In this issue …
» Is it my imagination or is it hot in here?
» Top 6 technology challenges for home businesses
» U.S. Immigration agents gone wild in Minneapolis
» I love travel
» Gotta wear shades
» How to reach yours truly
» Support this site
» How to change your subscription
This issue of Elliott’s E-Mail is underwritten by Cheapflights.com, which lets you search and compare flights to find the lowest-priced airfare for your next trip. Get the details at Cheapflights.com.
FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel
Is it my imagination or is it hot in here? Everywhere I turned last week, it seemed as if there was one story or another about women trying to board a flight while wearing practically nothing. This is news? It isn’t that the corps of travel writers is comprised largely of frustrated middle-aged men. I think that would be too simple an explanation for why this story had … er, legs. Rather, I’m convinced that the fourth estate is tired of telling the same sad, hopeless story about the decline of air travel. Bring on the Hooters girls.
Burning question … ever used social networks to plan a trip? Have you ever used MySpace, Facebook, Twitter or Flickr to plan a trip? If so, let me know. How did you do it? And did it work? Send me a note or shoot me an IM (celliottlive on AIM).
Speaking of which … here’s one thing social networking is good for: connecting with me! Become my Facebook friend and you’ll get an exclusive preview of all the week’s stories.
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
A missing reservation on United — He buys his airline ticket on the United Airlines Web site, but his flights are actually on US Airways and Air Canada. Or are they? When Michael Watanabe checks his reservation, he finds that half of his itinerary is missing without a trace. And United is telling him not to worry about it. But he is worried. What should he do? (From The Troubleshooter)
5 worst things that can happen to a traveler — What’s the worst thing that can happen when you’re traveling? A traffic accident? Terrorist hijacking? Hotel fire? Travel is risky, of course. But there’s just no way of knowing when your number will be up, and your plane will go down. (From MSNBC.com)
Top 6 technology challenges for home businesses — When it comes to technology, every home-based business owner can feel a little bit alone from time to time. OK, make that all the time. There’s no help-desk or IT staff to call when your PC, Internet connection, fax machine, or other devices are on the blink. It’s your problem. (From Microsoft Office Live)
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by FirstClassFlyer.com, the only tool you need to fly first class for the price of coach — or close to it. Looking for free and purchased upgrades, two-for-ones and a fast-track to elite status strategies? Look no further than FirstClassFlyer.com
BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
She didn’t ride off into the sunset after all — So much for a happy ending. Janice Japa though she had one when Expedia agreed to refund the $789 she had spent on a nonexistent hotel room, plus threw in $400 in credit. I did, too. It turns out we were both wrong. What follows is a cautionary tale about vouchers. The airline, hotel or travel agency you’re dealing with may act as if they’re as good as money. But don’t be fooled. (From Elliott Blog)
Another broken Spirit: airline denies family boarding — Spirit Airlines is in trouble again. This time, instead of a CEO who can’t seem to find the right key on his PC, it’s a computer glitch that’s apparently causing the problem. And, as is increasingly becoming the case, Spirit’s response is completely inadequate. (From Elliott Blog)
What’s to stop us from flying nude on Southwest? — It doesn’t take much to capture the imagination of a TV producer on a slow news day. I’m talking about the brouhaha over Southwest Airlines passenger Kyla Ebbert’s attire — or lack thereof. Ebbert parlayed her fashion faux-pas into an appearance on the Today Show, and the blogosphere followed in lockstep. (From Elliott Blog)
U.S. Immigration agents gone wild in Minneapolis — Looks like the men’s restroom isn’t the only place where things are a little out of control at the Minneapolis airport. The U.S. Immigration agents at MSP are also taking a walk on the wild side, in a manner of speaking. That’s the contention of one frequent flier who contacted me yesterday in the hopes of solving a mystery. (From Elliott Blog)
Two stupid airline policies you need to know about — Just when you thought the airline industry couldn’t possibly come up with any more absurd rules, it has. Anyone who wonders why air carriers are on the verge of being re-regulated, or is at least curious about their abysmally low customer-service scores — here’s your answer. (From Elliott Blog)
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by Priceline.com, the leading travel service for value-conscious leisure travelers. With both Name Your Own Price and everyday fixed low prices, no other travel service gives more ways to save on their airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises. No one does deals like Priceline.com!
FLASHBACK | A retrospective from the Elliott archives
I love travel. Really, I do.
Travel’s bad reputation not entirely deserved — What’s so good about travel these days? Not much, it would seem. Complaints to the federal government about airlines more than doubled last year. A recent Gallup Poll suggested that only 85 percent of Americans are confident in the aviation industry’s safety standards down from 92 percent in 1996. (From The Travel Critic)
Five best airports for a stopover — Airport stopovers are as inevitable these days as cramped economy class seats, annoying security checkpoints and nitpicky ticket agents. But unlike the other realities of flying, you’ve often got a choice about the terminal you’re trapped in. (From The Travel Critic)
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by the Alaska Travelgram, which gives you the inside scoop on Alaska, with information on activities, accommodations, hot air fare deals and secret insider tips — from the folks who live there. Subscribe here. It’s free.
POSTCARDS | The latest from Elliott’s personal photoblog
The cats got me! — Iden played “catch” with the cats today. They won. It wasn’t really fair –they ganged up on him.
It’s hot! — Aren takes a break from visiting DIsneyworld. Temperatures were dangerously hot today, leaving him and his siblings in a heat-induced daze. And his parents, too.
Gotta wear shades — Iden wants to be cast in a sci-fi movie. Or perhaps the sequel to “A Clockwork Orange.” Then again, maybe these glasses just make him look cool. Either way, we couldn’t get him to take them off today.
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Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
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