Latest news with #travelissues
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Dramatic twist emerges after Aussie was deported from the US under Trump's tough immigration policy - as Homeland Security 'fact checks' real reason she was stopped at the airport
Homeland Security has defended its actions for deporting an an Aussie woman after she was detained, stripped and held overnight in a federal prison while trying to visit her American husband. Former NSW police officer Nikki Saroukos, 25, was detained by US border officials upon entering the country via Honolulu, Hawaii on May 17. The 25-year-old thought it would be a routine visit to see her husband who has been stationed as a US Army lieutenant on the Pacific island and US state since August, 2023. Mrs Saroukos had successfully visited the Hawaii three times in recent months an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program. At no point was she given a reason for her detention, beyond the fact that border officials did not believe her story that she was visiting her husband. Mrs Saroukos said she was 'treated like a criminal' as she was denied her rights, subject to invasive searches, humiliating treatment and a night in a federal detention facility before being deported back to Australia. However, The US Department of Homeland Security has fired back at Mrs Sourokos' claims in a post shared to X on Saturday. The department described the post as a 'fact check' and defended its officers who determined Mrs Saroukos was 'travelling for more than just tourism'. 'Nicolle Saroukos's recent long-term trips to the United States and suspicious luggage resulted in her being reasonably selected for secondary screening by CBP,' it read. Officials did not believe her story that she was visiting her husband after claiming she had packed more clothing than was necessary for a three-week stay. 'Officers determined that she was traveling for more than just tourism. She was unable to remember her wedding date just four months prior,' the post read. Saroukos met her now-husband during a trip on December 13, 2024, the same day her ex-partner left her. The two spent only eight days together before she returned to Australia on December 21. 'Saroukos then got married on January 24, 2025, after only knowing her husband for just over a month.' The department also accused her of having 'unusual activity on her phone' and making false claims about her husband's military service. 'During screening, CBP (Customs and Border Protection) noted there was unusual activity on her phone, including 1000 deleted text messages from her husband because she claimed they caused her "anxiety",' the post read. 'Saroukos even claimed that her husband was going to leave the US military, despite him telling CBP he was adding her to his military documents. 'If you attempt to enter the United States under false pretenses, there are consequences.'
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
‘I paid easyJet £363 extra to avoid a five-hour delay and it horribly backfired'
Has a company treated you unfairly? Our Consumer Champion is available to help. For how to contact her click here. Dear Katie, Back in March I was flying back from Geneva with a couple of friends. We had been scheduled to fly at 6.50pm, but about 1.30pm that day I received a text from easyJet saying that the flight was significantly delayed. Instead it was expected to depart at approximately 11.20pm. My heart sank as 11.20pm is very late and I have been caught at Geneva airport twice before and had to stay overnight because of delayed easyJet flights and crews running out of roster time. This delay seemed unlikely to change as a follow up communication from easyJet made it clear that the bag drop would remain open for the delayed 6.50pm flight to 8pm. It was not the usual instruction given of 'despite the delay, please check in bags by the original check in time'. Based on this information and previous experience of travelling with easyJet, I made what felt like a reasonable decision to move all three passengers to another easyJet flight departing at 8.35pm. To do this, I was required to pay a total of £363 in flight change fees. Upon arriving at the airport, and sitting in the bar for a short while, the departure boards changed to show that the 8.35pm we were now booked on was now also rescheduled to 11.20pm, while the 6.50pm flight we were originally booked on was reassigned to the departure time of 8.35pm. Gallingly, this meant we had paid £363 to arrive home later than we would have done had we done nothing. We rushed to the assigned gate only to find several other passengers equally irate at the situation. Many had made the same switch and, on talking to them, I found they had managed to switch for free. As I was travelling with no luggage fortunately I was able to switch back to the 6.50pm flight, now departing at 8.35pm. However my friends could not, and had to wait until 11.20pm to fly as they had checked in bags. I claimed compensation, but easyJet refused. It said that it was my choice to re-book and pay. It is my belief that the flights were switched so that no passengers originally booked flight would be delayed for more than three hours, after which compensation is due. Either way, I am very unhappy that I had to pay £363, especially as my friends were delayed for more than three hours as they were denied boarding and departed at 11.20pm instead of 6.50pm. EasyJet did offer a £100 voucher for use on one of its flights, however I have not redeemed it as I do not find this acceptable. – AG, via email Dear AG, No wonder you were enraged, having made what you thought was a good decision to pay to escape this intolerable delay, only to find that you would have been better off if you had done nothing. When I asked easyJet it said that your original flight was scheduled to depart at 6.50pm and was initially delayed until 11.20pm, because of a technical issue. This meant a replacement aircraft needed to be flown from the UK to operate the flight. When flights are delayed by more than five hours, EasyJet said, it advises customers that it provides the option to transfer to an alternative flight