Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. When everything goes according to plan, the travel industry routinely delivers value for your money, and you don’t notice much else. But when anything goes south, the travel industry is, in fact, often out to get you. The basic business model of most travel is stacked against consumers. And one of the weapons suppliers like to use is your contract.
When you buy a ticket, rent a room, buy a cruise, rent a car, or pay for just about any travel service, you automatically accept that supplier’s standard contract that governs legal responsibility for both buyer and seller. But travel contracts are contracts of adhesion—ones which you have no opportunity to negotiate—and they often require that you relinquish your access to some or all your usual contractual rights….