Comments on: 3 things travelers will lose and gain in this recession http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sniper http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-18673 Sniper Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:45:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6222#comment-18673 @ Roberto, "Airlines take note: I regularly drive 1.5 hours out of my way to fly Southwest instead of you dinosaur carriers because I hate getting dinged with these stupid baggage charges." Based on the numbers you provided, you are willing to spend at least 1.5 hours (and maybe 3 hours if that 1.5 is just one-way to the airport and does not include your return home from the airport) to save maybe $30. Dude, no offense, but time = money! Setting aside the direct cost of driving 1.5 (or 3) hours (gas, oil, wear & tear, etc.) you are valuing your free time at a measly $10 to $20/hour. I don't know you, but take my word for it - you are worth more than that! @ Roberto, “Airlines take note: I regularly drive 1.5 hours out of my way to fly Southwest instead of you dinosaur carriers because I hate getting dinged with these stupid baggage charges.”

Based on the numbers you provided, you are willing to spend at least 1.5 hours (and maybe 3 hours if that 1.5 is just one-way to the airport and does not include your return home from the airport) to save maybe $30.

Dude, no offense, but time = money!

Setting aside the direct cost of driving 1.5 (or 3) hours (gas, oil, wear & tear, etc.) you are valuing your free time at a measly $10 to $20/hour.

I don’t know you, but take my word for it – you are worth more than that!

]]> By: Debo Hobo http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-18654 Debo Hobo Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:55:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6222#comment-18654 I've noticed that the extra roll of toilet tissue is no longer there. There once was a double roll side by side now it is a single..... I’ve noticed that the extra roll of toilet tissue is no longer there. There once was a double roll side by side now it is a single…..

]]> By: Roberto http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-18609 Roberto Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:44:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6222#comment-18609 Airlines take note: I regularly drive 1.5 hours out of my way to fly Southwest instead of you dinosaur carriers because I hate getting dinged with these stupid baggage charges. Airlines take note: I regularly drive 1.5 hours out of my way to fly Southwest instead of you dinosaur carriers because I hate getting dinged with these stupid baggage charges.

]]> By: Chicky http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-18608 Chicky Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:16:41 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6222#comment-18608 Amy, you said a mouthful, especially about luggage. I'm not about to check a bag if I can avoid it. However, my rollaboard meets the requirements for carry-on luggage, so I don't compound the problem by lugging my steamer trunk into the cabin. LOL. I'll say it again: if you must check a bag, make sure that anything of remote value goes with you in the cabin. Whether it's medication, jewelry, electronics, or just a gift with more sentimental than monetary value, do NOT allow it to be checked. Keep it in your hot little hands. Amy, you said a mouthful, especially about luggage. I’m not about to check a bag if I can avoid it. However, my rollaboard meets the requirements for carry-on luggage, so I don’t compound the problem by lugging my steamer trunk into the cabin. LOL.

I’ll say it again: if you must check a bag, make sure that anything of remote value goes with you in the cabin. Whether it’s medication, jewelry, electronics, or just a gift with more sentimental than monetary value, do NOT allow it to be checked. Keep it in your hot little hands.

]]> By: Amy http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-18604 Amy Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:02:17 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6222#comment-18604 The Good Hotel in San Francisco already has a solution for the little bottles - much larger filled dispensers in the shower and next to the sink. So if two people need to shampoo there is enough for both and it saves all the costs of packaging and disposal. Only loss is to the food bank at home where I usually drop off all the little soaps and shampoos. As far as charging for carry on, some small volume should stay free because there are somethings that cannot be checked and one does need some food, drink and entertainment on a flight, but there are just too many, too big bags that are getting on board now. However, the airlines should use better tracking for luggage. If Fedex, UPS and even the Post Office can track and know where a small package is at all times, how can something as big as a suitcase get lost? And even more importantly, Fedex, UPS and USPS packages do not get opened and the contents stolen!! As soon as the airlines stop stealing from our luggage, people will be very happy to let them schlepp all the bags, even for a fee. More stuff is carried on because that is the only way to be sure to still have it at the end of the flight. The Good Hotel in San Francisco already has a solution for the little bottles – much larger filled dispensers in the shower and next to the sink. So if two people need to shampoo there is enough for both and it saves all the costs of packaging and disposal. Only loss is to the food bank at home where I usually drop off all the little soaps and shampoos.

As far as charging for carry on, some small volume should stay free because there are somethings that cannot be checked and one does need some food, drink and entertainment on a flight, but there are just too many, too big bags that are getting on board now. However, the airlines should use better tracking for luggage. If Fedex, UPS and even the Post Office can track and know where a small package is at all times, how can something as big as a suitcase get lost? And even more importantly, Fedex, UPS and USPS packages do not get opened and the contents stolen!! As soon as the airlines stop stealing from our luggage, people will be very happy to let them schlepp all the bags, even for a fee. More stuff is carried on because that is the only way to be sure to still have it at the end of the flight.

]]> By: Brian Chow http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-18598 Brian Chow Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:41:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6222#comment-18598 There are a couple of airlines that I wouldn't miss if they disappeared, particularly the ones who adopt the cost-savings models of the no-frills airlines and neglect to adopt what really brings people back--excellent customer service. I find it interesting that a lot of the hotels that have decided to charge for Wi-Fi are supposed to be nicer properties with more amenities, while the smaller, more inexpensive independents gladly include it in the cost of the room. It wouldn't be so much of a problem if I could actually connect to the internet when I pay money. There are a couple of airlines that I wouldn’t miss if they disappeared, particularly the ones who adopt the cost-savings models of the no-frills airlines and neglect to adopt what really brings people back–excellent customer service.

I find it interesting that a lot of the hotels that have decided to charge for Wi-Fi are supposed to be nicer properties with more amenities, while the smaller, more inexpensive independents gladly include it in the cost of the room. It wouldn’t be so much of a problem if I could actually connect to the internet when I pay money.

]]> By: Joan Eisenstodt http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/3-things-travelers-will-lose-and-gain-in-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-18593 Joan Eisenstodt Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:08:29 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6222#comment-18593 Here's the thing: many of these add-ons won't benefit the millions of meetings held in the US throughout the year. Meetings contribute so much to the economy; Congress is attacking why they are held; meetings previously booked and still-to-be-booked need some kindness from hotel brands and the hotel owners. Here’s the thing: many of these add-ons won’t benefit the millions of meetings held in the US throughout the year. Meetings contribute so much to the economy; Congress is attacking why they are held; meetings previously booked and still-to-be-booked need some kindness from hotel brands and the hotel owners.

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