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In this issue …
• Mating season
• Is it time to boycott air travel?
• Ask the Armchair Traveler: how to find a cheap cruise
• 5 travel traps lurking in the fine print
• Who else will oppose the coming wave of airline mergers?
• Unholy unions
• 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
Mating season. Spring is in the air, and that can only mean one thing: it’s mating season for the airlines. If it weren’t for that Puritan chaperon, James Oberstar, who said he wouldn’t tolerate any unions, it would probably be a free-for-all. This week’s newsletter has details on the chairman’s comments and other airline mergers past and present. Plus, you can read an all-new Travel Troubleshooter, watch a videocast and interact with yours truly in any number of different ways. Safe travels!
Burning question … complaint mistakes. What it comes to getting your travel-related complaints resolved, what are the biggest no-nos? Yelling at the front-desk clerk? Being difficult? Calling instead of writing? (Travel industry employees, I want to hear from you, too … what kind of errors do tourists make?) Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.
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.
BLAZIN’ HOT BLOG POST | What’s burning up my bandwidth this week?
Is it time to boycott air travel? — It’s no secret that recent moves by airlines to impose new fees on checked-in luggage, which I discussed at length in yesterday’s MSNBC column, will hit working families the hardest. But should families hit back? JOIN THE DISCUSSION — leave your comment!
Ask the Armchair Traveler | This week’s videocast
Ask the Armchair Traveler: how to find a cheap cruise — The Armchair Traveler shows you how to find an inexpensive floating vacation. Here’s episode 4 of the videocast. Here’s a high-definition version. Enjoy!
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
Hey Marriott, where are my miles? — Sally Savona books a vacation at Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club, where she’s promised a 25,000-mile frequent-flier bonus. But the loyalty points fail to show up in her account, despite repeated calls to the hotel. It’s been months since her visit. How can she get Marriott to make good? (From The Troubleshooter)
5 travel traps lurking in the fine print — Your cruise ship may not be seaworthy. Your airline isn’t responsible for your checked luggage. And if something’s stolen from your room, good luck getting the hotel to cover your losses. (From MSNBC.com)
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
Who else will oppose the coming wave of airline mergers? — It should come as absolutely no surprise that someone like Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) would take a stand against the latest round of airline mergers. After all, Oberstar is the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, and he’s spent his career officiating the failed marriages of air carriers. “Mergers may mean short-term profits for investors,” he says. “But they inevitably mean long-term losses for workers and consumers.” It may, however, come as a surprise who is not opposing the likely unions of United and Continental, Delta and Northwest, and perhaps even American and US Airways. (From Elliott Blog)
New help file: Spirit Airlines — Spirit Airlines is one of the most complained-about airlines flying today. In an effort to be come what it calls an “ultra low cost” carrier, it has cut back or eliminated many of the customer service considerations that air travelers take for granted. Put differently, you should take nothing for granted when you fly Spirit. (From Elliott Blog)
“Cruise lines concertedly and deceptively implemented a fuel surcharge” — The first of what could be several fuel charge-related lawsuits against the cruise lines was filed earlier this week in Miami. Coral Gables, Fla., attorney Harley Tropin submitted the complaint, which seeks class action status, on behalf of New York resident Jason Ablelove. It charges several large cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line, with colluding to fix unreasonably high fuel surcharges. (From Elliott Blog)
Soaring fuel costs prompts US Airways awards belt-tightening — or does it? — The devaluation of mileage programs continues. US Airways just announced it would impose a new fee for redeeming award tickets and cut the number of miles it awards to frequent travelers on short-haul flights. The airline says it is taking the actions to “offset record fuel prices and rising airline related expenses.” But it’s got some convincing to do. (From Elliott Blog) HOT POST!
Travel and timeshare fraud cases more than double in 2007, says government — The number of travel and timeshare complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission more than doubled last year, jumping from 6,712 cases to 14,903 cases. As a whole, the travel category rose from 12th to 9th place, accounting for roughly 2 percent of all consumer grievances received by the federal agency. (From Elliott Blog)
Happy Valentines Day — here’s your ice storm — I realize that Valentines Day isn’t until tomorrow, but what’s 24 hours between friends? Here’s your ice storm. Here are your airport delays. It’s looking a lot like Valentines Day 2007, isn’t it? (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.
FLASHBACK | A retrospective from the Elliott archives
Unholy union. More on airline mergers and what they mean to you.
What to do about the mergers — When airlines merge, there are no winners. Sure, a few senior executives walk away from a combined carrier with a big bonus check. Ditto for the advisers and lawyers who help close the deal. (From Elliott Blog)
Yikes! Rumored merger could create world’s worst airline — So Delta Air Lines is reportedly looking to get hitched. Again. Is anyone surprised? The front-runners include United Airlines and Northwest Airlines, if news reports are to be believed (they’ve been dead wrong many, many times, so take it for what it’s worth). But what hasn’t been widely reported is that if any of these airline marriages happen, they could create the world’s least favorite airline (From The Travel Critic)
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:
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