In this issue …
» Can air travel get any worse?
» Inn is out: 5 reasons to skip a hotel
» Why do online travel agencies restrict their sites?
» Missing the plane
» Having a shell of a time
» How to reach yours truly
» Support this site
» How to 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
Can air travel get any worse? Impossible, you say. If only. This week there’s plenty of evidence that it can, and is, deteriorating further – everything from disappearing flights and worthless vouchers to an airline that sells its passengers’ luggage. Meanwhile, Congress has been debating what regulations, if any, to place on the airline industry. Like that would help. My recommendation: Join me for a trip to Marco Island, Fla., and try to forget the whole thing. It’s all in this week’s issue of Elliott’s E-Mail.
Burning question … your favorite fine print on an airline ticket? Ever booked a ticket, only to discover that there are rules in the fine print that made it impossible to change your flight or get a refund? What’s your least favorite airline rule that’s hidden in the fine print? Send me a note or shoot me an IM (celliottlive on AIM).
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
A reservation, but no room — Expedia confirms a reservation for one night in a New York hotel. There’s just one problem: The booking doesn’t exist. That leaves one unhappy traveler homeless for the night — and Janice Japa, the person who made the reservation, is trying in vain to get her money back. (From The Troubleshooter)
Inn is out: 5 reasons to skip a hotel — Your next hotel might not be a hotel. It could be a condo. Or a rental apartment. Or a home. And maybe it should be. It isn’t just that many travelers are turned off by traditional hotels, inns and resorts. I admit, there are plenty of reasons to check out of the lodge these days, from through-the-roof room rates to being nickeled-and-dimed for every little extra item. It’s that the alternatives are often roomier, less expensive and more convenient. (From MSNBC.com)
On Marco Island all by your lonesome — It may be something of an exaggeration to say you can have Marco Island, Fla., all to yourself in September. But it wouldn’t be much of one. This is the lowest point of low season, when the summer visitors have left and the snowbirds have yet to arrive. The remaining would-be guests are staying away because of the weather (too warm, they think, or maybe there’ll be a hurricane) and as a result, large parts of Southwest Florida’s resort areas are virtual ghost towns. (From Destinations)
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
British Airways turns the table, sells passenger’s luggage — When an airline loses your luggage, it can eventually find its way to a place like the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Ala. — but only after the carrier spends months trying to track down the rightful owner. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. But sometimes airlines take shortcuts. British Airways did. (From Elliott Blog)
Why do online travel agencies restrict their sites? — If you’ve ever lived abroad for a while, you might have stumbled across a price discrepancy for which there seems to be no valid reason. Airline ticket prices on certain routes are lower than they are if they’re purchased here — but try to buy one, and you’re out of luck. Sharon Peterson wondered about that. Specifically, she questioned price differences on air fares between the US version of Expedia and its UK edition. (From Elliott Blog)
“I’m sorry, your flight no longer exists” — Airline schedules change from time to time, which is why it’s always a good idea to confirm your flight before leaving for the airport. But what happens when an air carrier confirms a flight that it knows has been canceled, leaving you grounded? That was the problem facing readers Janet and Larry Glenn, who were scheduled to fly on United Airlines Flight 19 from New York to San Francisco on a recent Saturday. (From Elliott Blog)
How can the nation’s best airline also be the worst? — Unless you’re an airline insider, you probably didn’t bother to notice yesterday’s second quarter airline financial data released by the government. But if you did — and if you’ve spent any amount of time on a plane this year — you’ll probably find yourself asking this question: How can the nation’s most profitable network airline also be the one customers complain about the most? (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
Missing the plane. More stories about flights gone wrong.
Canceled flight, worthless voucher — Two years ago, Orville Duggan and his wife volunteered to give up their seats on an overbooked United Airlines flight. But after they redeem their vouchers, Hurricane Katrina strikes, forcing them to cancel their vacation. Should the airline cut them a little slack when it comes to rebooking their flights? (From The Troubleshooter
Missed flight, maximum fee — Dwight Wolcczak and his wife miss their MAXJet Airways flight from New York to London. Catching the next plane costs them an additional $2,304 each, after the change fees and fare differentials are totaled up. Isn’t that too much? Or did the airline make a mistake? (From The Troubleshooter)
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by the Alaska Travelgram, which gives you the inside scoop on Alaska, with information on
activities, accommodations, hot air fare deals and secret insider tips — from the folks who live there. Subscribe here. It’s free.
POSTCARDS | The latest from Elliott’s personal photoblog
Sunrise — Erysse and Aren woke up early to see the sunrise on Marco Island, Fla. It was gorgeous
Having a shell of a time — Aren and Iden go shelling on Marco Island, Fla. It was a perfect late summer day. They had the beach all to themselves.
Going down — Iden takes a break from chasing the cats (this time he’s winning) to go down the slide. It turned kinda cool, finally, which allowed the kids to stay outside without having a heat stroke.
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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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