for free by contacting its customer services team. However since your flight was delayed by just less than five hours, this didn't apply in your case. You changed your booking to an earlier flight scheduled to depart at 8.35pm. However, as you made this change yourself online, this meant you incurred a change fee and a fare difference that amounted to £363. Then, because of the knock-on impact to the schedule of flying an aircraft from the UK, the decision was made to bring forward the delay for the 6.50pm flight, so that it could depart at 8.35pm. Meanwhile the 8.35pm departure was then delayed to fly at 11.20pm, but with a different aircraft. EasyJet subsequently transferred you back to your original flight for free, to ensure you could depart as early as possible, however, of course, this ignored the fact that your poor friends, who you had also paid to fly at 8.35pm, were still stuck on the later flight. The airline said it did not deny boarding to your friends as they did not reach the gate or expect to board the aircraft. In line with security requirements, it said, they would have needed to re-check in their bags and go back through security and passport control. Unfortunately it would not have been possible to do this in time for the earlier flight, it said. EasyJet said it fully understands the frustration this will have caused in the circumstances, however it 'always endeavours to bring forward delays where we can and this meant that both flights were able to operate with as reduced delays as possible for all customers on these flights'. In line with regulations it is unable to provide compensation as the flight you travelled on was delayed for less than three hours, however following my involvement, as a gesture of goodwill, it will now be reimbursing the fees incurred from the flight changes that you made yourself. A spokesman said: 'We are sorry for the delay to Mr G's journey from Geneva to London Gatwick, due to a technical issue with the aircraft scheduled to operate his original flight. 'We always work to reduce delays where we can and as it was possible to bring his original flight delay forward, our team in the airport transferred Mr G back to his original flight for free. 'Due to security requirements, this was unfortunately not possible for his friends, who were travelling with hold luggage as there was not enough time to re-check their bags and pass through airport security before the scheduled departure time.'
CTV News
26-05-2025
- CTV News
Ontario woman forced to buy new airline ticket due to name discrepancy
Cathy Rea and her husband Paul in the Yukon in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) When Cathy Rea realized the name on her boarding pass did not match the one on her passport, she knew it was going to be a problem at the airport. Rea, whose legal name is Catherine, was returning home to Breslau, Ont. after an Alaskan cruise in August 2024. She and her husband, Paul, took the trip to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon A sign that reads 'Welcome to Alaska' taken by Cathy Rea in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) The couple's friend and travel companion handled the booking. 'Previously we traveled with them and there was no problem with the purchasing of the tickets,' Rea said. The group of five travelled, without a hitch, to Alaska. When she received her boarding pass for her return flight from Vancouver to Kitchener-Waterloo, however, she noticed the name discrepancy. Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon Cathy Rea (sitting at centre) with her travel group in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) 'We arrived at the airport seven hours ahead of time just to make sure that we could deal with the situation,' Rea said. A representative from Flair Airlines was the one who told her she wouldn't be able to board for her flight home. 'I asked her if I could change my name by paying a fee, and she said, 'No, that's not possible because it's less than 72 hours before your departure,'' Rea recalled. 'I said, 'Well then, what's my alternative? What am I going to do?' And she said, 'You can purchase a new ticket.'' Wanting to get home, she bought a new ticket as 'Catherine Rea' for around $753. She claimed she was issued the exact same seat assigned to 'Cathy Rea.' 'My question is, why? They can't have it both ways,' Rea insisted. 'I can't be Cathy Rea, and I can't just be Catherine Rea. I'm one and the same person.' Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon Cathy Rea in front of a waterfall in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) Rea reached out to CTV News after she saw our story about another traveler who went through a similar experience, but was able to change the name on his boarding pass for less than $100. 'When he was able to change his name that same day, that same instance, and not have to wait and purchase another ticket, I found that was a little strange,' Rea explained. 'Because if you can do it for one, why can't you do it for another?' According to Flair Airlines, it was not part of their policy back in August. 'At that time, Flair did not offer name change services at the airport or on the day of travel,' Eric Tanner, Flair's vice-president of commercial, said in a statement to CTV News. 'Any updates to a passenger's name, including corrections from 'Cathy' to 'Catherine,' needed to be made through our call centre more than 72 hours in advance of the scheduled departure.' It continued: 'Because the name on the boarding pass didn't match the customer's government-issued ID, and the window for making changes had passed, our airport team unfortunately couldn't proceed with check-in. The only available option at that point was for the customer to purchase a new ticket under the correct name.' Rea said she filed a complaint with the Canadian Transport Association but is still waiting for a decision. Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon Cathy Rea and her husband Paul in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) 'Be very careful when you're booking things to make sure all your documentation is the same,' Rea warned. 