10 questions most frequently asked by travelers

David Harm is worried about his wife’s ticket to Omsk, Russia. When he made her reservation through Aeroflot’s Web site, his finger slipped — “I hit the ‘L’ key instead of the ‘K’ key” — and misspelled his wife’s last name (“Slirtenko” instead of “Skirtenko”).

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Should airlines honor low fares that are obvious mistakes?

Royce Smith planned to visit Sydney during spring break to attend an arts festival and work on a book, when he found an unbelievably good fare on American Airlines’ Web site: A round-trip ticket from Wichita to Sydney for just $1,198. In first class.

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A canceled flight … so where’s my refund?

Nallan Chari’s flight is canceled, but his online agency is dragging its feet on a refund. The reason? The airlines involved, including Continental Airlines and Jet Airways, haven’t sent the money to the agency yet. How much longer should Chari wait?

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What’s new on Elliott: Where’s my refund, surviving the “Comet” and what’s the deal with the iPad?

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Find the best insurance policy for your next trip! Please visit our underwriter, Travel Insurance Review, where you can get articles, reviews, and guides to help you find an insurance policy [...]

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How to survive seat #4 on the “Comet” without passing out

The “Comet” is not an amusement park ride. It’s the real thing — a full-length rip-roaring, 15-curve bobsled run at Utah’s Olympic Park in Park City. And I’ve got the bruises to prove it.

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Without power ports, is in-flight Wi-Fi doomed?

The wireless signal from the Gogo Inflight Internet service is coming in loud and clear, but I’m not buying it. Not this time. My MacBook Pro has a pathetic two hours of battery life at best, and the flight from Orlando to Salt Lake City takes twice as long.

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What does Apple’s new iPad mean for travelers?

I’ve been following today’s announcement about Apple’s new iPad, and wondering what all of this means for travelers.

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“They seem to have no compassion”

Air travelers seem to delight in poking fun of people who ride the bus, but as someone who has driven coast-to-coast on Greyhound a time or two, I can tell you it was safe, efficient and inexpensive. Oh, and really long.

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Department of Homeland Security to visitors: Are you a terrorist or a Nazi?

As of this month, visitors to the United States who don’t require a visa must fill out a Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). No one seems to like ESTA, which has been called expensive and unnecessary. But has anyone bothered to take the look at the actual questions on the form?

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What’s new on Elliott: Good airline fees, where to find cheaper car rental rates, and DHS wants to know if you’re a terrorist

Yes, some airline fees em are worth paying. Plus, where to find a cheaper rental car, and Homeland Security wants to know if you’re a terrorist.

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There’s something fishy going on at Mama’s Fish House in Maui

The food may be terrific at Mama’s Fish House in Maui, but on a recent visit to the restaurant, Marie Ochadleus claims she got a lot more than that. Someone stole $2,500 worth of personal items from her cars, and she believes the business is responsible for her loss.

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Find a cheaper car rental rate away from the airport

Travelers are discovering that it pays to cast a wide net when they’re looking for affordable wheels.

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One year later, still no refund

Julianna Lipschutz cancels her British Airways flight when her father falls ill. He eventually dies, and Lipschutz is left with the hope that the airline will refund her nonrefundable ticket. But a year later, there’s still no refund. Is the airline going to keep her money?

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Is Hotwire’s new advertising slogan, “2 1/2-star hotels. 3-star prices.”?

Before you dismiss this latest story about a hotel ratings dispute as irrelevant, consider this: Changing a hotel’s star rating by just a fraction can translate into millions of dollars of revenue to an online travel company. So every half-point counts. It certainly does to Sugi Harto, who found himself booked at the Fairfield Inn Placentia through Hotwire recently.

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New on Elliott: Hotel fees that must die, Hotwire’s new advertising slogan and DOT comes to the rescue

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Need travel clothes? Please visit our newest underwriter, ScotteVest.com, where you can discover the ultimate travel clothing for the trip of your life – multiple hidden pockets and tech features. Sign [...]

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