In this issue …
» Not feeling thankful?
» Uncomfortable at the Comfort Inn
» OMG! Through Orlando TSA line in less than five minutes
» Car rental wreck
» How to reach yours truly
» Support this site
» Change your subscription
This issue of Elliott’s E-Mail is 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!
FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel
Not feeling thankful? Thanksgiving is the time of year when Americans like to reflect on the things for which they’re grateful. But this week, we break with tradition. In my MSNBC column, I ponder all the things travelers aren’t thankful for. If you’ve eaten and airline meal lately — or perhaps more to the point, not eaten an airline meal — you’ll want to sound off on this week’s burning question. There are also blog entries on car rental companies, the Skybus saga, and the strange tale of Joel Widzer’s “death.” Read all about it in this week’s issue.
Burning question … how’s the airline food? You’ve probably heard a lot about the new in-flight food offerings. But this week, I want to know about your experience. Have they been feeding you on the plane? Is the food any good? Is it better or worse than, say, a year ago? Are you well-fed … or starving? Remember, the best story gets cool Skooba luggage. (More winners will be announced at the end of this month.) Send me a note or shoot me an IM (celliottlive on AIM).
Get it before anyone else. You can receive all of the latest travel news and commentary first by connecting with me on Facebook. I post every new story, blog posting and newsletter to Facebook — often hours before it lands in your “in” box. (Note: You need a Facebook account, which is free, in order to access this information.)
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
Uncomfortable at the Comfort Inn — Frank Gilbuena and his wife check in to a Comfort Inn, but find that they’re less than comfortable with their accommodations. The upholstery is stained, the room isn’t vacuumed and the bathroom is a mess. He gives the hotel staff a day to clean things up, but they don’t. Now he wants his money back, and the hotel is ignoring his letters. What else can he do? (From The Troubleshooter)
Thanks for nothing! 5 things travelers aren’t grateful for — Air travel is affordable. The nation’s roads have never been safer. And hotels offer more amenities than ever. Given all that, you would think travelers would be a grateful lot. They aren’t. (From MSNBC.com)
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.
BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
OMG! Through Orlando TSA line in less than five minutes — This is supposed to be the busiest week for travel in the history of the aviation industry. Oh, sorry. I’ve been reading too many of my favorite travel columnists. Make that just super-darned busy. Or is it? I just zipped through the TSA line in Orlando in less than five minutes. (From Elliott Blog)
“Skybus left us stranded” — Oh no, not another Skybus complaint! That was my first thought when I received an e-mail with the subject line “Skybus left us stranded.” If I write something about this, I said to myself, Skybus and its mainstream media apologists will really think I have a grudge against this no-frills startup airline — especially after outing its executives in my blog — even though nothing could be further from the truth. (From Elliott Blog)
What really happened to Joel? — The last chapter in Joel Widzer’s life is apparently still unwritten. Earlier this week, I received an e-mail from his personal address saying that he had died. A death notice was also posted to his site. We thought we had lost him. But there’s just one problem. No one can confirm that he is dead. (From Elliott Blog)
Airline lobby to president: “Mission accomplished!” — It’s been an open secret in Washington that the government will unveil its plans to end aviation congestion just in time for the busy Thanksgiving holiday. That announcement could come as soon as today. But don’t expect much. At least one of the airline industry’s apologists, the misleadingly-named Air Travelers Association, is cheering the plan — which means the airlines are pleased as punch with the idea. (From Elliott Blog)
‘C’ is for car rental company: headmaster J.D. punishes auto firms — Looks as if the underperforming U.S. airline industry has some company. Blaming “mounting frustrations” in a year fraught with a record number of flight delays, our friends at J.D. Power and Associates determined that customer satisfaction with rental cars has “declined considerably.” (From Elliott Blog)
Farewell, Joel Widzer? — I was deeply saddened to hear that my friend and colleague Joel Widzer passed away yesterday at age 46. Joel was the author of “The Penny Pincher’s Passport to Luxury Travel: The Art of Cultivating Preferred Customer Status” (Travelers’ Tales) and a columnist for MSNBC.com. He was the first expert I turned to whenever I had a question about loyalty programs and luxury travel. (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
Car rental wreck More about our underperforming rental car companies …
Bad grades for car cos — It may be asking too much for anyone in the mainstream news media to pay attention to a car rental company story, or even to spend a small amount of energy on critical analysis. (From Elliott Blog)
Blacklisted: 4 travel companies people avoid — You’ve probably heard of the controversial “no-fly” list kept by the government. Maybe you know some who’s on it. Maybe you’re on it. But that list, which has snared everyone from a Marine serving in Iraq to a four-year-old is a topic for another time. Today I’m talking about a different kind of “no-fly” list: yours. (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
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.
» 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
This site relies on support from travelers like you. If you care about journalism that’s uncompromising, cutting-edge and consumer-focused, then please consider becoming an underwriter. Here are the details.
✓ Get the latest travel news, tips and commentary from Elliott’s E-Mail, the subversive newsletter from industry gadfly Christopher Elliott. You’ll travel like a pro. Sign up here. It’s free.
Sign up for my 
