ELLIOTT’S E-MAIL
Travel tips, news and information
January 31, 2007
Do air travelers need a bill of rights? Duh! But this week, it looks as if passengers have their best shot at getting one in years — maybe even since airline deregulation. So what should you do about it? Let your representatives know how you feel about the need for a passenger rights bill. Here’s how.
» Read this week’s newsletter online.
FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel
Burning question … Wanna write a law? Rep. Mike Thompson is expected to unveil a passenger bill of rights today. What do you want to see in it? What shouldn’t they put in the rules? Your thoughts, please. Send me a note or shoot me an IM (celliottlive on AIM).
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
An airfare bait-and-switch? — The advertised price of a one-way airline ticket from Boston to Moscow is $644 on OneTravel.com. But after one passenger buys the ticket, the fare jumps to $2,000. And when the passenger refuses to pay the difference, the online agency balks at his request for a refund. What should he do? (From The Travel Troubleshooter)
Hanni: ‘People are tired of being lied to’ — Kate Hanni was just another Jane Q. Public when she boarded American Airlines Flight 1348 on New Year’s weekend. But after enduring what’s been called the “flight from hell” with her husband and two children — a 57-hour odyssey that included nearly nine grueling hours on the tarmac in Austin, Texas — Ms. Hanni has become the poster girl for the passenger rights movement. Christopher Elliott recently spoke with her to find out how an unassuming real estate broker from Napa, Calif., became the nation’s best hope for passing meaningful passenger-rights legislation. (From First Person)
Taking a stand — and losing my seat — Nothing gives your principles a workout like a business trip. Taking a stand for your beliefs isn’t easy when you’re outside of your comfort zone, but the rewards can be significant. (From The New York Times)
BLOGGED | New posts on CSR and Ellipses
What’s next for the bill of rights — Even though an airline passenger bill of rights is an idea whose time has finally come, the legislation that’s about to be introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson and backed by the Coalition for Airline Passenger’s Bill of Rights, faces some formidable obstacles. (From Ellipses)
Bill of rights on the way — I just got off the phone with Kate Hanni of the Coalition for Airline Passenger’s Bill of Rights, and she told me that a press conference is planned for Wednesday with Rep. Mike Thompson in Washington at which a passenger’s bill of rights will be introduced. (From Ellipses)
The truth about the bill of rights — Ever since the Carter administration deregulated the U.S. airline industry, there’s been a push to reregulate the nation’s carriers. All have failed — until now. (From Ellipses)
The free upgrade that isn’t — I’ve been on the receiving end of several emails from American Airlines frequent fliers who are steamed that effective March 1, a nonrefundable “co-payment” of $150 will be required to claim upgrade awards used with some economy-class fares when traveling between North America and Hawaii. (From Ellipses)
Ground those rugrats! — IThere’s more fallout from the AirtTran-kicks-family-off-plane incident, which has galvanized the traveling public like nothing since the TSA’s silly liquid-and-gel ban.(From Ellipses)
FLASHBACK | A retrospective from the Elliott archives
Do we need a passenger rights bill? Here’s a look at past attempts to pass legislation.
Airline reform takes off — Deregulation didn’t work. Whether you’re a free-market capitalist, a middle-of-the-road moderate or a Big Government socialist, you’ve gotta admit that we’re no better off now than we were two decades ago, when the Carter administration loosened the federal government’s grip on the airline industry. (From The Travel Critic)
Fight the power — Don’t just sit there while the major airlines merge into a monolithic megacarrier. Do something. It’s fine to agree with the pundits who last week denounced the proposed alliances-between Delta and United, American and US Airways, and Continental and Northwest-as cartels or monopolies. But don’t let it end there.
(From The Travel Critic)
POSTCARDS | The latest from Elliott’s personal photo blog
How about a hug? — You look like you could use a big bear hug right about now, bro. Come over here!
Going up — The playground is my favorite place to hang out on the weekend. I can climb the stairs to the slide all by myself — more or less.
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:
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Elliott’s E-Mail is published 50 times a year by Christopher Elliott. (c) 2006 Christopher Elliott.
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