Elliott’s E-Mail/December 25, 2007

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Happy holidays from Elliott’s E-Mail!

In this issue …

• Worth bookmarking in ’08
• Help! I’m stuck with a ticket I didn’t buy
• The 20 most inspiring travel blogs of 2007
• Travel bloggers
• How to reach yours truly
• Support this site

This issue of Elliott’s E-Mail is 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

FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel

Worth bookmarking in ’08. What a wacky week it’s been. Turns out the TSA is obsessed with exploding pies (no, really). Airlines think it’s OK to slap a booking fee on tickets bought through their own Web sites. And hotels? When it comes to surcharges, anything goes. I’ve got it all covered in this week’s newsletter, plus my very own list of the 20 most inspiring travel bloggers. Visit their sites. Bookmark them. They’re worth it.

Thank you! In less than two short weeks, the readers of Elliott’s E-Mail helped raise enough in donations to keep this blog going for another six months. Many thanks to all of you who supported one of the last remaining efforts to produce honest, consumer-focused, truly useful travel journalism. You know who you are. And thank you to BagRagz luggage covers, the Dream of Italy newsletter and the 2008 Great Alaskan TourSaver for the assist.

How do you support this site? Here are the details, or go to Elliott.org and click on “support this site.” (Note to all: premiums are being mailed out in early January.)

Burning question … Your favorite shoulder-season destination? Where do you like to go during the off-peak times, when no one else is there? I’m researching a column on destinations bargains during the off-season, and I’d like to include yours. Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.

Need a last-minute holiday present? Our friends at ExpertFlyer have agreed to help. I blogged about the cool subscription service for frequent fliers here. You can either sign up for a 15 percent discount using the coupon code GUCFOGAQ (valid through Jan. 31). Or you can give ExpertFlyer to a friend or loved one here. The gift certificate is for one full year of premium service (normally costing $99, which is a $20 discount from the monthly premium membership price of $120 a year). So you get a double discount when using the coupon.

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!

BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog

“What kind of pie is that?” the TSA agent demanded — The Transportation Security Administration doesn’t like pie in the sky. We kinda suspected that after the low-rated government agency issued new guidelines on food items that could be brought onboard. Now comes a firsthand report of TSA sillyness that, if nothing else, will make you laugh out loud. (From Elliott Blog)

The 10 most popular routes for airline upgrades — If you’re hoping to score an upgrade on your next flight, here’s a list you might want to check out. I asked my friends over at ExpertFlyer to pull the ten most-requested city pairs for upgrades. (By the way, check out the end of this list for a special offer for readers of this blog.) (From Elliott Blog)

The 20 most inspiring travel blogs of 2007 — Which travel blogs inspire me to travel, and to write about it? I’ve already weighed in on the most influential blogs of the year and hotel blogs worth bookmarking. But a lot of you have asked me which sites I read just for the fun of it (in other words, because I think they’re really good). Here’s your answer — my very own list of travel blogs that inspire me. (From Elliott Blog)

“Airline sites can no longer be viewed as the absolute best place to buy a ticket” — Airlines are constantly looking for new ways to make money, but their favorite trick is imposing a surcharge without us even knowing it. Allegiant Air, with its sneaky $8.50 “convenience fee” for flights booked on its site, comes to mind. But now two major carriers, US Airways and Continental, have joined the fun, according to to a respected travel analyst. (From Elliott Blog)

More #$@!*# hotel fees: here are two new ones — Just when I thought I had seen it all — and after nearly two decades of consumer advocacy, I thought I had — I’ve encountered two clever hotel surcharges that appear to be new. Greedy hoteliers, take note. Travelers, be warned. (From Elliott Blog)

Gone but not forgotten: how one airline quietly deleted our rights — Here’s an interesting exercise. Take a random airline contract of carriage from a few years ago — say, US Airways’ 2003 contract — and compare it to the current, post-merger legal agreement between the carrier and you. Notice any differences? (There’s an easy way to do that: just copy both documents into Microsoft Word and merge them.) Oh boy, check that out. (From Elliott Blog)

54 travelers a day are about to die — does anyone care? — Fifty-four people. That’s how many motorists die per day on America’s roads over the New Year’s weekend, according to new federal traffic safety data. During the Christmas holiday, it’s 45 a day (normally, it’s 36 daily fatalities). Most of these deaths are completely preventable. But does anyone care? (From Elliott Blog)

Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by skoobadesign.com, designers and makers of some of the most acclaimed, innovative carrying cases and travel accessories for laptop computers and other tech gear. Skooba Design’s products have been named “best buy” by major independent consumer magazines, as well as leading technology, travel and general interest publications. Elliot’s E-Mail Subscribers get 20 percent off, plus free shipping (UPS Ground/48 States) on all Skooba Design orders of $50 or more. Just enter coupon code enter ELLIOTT20 at checkout. Some restrictions apply. Here are the details.

FLASHBACK | A retrospective from the Elliott archives

Travel bloggers Is this the “new” travel journalism?

Unfair and unbalanced? — Should travel bloggers play by the same rules as reporters for a mainstream news organization? I’ve wondered about that for the better part of the last week, both for professional and personal reasons. (From Elliott Blog)

The lowdown on blogs — I’ve never considered myself an expert on travel blogging. But I suppose my recent work experience contradicts that. I write stories about travel blogging, I’m invited to speak on the topic … and now, I’m being interviewed on travel and blogs. (From Elliott Blog)

Elliott’s E-Mail is also 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.

POSTCARDS | The latest from Elliott’s personal photoblog

Christmas present — Just what I wanted — Hotwheels! And they’re all mine.

Erysse gets a haircut at the Magic Kindom — Erysse Elliott turned one, and her parents took her to the Magic Kingdom to get her first haircut. This video was directed by her brother Aren and produced by her brother Iden. Daddy is still trying to figure out how to use Final Cut.

My buddy — Iden and his friend Carly hang out after the St. Luke’s Christmas show.

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. I’m at elliottdotorg on every major e-mail provider — AOL, Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo. I’m also reachable at the same e-mail address I’ve always had, of course.
• Call me. My direct phone number is (407) 699-9529.
• Send me an instant message on Gmail.
• Shoot me a note or chat by video on AIM.
• Skype me. My username is christopherjelliott.
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• See me on Flickr.
• Find out what I’m doing now on Twitter.
• Post a response below an article, in the “Comment on this article” field.
• Contact me with this handy feedback form.

Please note: Unless you specify otherwise, all e-mails, letters and phone conversations are considered “on the record.” That means your name could be used in a future article.

BECOME AN UNDERWRITER | How to support Elliott

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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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