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In this issue …
• What will they think of next?
• “A lot of ‘experts’ are counting us out – but like all of you, I can’t wait to prove them wrong again”
• Frequent criers: Elite fliers are ruining air travel
• The coming dehydration crisis for airline passengers
• Have airlines gone too far with new fees? No — not far enough
• How to reach yours truly
• Support this site
This issue of Elliott’s E-Mail is underwritten by skoobadesign.com, 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.
FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel
What will they think of next? We have to stop asking ourselves that question. Because whenever we do, the airline industry finds something else they can charge us extra for. Last week, US Airways shocked us by saying it would make us pay for drinkable water. Yes, water. And that’s not all …
Burning question … how do you stay positive? This summer’s onslaught of surcharges and negative travel news sure is making it difficult to keep a smile on your face. How are you keeping things positive? What strategies are you using (including self-medicating, of course) to stay sane this summer? Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.
Get it. Daily. 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!)
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by ExpertFlyer, which empowers the frequent flier like no other site. Get the details here.
BLAZIN’ HOT BLOG POST | What’s burning up my bandwidth this week?
“A lot of ‘experts’ are counting us out – but like all of you, I can’t wait to prove them wrong again” — Here’s an interesting postscript to US Airways’ “me-too” move this afternoon, which adopted American Airlines’ controversial $15 fee for the first checked bag. Just hours before, United Airlines had done the same. (From Elliott Blog) JOIN THE DISCUSSION — leave your comment!
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!
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
A canceled flight, a missing refund — It’s been two years since Niel Bratteli bought a roundtrip plane ticket from Dallas to Boston for his son. The airline, ATA, stopped flying from Boston to Dallas and his online travel agency, Travelocity, promised Bratteli a refund. But countless calls and e-mails later, there’s no sign of the money. What’s wrong? (From The Troubleshooter)
Frequent criers: Elite fliers are ruining air travel — The last thing I want to do is start a class war at 36,000 feet. But enough is enough. (From MSNBC.com)
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.
BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
The coming dehydration crisis for airline passengers — Let’s fast-forward to Aug. 1, when US Airways begins to charge for soft drinks on its flights, including bottled water. How’s that going to go over? Not very well. (From Elliott Blog)
Scam alert: beware of hotels that charge for what you don’t eat — or drink — You’ve probably heard of hotels overcharging you for what you eat or drink. You know, $10 for a bottle of water. Six bucks for a candy bar. Here’s the latest twist on that scam — a hotel that charges you for what you don’t consume. (From Elliott Blog)
Airline fee orgy has nothing to do with fuel prices — Bob Crandall is right. The latest airline crisis, which has unleashed an avalanche of new fees and surcharges on passengers, has nothing to do with high fuel prices. It’s about bad management. (From Elliott Blog)
United follows American, will charge $15 for first checked bag — It was just a matter of time. United Airlines said this morning it will start charging a “service fee” of $15 for the first checked bag, following American Airlines’ misguided lead. (From Elliott Blog)
“We arrived in Santo Domingo — our luggage did not” — The airline industry may be in a tailspin, but you can find people in the business who still care about their customers. Delta Air Lines’ Lee Macenczak is one of those people. (From Elliott Blog)
Spirit contacts revealed: addresses, phone numbers for five people who can help — Spirit Airlines’ customer department may have all but shut down, but its employees still got spirit. Airline insiders, upset that their employer has more or less shuttered its call center, have taken it upon themselves to send me the names, numbers and e-mail addresses of the Spirit employees who can help you. (From Elliott Blog)
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
ON TRIPSO | Blog postings from the last honest travel site.
Have airlines gone too far with new fees? No — not far enough — For a few hopeful hours yesterday, it seemed as if at least one airline was going to acknowledge what air travelers have been saying all along: that the new fees by the likes of American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways have gone too far. (From Tripso)
If you think airlines are totally mismanaged, check out America’s corrupt airports — America’s airlines are in bad company. Some of America’s airports are apparently being run just as poorly — if not worse — than the air carriers that use them. (From Tripso)
Is this the final chapter in the car rental refueling scam? — Are sky-high refueling costs for your rental car about to be history? They are if you live in Maryland, thanks to actions to be announced today by the state’s attorney general, Douglas Gansler. And cheaper refueling prices are spilling beyond the boundaries of the Old Line State. (From Tripso)
How I got kicked out of my hotel this summer — Are hotels taking a hard line on guests who misbehave? I can’t help but notice a little uptick in stories about people being kicked out of their resort. (From Tripso)
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!
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.
• Send me an instant message on Gmail.
• Shoot me a note or chat by video on AIM.
• Skype me. My username is christopherjelliott.
• Find me on MySpace.
• Link to me on LinkedIn.
• Catch me on Facebook.
• 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.
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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