In this issue …
» Happily ever after
» 5 cities with the worst gridlock
» NASA reconsiders withholding pilot survey data
» More happy endings
» How to reach yours truly
» Support this site
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
Happily ever after. I love a happy ending. Who doesn’t? This week, there are so many of them, I figured we had a theme. Mad at NASA for withholding details of that pilot survey? Wait. Late yesterday evening, the space agency said it would reconsider. Overcharged for your hotel room? Hilton makes one customer happy when it lowers its room rate. Plus, find out why Hotwire is hot and “No Excuse” vouchers are cool. It’s all in this week’s issue of Elliott’s E-Mail.
Burning question … Secrets the travel industry doesn’t want you to know. Maybe you’ve heard about how to save a bundle of money on back-to-back ticketing or getting free Wi-Fi by sitting in front of the airport club room with your laptop. But what other secrets are out there, waiting for travelers to discover? This week, it’s time for you to spill the beans (and you can do it anonymously, if you want). Remember, the best answer will win a Skooba Satchel, Skooba Seventeen, or Skooba Shuttle. We’re giving one away every week through the end of the year. Send me a note or shoot me an IM (celliottlive on AIM).
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
A hotel dispute in Dubrovnik — The rate at the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is 181 euros a night, which a phone agent confirms with Sheri Siegel. But when she tacks an extra night on to her reservation at the same rate, something goes wrong. Now her bill is more than $260 higher than she expected — and Hilton won’t help her. Can this hotel stay be saved? (From The Troubleshooter)
5 cities with the worst gridlock — Traffic is one of those topics that motorists pay little attention to until they’re stuck in it. Travel writers spend even less time worrying about it because they must obey the First Law of Travel Journalism: Only write about things with wings. But let’s break a few rules today. (From MSNBC.com)
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BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
NASA reconsiders withholding pilot survey data — NASA did not make any friends in the blogosphere when it withheld key parts of a controversial pilot survey requested by a news organization under the Freedom of Information Act. Well, as of this afternoon, the space agency is reconsidering its decision. In a prepared statement, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said he had just learned about the situation and suggested he might not agree with the agency’s call. (From Elliott Blog)
Does Internet Brands stock delay mean trouble for travel? — Internet Brands made a few headlines in the travel industry when it bought the online forum FlyerTalk in March. It wasn’t the company’s first travel acquisition. It already owned several other sites, including WikiTravel and CruiseMates. If you’re an investor, you may have also noticed that Internet Brands filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the Security and Exchange Commission this summer to go public. But that’s not all. (From Elliott Blog)
“No excuse” — When travel companies screw up, they issue what are euphemistically called “goodwill” vouchers to aggrieved customers — funny money that can be used toward the purchase of even more of an often faulty product. To which customers sometimes say: Thanks for nothing. Why would they ever do business with that company again? (From Elliott Blog)
Good show! Hotwire bends refund rules for sick customer — Everyone knows there are exceptions to the travel industry’s strict refund rules. Unless you’re dealing with one of the so-called “opaque” Web sites, where all sales are final, and the only thing missing from its terms and conditions are, “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.” At least that’s the conventional wisdom. But maybe the conventional wisdom is wrong. Robert Stringer thinks so. (From Elliott Blog)
Car rental agents have “small incentive” to note correct fuel levels — If you rent a car, you know what happens when you return your vehicle. At the time of check-in, agents often do their best to add extra fees for minor damage or fuel. But what’s happening from the agent’s perspective? One reader was curious, so he asked. In fact, he got involved in a rather heated exchange with a major car rental company. (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
More happy endings. Don’t you just love ‘em?
Hotwire’s hotel switch — and a happy ending — I love a happy ending. But you don’t always get one when there’s a problem with a so-called “opaque” Web site that doesn’t let you pick the exact hotel or airline itinerary you want. What if you end up with a room or flight you don’t like? (From Elliott Blog)
A ghost reservation on Spirit — My best friend’s daughter is getting married in Detroit next week. My gift to her is to bring my daughter to the wedding. The two young ladies have not seen each other for over seven years and were inseparable for 12 years while growing up. But here’s my problem. (From The Troubleshooter)
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