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ELLIOTT'S E-MAIL
The Last Honest Travel Newsletter
http://www.elliott.org

April 2, 2001

> Inside

* Have We Lost Our Minds? 'O' Yeah!
* Travel Agent Provocateur
* Sorry, PRSA
* Two Great Hits
* Spring Cleaning Brings Surprises
* Two-Faced Laptop Policy
* Disabled on Delta
* The Coast in a Convertible
* Avoid Laptop Theft
* Hobica: Finding Comfort in Economy Class
* Riley: Enough AAlready!

> This Week in Travel

** Have We Lost Our Minds? 'O' Yeah!
I can't bring myself to mentioning the 'O' word - Orbitz - but there I go again. This week's news that consumers will be forced to pay an estimated $3.2 billion more in higher airfares as a result of the airline conspiracy is laughable. The hype kind of reminds me of another project, the ill-fated Business Travel Contractor's Corp., which sought to bring airline "net" fares to corporate travel agencies in 1994. What, you haven't heard of BTCC? My point exactly. If history is any indicator, then Orbitz could well go the way of the soft drink after which it was named. 'O' is an idea whose time has come and gone, and all this posturing is much ado about nothing. - CE

** Heard a Rumor? Got a Tip?
If you've come across any interesting travel or technology-related news, let us know at Elliott's E-Mail. We'll check it out. Send a note to editor@elliott.org or call (410) 626-9618.

> By the Way

** Travel Agent Provocateur
This newsletter's relationship with travel agents has always been volatile, to say the least. One week, retailers fill the e-mail "in" box with flames, the next, with praise. But last week's responses to a column on card mills - read the whole thing at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2001/crmill.htm - was particularly gratifying. Readers thanked me for noting the value of a good travel agent. I've really always felt that way, but maybe I just don't say it enough. I'll have to work on that.

** Sorry, PRSA
Because of a scheduling error, I won't be able to attend the panel discussion at the Public Relations Society of America's Travel and Tourism Conference in New York next week. I'd like to apologize to all those who were expecting to see me there, but also offer my assurances that we've found someone to replace me who, I believe, will be an even better panelist than I would have been.

** Two Great Hits
Elliott's E-Mail is very grateful to Mary Orlin and JoBeth McDaniel, who wrote about the newsletter and Web site in this month's issue of Travelocity magazine and Working Woman magazine, respectively. It's a real honor.

> Our Sponsor

** Travelsucks.com
If you hate paying too much for airfare, you'll want to subscribe one of Travelsucks.com's travel bargain newsletters. The site now offers 63 different newsletters that list bargain airfare by geographic areas. And while you're there, you won't want to miss the travel nightmares submitted by readers. Click on http://travelsucks.com/travelbargains.html

> Elliott's Commentary

** Spring Cleaning Brings Surprises
Nothing in the online travel business is as predictable as the annual spring-cleaning ritual. Every March, without fail, some of the best-known brands in our business give their electronic storefronts a once-over. But this year, things are different. In this week's Inside Interactive Travel at http://www.elliott.org/interactive/2001/spring.htm

** Two-Faced Laptop Policy
It would be easy to dismiss Jennifer Grace as just another victim of a laptop computer theft. Like the 319,000 other casualties reported by the insurance agency Safeware last year, hers is an unfortunate and agonizing loss. On a two-day visit to a Seattle hotel late last year the Washington marketing executive lost her $3,500 Micron notebook computer in a burglary. Read this week's "best of" Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2000/theft.htm

** Disabled on Delta
His oxygen-dependent wife needs to get from Tampa to New York's JFK, but Delta Air Lines is giving them the runaround. What are their rights? What are the airline's responsibilities? Chris Elliott tries to sort it all out. And he also offers suggestions for passengers who may wonder what they can ask for if they're disabled. Get the details in this week's installment of ChrisCrossings at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2001/crdisabled.htm

** The Coast in a Convertible
If someone handed you the keys to a late model convertible that had never been driven and cut you loose on Florida's West Coast in late January, what would you do? Forget business and hit the road? My thoughts exactly. So you won't blame me for putting 600 miles on that Chrysler Sebring convertible last week. Or for permanently lowering the top, even when the mercury dipped below 70 degrees. In the archives at http://www.elliott.org/vault/destinations/westcoast.html

> Audio Commentary

** Avoid Laptop Theft
Don't become another statistic by having your laptop computer stolen. Here are three proven tips to prevent your PC from getting ripped off. Get more in this week's Outtakes from the Laptop Traveler at http://www.elliott.org/audio/outtakes/2001/laptoptheft.mp3

> Other Voices

** Hobica: Finding Comfort in Economy Class
Fortune's George Hobica notes that the word "travel" comes from the Middle English verb for "toil," travailen, and also is related to the modern French verb for "work," travailler. Not surprising, since back in the bad old days, travel was even harder work than it is today. However, there are ways to make air travel on a budget, in particular, more comfortable; little steps anyone can take without doing much work at all. Click on http://www.fsb.com/fortunesb/articles/0,2227,1523,00.html

** Riley: Enough AAlready!
Ticked.com's security expert Terry Riley noticed in a recent news release that Dr. David McKenas, American Airlines' medical director, had introduced a program where sickies can drag a nurse along with them on an American Airlines flight for a discounted fare. That sounds like an admirable enough program, but what's the deal with the name: Skycaare? At first he thought that this must have been a typo that found its way into a news release. But, because he read about it in so many places, he dismissed this as the reason for the double "aa." For more, go to http://www.ticked.com/errtravel/2001/erraalready.htm

> Other Sponsors

** RoadNews.com
Subscribe to the Laptop Warrior Digest, a free monthly e-mail discussion list newsletter published by Roadnews.com that shares reader exchanges on today's hot mobile computing issues. Sign up for the newsletter at http://www.roadnews.com/html/Digest/i-lw-signup.htm or check out past topics at http://www.roadnews.com/html/Digest/archive-index.htm

** AirJet Airline News
This issue of Elliott's E-Mail is also underwritten by AirJet Airline News, the largest electronic airline news magazine on the Internet. News updated hourly at http://www.airlinebiz.com/wire/

** WeBeenThere.com
Because you've waited a long time for this vacation and you don't need any surprises. Webeenthere.com provides an extensive list of expert travel agents with firsthand information and the personalized service necessary to plan a perfect "no surprises" vacation for every traveler. All of its agents have gone through a rigorous screening process to ensure that their expert knowledge is up-to-date and extensive. Click on http://www.webeenthere.com

> Your Opinion Matters

Read something you disagree with? Got a story idea or a gripe? Your opinion can make a difference. E-mail us at editor@elliott.org or call (410) 626-9618 with any comments, feedback or suggestions about anything in this newsletter. Your participation won't just make it a better service, but it could also improve travel.

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