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In this issue …
• Hotel alternatives that could save you big bucks
• “Get the gloves out” ticket agent orders TSA agents
• What’s so funny about airline fees? Everything!
• How to reach yours truly
• Support this site
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FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel
Burning question … what makes you really mad about travel? How’s this for an open-ended question: what really steams you about traveling? Are you upset about the new airline fees? Hotel surcharges? Lack of customer service? Have at it. Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.
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SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
A surprise fee for my hotel room — Ilene Coffey’s room at an Orlando hotel comes with an unexpected surprise: a $50 fee for a “short stay.” When she protests, her hotel and online travel agency tell her she must pay. What’s worse, she can’t back out — if she does, her credit card will be charged for the stay. Is there a way out of this mess? (From The Troubleshooter)
Hotel alternatives that could save you big bucks — More travelers are bunking down in nontraditional accommodations, including timeshares, condos and vacation rentals. Here’s how they’re doing it. (From MSNBC.com)
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BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
The Prime Travel Protection Services mystery is solved — So who is Prime Travel Protection Services? I asked that question yesterday after one reader lost two cruise vacations when his insurance claim wasn’t honored by the company. This morning I got a call from Jerry Watson, the president of Prime Travel Protection, with the answer. (From Elliott Blog)
A travel insurance mystery: who is Prime Travel Protection Services? — What do Prime Travel Protection Services, Travelers Protection Services, Vacation Protection Services and Trip Assured have in common? They may be the same company. (From Elliott Blog)
“Get the gloves out” ticket agent orders TSA agents — Airline ticket agents write the darnedest things on your boarding pass. If you’re on the dreaded TSA watchlist, as Matthew Heffelfinger claims to be, you could find several “S”s notifying the Transportation Security Administration agent that you deserve extra-special screening. Or something else. (From Elliott Blog)
Renegade travel agent brings ticket pricing fight to America — What’s the most maddening thing about airfares? Probably the pricing. You’re offered a low “base” fare, only to have fees, taxes and surcharges tacked on to it. By the time it’s all added up, the fare has doubled. Why can’t they just quote an all-inclusive price to begin with? That’s what Stanley Gyoshev, who founded the online travel agency Lessno with Assen Vassilev, thought. So they did something about it. (From Elliott Blog)
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ON TRIPSO | Blog postings from the last honest travel site.
US Airways to Dominican flight victims: “This is not a compensation issue” — By all accounts, US Airways flight 1860 from Punta Cana to Philadelphia did not go well on Aug. 15. A tropical storm forced the airline to cancel the flight. Then, armed guards ordered 274 stranded passengers out of the airport. They were abandoned. Could the airline make things any worse? Yes. (From Tripso)
What’s so funny about airline fees? Everything! — The latest round of airline fees are nothing to laugh about. Or are they? Actually, they’re pretty funny, at least according to people in the parody business. (From Tripso)
Airline industry on track to set new lobbying record — The U.S. airline industry appears to be on track to set a new record for money spent lobbying elected officials, according to the latest government records. (From Tripso)
TALKBACK | How to sound off about this site
Read something you disagree with? Got a story idea or a gripe? Here’s how to be heard:
• Send me an e-mail.
• Call me. My direct phone number is (407) 699-9529.
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• Skype me. My username is christopherjelliott.
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• Find out what I’m doing now on Twitter.
• Post a response below an article, in the “Comment on this article” field.
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