Craig Evans thinks he’s found a bargain hotel on Hotwire. But then he sees the same property on its sister site, Expedia, for less. Should Hotwire refund his hotel room despite its no-refund policy? And how much of a bargain are Hotwire’s hotels, anyway?
April 2006
I just returned from The Miami Herald Travel Expo, where I participated in panel discussions about travel problems and the benefits (and drawbacks) of using a travel agent. Here’s the thing that surprised me the most about the people I spoke with before, during and after my presentations. They were almost all fixated on the price they paid for their travel product.
For the last few weeks, I’ve dismissed most of the worries about a possible Delta pilots strike (and threats of a subsequent shutdown of the airline). But after the news that its pilots have authorized a strike, I wonder if that advice needs to be revised.
First, the good news. Search Party, the hotel site that launches today, is a powerful new tool for travelers looking to save money on hotel rooms. When you run a Search Party query, you get more than a price quote.
It’s the end of the world. Or at least it’s the end of Western civilization. Air France announced today that it will take delivery early next year of the first Airbus aircraft line fitted with the OnAir GSM equipment, which will allow passengers to use mobile phones on board.
After having second thoughts about her hotel reservation on Cheaptickets.com, Blanca Alvarez cancels her room and agrees to pay a $25 penalty. But what’s this? Now the company wants to keep all of her money? Find out if Alvarez is entitled to a hearing.
Most first business trips go off without a hitch. But a minority hit snags that are destined to become part of business travel lore.
When it comes to buying airline tickets for a summer vacation, late winter and early spring is a time of uncertainty. Do you book now, and lock in what may be a higher fare? Or do you wait until the summer fare sales that normally take place just before Memorial Day, and hope there are still seats left? This year the decision is particularly agonizing for Europe-bound travelers because prices are higher than they were at this time last year.
When it comes to buying airline tickets for a summer vacation, late winter and early spring is a time of uncertainty. Do you book now, and lock in what may be a higher fare? Or do you wait until the summer fare sales that normally take place just before Memorial Day, and hope there are still seats left? This year the decision is particularly agonizing for Europe-bound travelers because prices are higher than they were at this time last year.
This may seem counter-intuitive, but United Airlines’ move to raise ticket prices by anywhere from $2 to $50, depending on the route and type of fare, might have a positive effect on customer service.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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Get me a room
April 10, 2006
Room service, get me a room! It hasn’t quite come to that, but with record-high occupancy rates predicted for summer, vacationers need to get busy and book. The luxury hotels below are a good bet, but even they’re filling up.
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