January 3, 2007

ELLIOTT’S E-MAIL
Travel tips, news and information
January 3, 2007

’07? Oh yeah! Welcome to another year, and to 50 more informative, irreverent issues of Elliott’s E-Mail. By the time the dust settles on 2007, we may have lost an airline or two — and who knows, perhaps even a car rental company as well. But I think it’s gonna be a great ride. “Your future,” says Christopher Lloyd in ‘Back to the Future Part III’, “is whatever you make it.” And I feel unusually optimistic about our future as travelers we head into 2007. I think we’re going to make it a good one. A very good one. Thanks for coming along.

» Read this week’s newsletter online.

FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel

Burning question … Airlines and weather delays. Been stranded on a stopover in Denver lately? Then you know that airlines don’t have to do anything if the weather prevents them from leaving on time. No hotels, no meals. Not even a phone card. This week, I’m wondering if you think that’s right. If it is, why? If not, what should the airlines offer when weather plays havoc on their schedule — and yours? Please send me a note. As always, don’t forget to include your full name and contact information. Your story might be used in a future article.

Talk to me. I’m here to help, and now there are more ways to get in touch with me. Send me an instant message on Google mail (elliottc@gmail.com) or use your AIM account to do a regular chat or video chat. My screen name is celliottlive. (And just a programming note, I’ll be out of the office on Wednesday and available intermittently through Tuesday morning. After that, I’m back at my station with an always-on green light.)

SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline

An unhappy birthday surprise — Yuri Kostun’s wife surprises him with a birthday trip to Las Vegas. And what a surprise it is. The name on the itinerary is hers, not her husband’s, even though she specified that the trip was for her spouse. Expedia insists she made the reservations in her name. Who’s right? (From The Travel Troubleshooter)

Total price? Not even close — George Letts is quoted a price of 242 pounds for a rental car in London, but when he arrives at the car rental counter, the rate is suddenly 152 pounds higher. What’s with the funny math? And who is responsible, his travel agent or the car rental company? (From The Travel Troubleshooter)

Bare fares aren’t the ticket — United is considering stripping away services that passengers now take for granted. Travel commentator Christopher Elliott says charging people extra to check their bags will only leave the airline exposed. (From Public radio)

Avis adds Wi-Fi to cars — Autonet Mobile, a start-up wireless technology company based in San Francisco, is expected to announce this week that it has reached an agreement with Avis Rent A Car System to provide a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot to Avis customers by March. For $10.95 a day, Avis will issue motorists a notebook-size portable device that plugs into a car’s power supply and delivers a high-speed Internet connection. (From The New York Times)

I’m elite, you’re not — An elite-level frequent flier card used to be a passport to a better flying experience, offering access to special waiting areas, preferred seating and priority first-class upgrades. But lately, frequent flier status has come to represent something else to many business travelers: a de facto insurance policy against more declines in customer service.
(From The New York Times)

It takes good acting to hide travel stress — When someone is auditioning for a part in a theatrical production, I can usually tell if they’re right for the role in a minute or less. How can I know so quickly?” Casting 40 shows a year helps. But I have another secret: I travel a lot. On the road, you see some of the best acting. And the worst. (From The New York Times)

Doing the impossible — If you think planning a business trip is stressful, try organizing one for thousands of people. At once. Meeting planners like me do it every day. But when you’ve pulled it off so many times that it looks easy, then people start asking for more. (From The New York Times)

BLOGGED | New posts on CSR and Ellipses

New for ’07: Tripso — Tripso, the travel news and commentary site that I helped start, has a new look for 2007. You can see the completely redesigned Web site here. If you haven’t visited in a while, it’s definitely worth a click. (From Ellipses)

Welcome to 2007 — It’s another year. Are you ready? Well, I kept my promise to not post anything to my blog during the holidays. My family had threatened to chain me to the tree and play that annoying Christmas Chipmunk CD repeatedly if I failed to comply. That can be very persuasive. (From Ellipses)

FLASHBACK | A retrospective from the Elliott archives

Food. We’ve eaten enough of it. Now let’s read about it.

5 business lunch faux pas — The recipe for a successful business meal seems deceptively easy. “Let’s meet for lunch,” you tell a client or associate. You get together. You talk business. Sounds simple enough. But you know better. (From Power Trip)

5 ways to cut meal costs — On a recent visit to Palm Beach, Fla., I had a rare opportunity to dine at L’Escalier, a five-diamond French restaurant at The Breakers. Its menu featured exotic dishes like duck confit in feuille de brique and deux souffles, the wine list was heavier than an encyclopedia, and the service impeccable. If I could eat this way every time I traveled, I’d never stay home. (From The Travel Tightwad)

Fast food rules on the road — Michael Robinson hates fast food. But when he travels, his disdain for hamburgers and French fries seems to melt away like a slice of cheese on a Big Mac. “I have a very difficult time with fast food in general,” says the Washington media consultant. (From The Travel Critic)

TALKBACK | How to sound off about this site

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» Send me an e-mail.

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Elliott’s E-Mail is published 50 times a year by Christopher Elliott. (c) 2006 Christopher Elliott.

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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