I Oughta Write a Letter

Steve Martin’s “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is one of my favorite movies of all time. If your travel plans have ever gone worse than expected, you can relate to this movie. But instead of losing it at the ticket counter like Martin’s character, USA Today’s Business Traveler columnist Joe Brancatelli offers 12 tips for effective complaints when the airline, hotel or car rental company provides less than stellar service.

The first hint is to try to resolve it in person at the time of the problem. If that doesn’t work, try Brancatelli’s tips on writing a letter that will get read. The hardest piece of advice to follow: Be nice. Even though you’d rather use this time to vent and threaten and call the company a monkey’s uncle, doing so won’t help your case (even if it does make you feel a smidgen better).