Elliott’s E-Mail/March 31, 2008
Yes, travelers got screwed last week. The first passenger bill of rights law in the country was tossed out by an appellate court (more on that in my MSNBC column). The TSA forced a traveler to remove her body piercings — with pliers (check the blog). We also got word on how bad the resort fee epidemic had become in Hawaii. All hope isn’t lost. Travelers win a few too (check out this week’s Troubleshooter for details).
That’s sick! 8 ways to avoid the bug
Ahh, virus season. Never a shortage of gut-wrenching stories with which to shock you, dear readers.
Traveling in a post-Fidel Castro Cuba
Don’t pack your bags for Havana just yet. Fidel Castro may have announced his resignation, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be touring the Plaza de la Catedral, strolling along Varadero Beach or diving on Isla de la Juventud any time soon.
Time to say “aloha” to the resort fee capital of the world?
As long as we’re saying aloha today — it’s Aloha Airlines’ last day on earth, sadly — we might as well talk about something else Hawaii should say goodbye to: its greedy and ubiquitous resort fees.
What if I’m stuck on a plane?
So what exactly are your rights if you’re stuck on a plane that’s parked at the gate? The Armchair Traveler explains.
One year later, where’s my refund?
Cameron Etezadi and his girlfriend are on their way from Seattle to Casablanca, Morocco, when their flight is delayed in London by weather. British Airways agrees to refund the couple’s money, but one year later, there’s no sign of a check. Is the airline pocketing their fare, or is something else going on?
On top
Erysse marvels at how far she’s climbed up the slide in her back yard. Now that Easter is over, she can concentrate on what she does best … getting into trouble.
There’s just one or two questions I have about nipple rings …
Longtime readers of this blog know that I have a special interest in body piercings, especially as it relates to travel. One of the first Travel Troubleshooter columns took on the issue of security screening and various kinds of rings. So when airline passenger Mandi Hamlin held a news conference yesterday about her TSA nipple ring trouble, I had a few questions that the otherwise competent reporters in attendance seem to have overlooked.
Do travelers expect too much? Yes, but …
Here’s a question airlines, car rental agencies and hotels wrestle with every day: Do our customers expect too much from us? After the defeat of New York’s passenger bill of rights law earlier this week, it’s an even more urgent question. Are travelers too demanding?
Does a hotel have the right to downgrade me in the middle of my stay?
Here’s an odd scenario that appears to be taking place more often in hotels. Guests are getting themselves involuntarily upgraded into a better room, only to find themselves involuntarily downgraded the following night. There’s something wrong with that.
Elliott’s E-Mail/March 25, 2008
If you can’t get enough of presidential candidates under assault from nonexistent snipers or airline pilots discharging their weapons while in flight (accidentally, of course) then have I got an issue for you. Check out my MSNBC column about tourists coming home in caskets, and what to do about it. And there’s lots of danger on the blog, too — including travel companies that hassle their customers after their trip is over.
Not so comfortable at the Comfort Inn
A recent stay at a Comfort Inn in Vancouver does not impress Richard Simms. His room is filthy, the shower runs lukewarm, and the coffee maker is busted. But when he tries to invoke the hotel chain’s “100 Percent Satisfaction Guarantee,” Simms is offered nothing more than an apology. Is he out of luck?
6 travel issues the next president should care about — but probably doesn’t
No matter who wins, you lose. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or pondering a protest vote for an independent presidential candidate in November, what you do at the ballot box is meaningless — at least as far as your travel is concerned.
5 sexiest in-flight safety videos ever
In-flight safety videos are big news, thanks to Delta Air Lines’ spiced-up preflight announcements. So as a public service, I’ve reviewed the five sexiest in-flight safety videos online.
I think I see one …
Who can find the most Easter Eggs? Iden thinks he has the edge.