues that may impact your trip.
Have a safe and pleasant hotel stay:
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Know how to spot a fake call at reception. Scammers may call your room and impersonate the front desk, saying there's a problem with your credit card and you need to double-check the payment information. Hang up and visit the front desk in person to inform staff of the call.
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Use Wi-Fi safely. Free Wi-Fi is not always secure. Fraudsters can “hover” Wi-Fi connections and monitor all your activities, including websites visited and credit cards entered. Before joining a network, make sure it is secure and hosted through the hotel. Another good alternative is to use your cell phone as a hotspot and ignore Wi-Fi altogether.
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Check delivery menus. Scammers sometimes leave fake delivery menus in hotel rooms. When you call to order, they collect your credit card information, but never deliver the food. Discover the restaurants on BBB.org before ordering.
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Use a hotel safe. Keep any extra money or valuables locked away.
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Get a receipt. When you check out, make sure you receive a statement of all charges incurred during your stay. Pay with the same credit card you had on file at the start of your stay to make it easier to dispute any unauthorized charges.
Protect your personal information:
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Don't overshare on social media. Although it's tempting to post about your big trip, strangers might be able to see that you're far from home. Consider setting your social media accounts to private or saving the post after the trip.
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Protect your devices. Set up the “Find My Phone” feature so you can track your device if it’s lost or stolen.
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Check what scams are most common in your destination. You can check current scam trends at BBB Scam Tracker.
BBB can help you plan safe, smart trips all year long.Discover more tips for planning your vacation activities and purchases.
