July 11, 2007

ELLIOTT’S E-MAIL
First aid for travel
July 11, 2007

How do you feel about getting bumped? If you’re sick and tired of airlines that cavalierly oversell flights and deny confirmed customers a seat on the plane, then now is the time to speak up. The Transportation Department is soliciting comments from people like you about a proposed rule change. I have details in this week’s blog. There’s a brand-new Travel Troubleshooter, too and lots more on the bumping theme.

» Read this week’s newsletter online.

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

Burning question … What I like the most about travel in 2007 is [fill in the blank]. You’ve read enough about all the bad stuff happening to travelers this summer. But what’s good about travel? Send me a note or shoot me an IM (celliottlive on AIM).

Sign up for the RSS feed! You don’t have to wait until Wednesday to get the great content from Ellipses and the Travel Troubleshooter. Subscribe for Elliott’s RSS feed and you’ll get the news as it happens.

SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline

A surprise fee for Fido — The fee to check in Kurt Low’s dog is $100 on American Airlines — at least according to its Web site. But on Low’s return flight, an agent insists he pay $80 more to transport his pet. Low pays the fee, but then asks the airline for a refund. Two refusals later, is Low out of luck? (From The Troubleshooter)

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 Ellipses

Do travel sites stink? Survey says: yes — The Conference Board’s latest numbers about online travel booking have been released, and they tell us what we already know: travel sites more or less suck. (From Ellipses)

Government says airline bumping rules could be revised — Here’s your chance to let the government know how you’d change the rules on airline oversales — better known as bumping. The U.S. Department of Transportation is asking for for public comments on possible rule changes. You can go to its Web site tomorrow, type in the docket number OST-01-9325, and leave your comments. (From Ellipses)

Another site jettisons airline booking fees — It’s official: those unpopular but pervasive booking fees charged for airline tickets are taking a vacation. Hotwire.com today is expected to announce that it is eliminating its $6-per-ticket surcharge on all flights this summer. (From Ellipses)

How to get a travel company to stop spamming you — When you make a reservation online, your e-mail address is captured by the airline, car rental company, cruise line or hotel. Where it goes after that is anyone’s guess. But Mark Stechbart knows where his address ended up. After making a reservation at a Ramada property last year, it landed in an enormous marketing database, which has been spamming him with unwanted messages ever since. (From Ellipses)

Has the travel industry stopped listening to its customers? — Here’s an intriguing question raised by readers of my weekly newsletter: Has the travel industry stopped listening to ts its customers? The answer, many believe, is “yes.” (From Ellipses)

FLASHBACK | A retrospective from the Elliott archives

The bump grind Overbooking tales from the archives

How to fly free — This column regularly dispenses advice about how to cut costs when you travel by air — an important public service during these cash-strapped times. But wouldn’t you really rather travel for free? (From Power Trip)

Airline bumping addicts — On their return trip from a conference, Timothy Johnston, his wife and two students traveling with them tried to connect in St. Louis to their scheduled flight back to Paducah, Ky. They couldn’t. (From Power Trip)

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 photo blog

Levitation — Iden levitates a rubber ball at the Universal Studios’ Curious George attraction. Getting in an out of the building with photographic equipment, without getting wet, was a trick. (Hint: follow the monkey footprints if you don’t want to get doused.)

The final frontier — Aren at the Kennedy Space Center, where he endured triple-digit temperatures to indulge his old man’s photography hobby. Here is is, looking slightly unhappy next to the fountain of constellations. (“Now can I have a drink, Dad?”)

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Elliott’s E-Mail is published 50 times a year by Christopher Elliott. (c) 2007 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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