Avoiding Super Bowl Travel Scams
(January 2002)
When it comes to sports
championship games, the Super Bowl reigns supreme. Many fans will do
almost anything to attend the big game, but unfortunately, scammers
are ready to take advantage of football fans' hard-earned
money.
If you are thinking about attending the Super Bowl at
the last minute, here are a few things to watch out
for.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Travelers going
to Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans should be aware that not all tour
packages include tickets to the February 3 game.
In the past,
according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Aviation
Consumer Protection Division, some advertisements for Super Bowl
travel packages did not appear to include tickets. As a result, the
DOT routinely cautions travelers that if a game ticket is not
specifically mentioned in advertisements or other solicitation
materials, the ticket is probably not included.
Furthermore,
the DOT's consumer protection rules require that tour operators
promoting Super Bowl tour packages as including game tickets must
have them in hand or have a written contract for them before doing
any advertising.
If marketing materials do not state whether
a game ticket is included, consumers should ask the tour operator if
it is. If a tour representative states that a game ticket is
included, consumers should request that the game ticket, or at least
a written confirmation for it, be presented to them at the time of
purchase.
These "truth in ticketing" rules were adopted in
the wake of the 1994 Rose Bowl, when many University of Wisconsin
fans learned that their air tour packages either did not include
promised tickets to the game, or upon arrival in Pasadena, were told
they would have to pay hundreds of additional dollars to receive
their tickets.
Get a Safety
Fortunately, under
the watchful eye of the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, there
is no evidence of misrepresentation by Super Bowl tour operators in
recent years. Nevertheless, before purchasing a Super Bowl
package:
- Carefully read tour brochures, advertisements, and any other
solicitation materials.
- Pay by credit card whenever possible, because you will receive
some protection under fair credit practice laws if you don't get
what you paid for.
- Know your rights. The DOT's "truth in ticketing" rules state
that if a tour is supposed to include a game ticket and you do not
receive one, you are entitled to a full refund for the entire
package. Also, if the tour operator increases your price by more
than 10 percent beyond what you originally agreed to pay, you have
the right to cancel and receive a full refund. No price increases
are permitted during the last ten days before
departure.
Additional consumer protections apply to Super
Bowl packages involving public charter flights:
- If the tour operator makes a major change to the
tour—including changing the flight's departure or arrival city for
either the departure or return date, or substituting a hotel that
isn't named in the solicitation material—you may cancel and
receive a full refund.
- Super Bowl charter tours may not be canceled in the last 10
days before departure, except for events beyond the control of the
operator.
- On a charter, you are required to sign, and are entitled to
keep, a copy of a detailed operator-participant contract.
- Scheduled and charter flights have check-in time limits. Know
your times and arrive well ahead of the scheduled
time.
When booking a tour, remember the old saying, the
best offense is a good defense.
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