Elliott’s E-Mail/July 15, 2008
Read this week’s issue online or subscribe to the RSS feed.
In this issue …
• Oil shock
• An open letter to airlines: “When is enough, enough?”
• How hotels help themselves to your money
• Tip your hotel housekeeper … or else
• Cruise passengers battered by unethical surcharges
• How to reach yours truly
• Support this site
• Change your subscription
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FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel
Oil shock! Gas prices got you down? Take a number. The airline industry is screaming about high energy costs. But as I discover this week, they aren’t paying the highest oil prices. You are.
Burning question … Oil madness. How are you saving fuel? Are you a “hypermiler” who never rides the brakes? Or have you upgraded your car to a fuel-sipping hybrid? This week, I want your candid comments about the summer oil shock — and what you’ve decided to do about it. Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.
You really want to subscribe to this. Want to get e-mail updates from this site daily instead of weekly? Why not sign up for my free daily update newsletter? Here are the details. (But you’ll want to keep this subscription, otherwise you’ll miss half the fun!)
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BLAZIN’ HOT BLOG POST | What’s burning up my bandwidth this week?
An open letter to airlines: “When is enough, enough?” — If you haven’t read the airline industry’s whiny open letter to customers yet this morning, you should. No one plays the blame game better than our coddled, oversubsidized domestic carriers, and this is a prime example. (From Elliott Blog) JOIN THE DISCUSSION — leave your comment!
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SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
Incidentally, where’s my $10? — David Goldstein’s checked luggage is misplaced on a flight to Salt Lake City after he misses a connection. He spends $10 on socks and toiletries after Frontier Airlines promises it will cover his incidental expenses. But now the carrier is balking at a refund. What’s going on? (From The Troubleshooter)
How hotels help themselves to your money — If you think your hotel’s done with you when you check out, think again. It might just be getting started. (From MSNBC.com)
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by Carrentals.co.uk, which provides the easiest and quickest way to search for car hire on the web. Our car rental search engine will compare the market in seconds and provide you with prices from up to 40 car hire suppliers. Cheap car hire is one search away!
BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
Tip your hotel housekeeper … or else — Don’t forget to tip your housekeeper. If you do, you could end up paying a lot more in late charges. (From Elliott Blog)
If you were an airline, you’d be paying $1 per gallon less for fuel — I got a little curious after hearing about the airline industry’s self-serving push to regulate oil speculation. It made me wonder how much how much the airlines were paying for a gallon of fuel. Here’s the somewhat surprising answer. (From Elliott Blog)
Air travelers need to “fight back” — or else — We already know that fuel costs have practically nothing to do with the surge in airline surcharges. But what we don’t yet know is what will happen next. (From Elliott Blog)
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by designers of top-rated, award-winning cases and accessories for laptops and other tech/travel gear. Named “best buy” by a major independent consumer magazine, 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 ELLIOTT20 at checkout. Some restrictions apply. Here are the details.
ON TRIPSO | Blog postings from the last honest travel site.
Cruise passengers battered by unethical surcharges — Cruise lines are taking a hard line when it comes to fuel surcharges. Consider the recent case of Ron and Gwenda Bennett, who paid a £900 deposit on a £9,000 Mediterranean cruise but were told by the travel company that a surcharge was also due. (From Tripso)
A translation of the airlines’ “open letter” to customers — The airlines need you. In an open letter to customers published late yesterday, the chief executives of 12 domestic airlines urged customers to help them stop the oil speculation and bring fuel prices under control. Here’s a translation. (From Tripso)
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