'Double check and check over and over again, because you don't want to have to pay for something that was a small mistake. A small, innocent error.' Name policy is a 'global security standard', say travel experts While mismatched names may seem like a minor issue, travel experts say it could have major – and costly – consequences. 'They're not a hidden fee,' explained travel professional Sandy Willett. 'Every airline will charge you or deny you boarding… it's just a known rule that's been there forever.' The main reason for the rule is security. 'They want to make sure that that is the actual person boarding the plane,' Willett said. 'Sometimes, some airlines will check backgrounds on people. That's another reason they want to make sure that that name isn't flagged as something that could be an issue.' While every airline has a different policy, the rule typically remains the same. 'Some airlines are more flexible than others,' explained Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for the Flight Centre Travel Group. She noted the various policies can make it harder for travellers, especially those who opt for lower airfare options. 'If [Rea] was on Flair Airlines, I would imagine, as it is a low-cost carrier, there's fewer options for changes,' Durakovic said. For those who find themselves in a similar position, travel experts recommend contacting the airline or the third-party they booked with ahead of departure day.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Telegraph
‘My flight time has changed to a hideously early hour – can I get a full refund?'
Do you have a legal question to put to Gary? Email askalawyer@ or use the form at the bottom of the page. Dear Gary, I have booked a flight to Tenerife in November, and my airline has changed the flight time, which no longer suits me. It's a time I would have never booked in the first place. What rights do I have as a customer of the airline if I am not happy with the change? – Penny Dear Penny, I regret that when you book a flight very far in advance with the benefit of securing the flight you want at a fixed price, it comes with the inherent risk that the actual flight time, and even date, may be changed. In most cases such changes are perfectly lawful. Let me explain the legal position and what your options are. Most airlines make sure that their contract with you, their terms and conditions, make it clear that they can change the time or even date of your flight. Contrast this to when the shoe is on the other foot and you wish to make changes to an existing booking. In this case, there are often administration and other charges payable to the airline. The Civil Aviation Authority is the statutory body that oversees and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the UK. It is the enforcer of passenger rights legislation and general consumer law. The CAA says changes to flights should be communicated to the customer at least 14 days before, which certainly is the case here with you being told six months ahead. However, the CAA takes the view that where an airline changes the date or time of a particular flight, this is an issue between the airline and its customer covered solely by the terms and conditions. In other words, it will not usually get involved. If your flight number has been changed, I would call that a cancellation, which is very different from the flight time or date being changed. If your flight is cancelled the law is clear that you are entitled to a full refund or alternative flight. If the flight cancellation is within 14 days of departure you could also be entitled to compensation under legislation which originated in the EU (Regulation 261 of 2004) and which has been retained in UK law after Brexit. This consumer protection law provides for compensation to be paid according to factors such as the flight time. If your flight has not been cancelled and merely changed (albeit not to your liking) the legal position depends on how changes are defined in the airline's terms and conditions and whether the changes are classed as 'minor' or 'significant'. Different airlines have different definitions for what is classed as a minor or significant change. As I say, you need to look it up in the terms of your airline. But for instance, British Airways says a change in flight time of anything up to two hours is minor. For easyJet it is anything up to five hours. If your flight time change is defined as minor, you have very limited scope for legal complaint and redress. The usual rule is if you choose to cancel a flight yourself you are not entitled to a refund. So, with a minor change you are probably stuck with it. That is not to say you may not ask for a refund or alternative, but be prepared for the airline to decline. If the changed time is greater than the airline's definition of a significant change, then you can ask for a refund or an alternative flight. But be careful what you wish for because if you are refunded, only to then find booking an alternative flight yourself is more expensive than you were expecting, you may regret not sticking to the original flight. Or it may work in your favour, and you get refunded and then are able to book an alternative cheaper flight. Look before you leap and if the flight change is significant make an informed choice before you claim a free cancellation. Other practical issues to be aware of are making sure when you book a flight that you give the airline more than one means of contacting you (say email and mobile number) so any changes to flights can quickly be communicated to you. Also, if you are an independent traveller rather than booking, say, a package holiday through a tour operator, your flight is just one piece of the jigsaw. That could mean if your flight is changed it will impact on other aspects of your holiday such as car hire and hotel accommodation. Taking out holiday insurance on the day you book you holiday has always been my number one top tip to protect your holiday from day one. I hope this explainer of your legal rights will help you make an informed choice about what to do about your flight to Tenerife in November. When it comes: 'Que tengas unas buenas vacaciones'.
