Read this week’s issue online or subscribe to the RSS feed.
In this issue …
• 5 reasons to travel during the 2008 holidays
• 3 secrets to avoiding a vacation rental scam
• Turned away from a hotel? You’re in good company
• How to reach yours truly
• Support this site
This issue of Elliott’s E-Mail is underwritten by Skooba Design, 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
Burning question … charged long after your trip? Ever had a charge on your credit card from an airline, hotel or car rental company long after your trip? Have you wondered how they could get away with it? I’d love to hear your story. Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.
Seeing double? If you’re getting two or more copies of this newsletter, you might want to consider signing up for my free daily update newsletter and unsubscribing from this weekly one. (The technical problems on the daily newsletter have been fixed — we’re still working on the weekly one.) Here are the details.
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
Two bills, one room — and zero options — Rick Petersen prepays for his hotel room in Duluth, Minn., through Hotwire.com. But a few months later, he’s charged for it — again. Now, neither the hotel nor Hotwire seem to care about fixing the double-billing error. Is Petersen out of options? (From The Troubleshooter)
5 reasons to travel during the 2008 holidays — Here’s a holiday travel forecast you probably won’t read anywhere else: This fall and winter could be the best ever for travel. (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
BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
3 secrets to avoiding a vacation rental scam — Carole Hunter thought the $1,950 for a weekly rental in San Francisco was too good to be true. She was right. The condo didn’t exist. (From Elliott Blog)
Conferences help companies rip off customers without losing them — If you thought airlines weren’t following a secret playbook when they dumped a truckload of new fees on you this year — if you thought all of this was just part of their corporate DNA — then you might want to think again. It turns out there are places where travel companies go to learn this stuff. (From Elliott Blog)
Do travel Web sites discriminate against non-English users? — Yes they do, according to a new survey by travel marketing firm Oban. Travel sites ignore the needs of international users by offering English-only pages, the study concluded. That could be causing travelers extra frustrations — and costing these sites business. (From Elliott Blog)
And the award for tardiest airline of the summer goes to … — … American Airlines, according to a report released late today by FlightStats. Less than two-thirds of its flights — 64.55 percent — were considered on-time. An eye-popping 16.20 percent of its flights were more than 44 minutes late. (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.
ON TRIPSO | Blog postings from the last honest travel site.
Cases of airport “rage” on the rise worldwide — Airport “rage” is apparently all the rage. A recent report in Australia’s The Age suggests that angry outbursts by passengers is close to reaching epidemic levels. (From Tripso)
Turned away from a hotel? You’re in good company — Hotels don’t always make headlines for turning away guests. But there are notable exceptions. Like the Metro Hotel in Surrey, England, which showed a wounded veteran the door because of a misguided “no military” policy. (From Tripso)
As airlines reduce fall flights, passengers are making cuts of their own — At any other time of the year, the “A” concourse at Orlando International Airport would be packed with passengers returning from their Disney vacations. But this isn’t any other time of the year. It’s September — the best time of the year to fly. (From Tripso)
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
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.
Having technical trouble? Please send a note describing your problem we’ll do our best to help.
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.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
I'm on Facebook: Please "like" 
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? If you're having trouble with a travel business - any business - and you've reached a dead end, maybe I can help. Send me an