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Happy New Year from Elliott’s E-Mail!
In this issue …
• Happy New Year?
• 8 things travelers should expect in 2008
• Are car rental companies fixing their prices?
• Out with the old, in with the new
• How to reach yours truly
• Support this site
• 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
Happy New Year? Travelers want to be optimistic about 2008. But if this week’s events are any indication of what next year has in store, that may be difficult. Our own government is trying to downplay the results of its “it-might-affect-airline-profitability” aviation safety study by releasing it on New Year’s Eve. The car rental industry may be fixing prices, if a recent lawsuit is to be believed. And there’s a confusing new ban on Lithium batteries that might affect your next trip. Don’t forget to check out my 2008 preview on MSNBC. (Note: I’m sending this week’s newsletter a little early for technical reasons.)
Burning question … Whether you’re a woman sitting in first class or Muslim or just have loud children, chances are you’ve experienced discrimination of some kind when you’re on the road. What’s your story? Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.
ExpertFlyer offer extended! Remember ExpertFlyer, the cool subscription service for frequent fliers I recently wrote about? Last week I told you it would make a great last-minute holiday gift. But the special offer is actually valid through Jan. 31. Either sign up for a 15 percent discount using the coupon code GUCFOGAQ. 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.
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
No room — and no refund — When Colin West arrives at the Howard Johnson Express in New York, there’s no room for him. He’s sent to another hotel nearby, but has to pay for the room himself. West gets his money back for the first hotel from Priceline, but does it owe him something for the new hotel, too? (From The Troubleshooter)
8 things travelers should expect in 2008 — Travelers deserve a break in ’08. Too bad they won’t get one. No reasonable traveler, travel expert, or wannabe-traveler can look at the wearisome events of 2007 (which I covered in an earlier column) and say, “No worries, 2008 will be great.” It’s impossible. (From MSNBC.com)
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
NASA to release controversial airline safety survey on New Year’s Eve — Think they’re trying to downplay this one? NASA has finally decided to release its controversial study on airline safety — on New Year’s Eve. Earlier this year, NASA was criticized for withholding key parts of a pilot survey requested by a news organization under the Freedom of Information Act. One of the reasons it cited was that the report could affected “airline profitability.” (From Elliott Blog)
Uh-oh: batteries banned from checked luggage starting next week — A new Department of Transportation rule takes effect Jan. 1 that will prevent airline passengers from packing loose lithium batteries in their checked luggage. But just this once it isn’t terrorism fears that have led to the restrictions, but safety considerations, according to the government. (From Elliott Blog)
Are car rental companies fixing their prices? — A lawsuit working its way through a U.S. District Court in California is raising a troubling question that could affect travelers: Are car rental companies fixing their prices? The suit, filed by the University of San Diego School of Law’s Center for Public Interest Law, alleges that auto rental firms in California have done just that. If the courts side with the consumer advocates, it could have national implications. (From Elliott Blog)
Top 7 blog posts and comments of 2007 (thank you, TSA!) — 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)
Resolved for 2008: Kill the TSA, end fuel surcharges and impose quotas on airline bloggers — Resolved for 2008: The Transportation Security Agency should eliminate its pointless liquids and gels ban, which recently led it to reclassify harmless holiday pies as weapons of mass destruction. If it can’t manage to do that, our elected officials should do us all a favor and kill the agency. (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
Out with the old, in with the new. Newness from the archives
Do new laws persecute wireless travelers? — These aren’t the best of times for travelers who use cell phones. A few weeks ago, a woman on a Czech Airlines flight landed on the wrong side of the law when she whipped out her wireless device in midair, despite repeated warnings from a flight attendant. According to a police spokesman, the call temporarily disrupted the turboprop’s navigation devices and jammed communication between the plane and the tower. She faces one year in jail if convicted. (From Travel Technologist)
So many bills, so little time — Pity the folks who have to figure out what a passenger bill of rights should — and shouldn’t — include. As if JetBlue’s entry into the fray yesterday wasn’t confusing enough (after all, why would an airline advocate for its customers unless it had a hidden agenda?) it turns out there are lots and lots of proposed bills. (From Elliott Blog)
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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.
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