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Telegraph
‘Lost passports cost us our £5k cruise. Then they turned up under a tea tray in Premier Inn'
Has a company treated you unfairly? Our Consumer Champion is available to help. For how to contact her click here. Dear Katie, My wife and I stayed at the Premier Inn in Colchester on March 20 for one night en-route to Tilbury, where we were due to board a cruise ship. On the morning of our departure, we enjoyed a full English breakfast at the Premier Inn buffet, before going back up to our room, packing up our things and checking out. However, when we arrived at Tilbury, we were horrified to discover that both of our passports were missing from the plastic wallet we put them in, which also contained all our cruise tickets and information. We went back to the hotel and checked the bedroom, only to find our passports were not there and it had already been cleaned. We reported the missing passports to the staff. We were beside ourselves, as without our passports, we were unable to board the cruise, which we had paid around £5,000 for. In the end it sailed without us, and we went home feeling very upset. Five days later, I received a call from the Premier Inn which left me stunned. I was told that our passports had been found in the room beneath a tea tray. Of course, we find this highly suspicious as according to their manager, all rooms undergo a deep clean following every guest. We feel something untoward has gone on here, yet Premier Inn is denying it has anything to do with any of its staff. We have travel insurance but it is refusing to pay out because we left the passports in the room and not in a secure safe. However, the Premier Inn room did not have a safe. – Anon Dear reader, How galling to have lost out on this expensive cruise which you and your wife had been looking forward to going on for so long, over the issue of missing passports which had later turned up under mysterious circumstances. You suspect a member of staff at the Premier Inn may have entered your room while you were out to dinner, or while you were at the breakfast buffet in the morning, and taken the passports. You then think that when you raised the alarm, the perpetrator may have panicked and put the passports back under the tea tray for someone else to eventually find. I told you I was prepared to explore your theory with Premier Inn, however, I needed to ask you some questions first. I urged you not to be offended because in order to be fair to all parties, I had to consider all possibilities before asking you straight up: did you put the passports under the tea tray? You scoffed at this assertion, flat out denying it. I asked if either you or your wife had any diagnosed memory issues such as dementia, to which you said that no, you did not. I accepted this and approached the Premier Inn to proceed with your investigation. I asked the Premier Inn to confirm whether there was CCTV footage on the corridor in which your room was situated, to which it replied that no, there was not. However, it was in possession of data of who had opened the door to your room, and when, as each time a key card is used it is logged on a computer system. Premier Inn said the door data showed that no one entered your room between you checking out and subsequently reporting that you had lost your passports, and the team going up to look for them, which apparently they did within 10 minutes of being notified that they had been forgotten. It said the team had checked the room, as well as the cleaning trolleys used by cleaning staff, and there was no evidence to suggest any member of its team had taken the passports. As pleased as I was that the door data for your stay was available, I told Premier Inn I really needed to see it in full in order to rule out anyone else having entered the room. However, Premier Inn refused, citing 'data protection reasons'. I asked you for your exact movements when you both went out for dinner in the evening – you said you left at 7pm, ate at KFC and then visited a friend in another part of town before heading back to the room at 11pm. In the morning, you both went down to the breakfast buffet for around an hour before returning to your room, packing up and leaving. I shared this timeline with Premier Inn and it checked the door data and assured me that no one else had entered the room between these times. In fact, the door data showed that only you and your wife entered the room between the time you first arrived at the hotel and you checking out, it said. This seemed pretty categorical so I decided to pursue the only line of inquiry I had left, so I called you up and asked to speak to your wife. I asked her whether there was any way she could have left the passports under the tea tray. She described this suggestion as ludicrous and swore on another family member's life that she had not taken the passports out of the little plastic wallet at any stage. I explained that I was not accusing anyone of anything, but simply had to ask to be fair to everyone involved. It had occurred to me that if one of you had decided to hide the passports under the tea tray in a bid to keep them safe while you were out, and then had a memory lapse about having done it, you might now decide to keep schtum for fear of upsetting the other one. An error which ended up costing your dream holiday, and so much stress and heartache, would be hugely difficult to admit to at this stage. Whether one of you has dragged Premier Inn's name through the mud in the national press when you knew it was innocent, or whether you were the victim of a crime and the true culprit is still at large, remains a mystery. But whatever the case, I have a feeling that neither of you will ever leave your passports somewhere insecure ever again. A Premier Inn spokesman said: 'If the guests believe a crime has been committed, we strongly recommend that they refer the matter to the police.'
