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

March 5, 2001

> Inside

* Happy Travels, Part II
* Roaming Horror Stories
* Outtakes from the Laptop Traveler
* Is Windows ME For You?
* Online Travel's Long, Strange Trip
* Turn it On
* Bugged by Buggies
* OS Troubles
* Laptop Checkpoints
* Hobica: Strike-Proof Your Next Trip
* Brancatelli: Submitted for Your Approval
* Riley: Costa Rica Crimes


> This Week in Travel

** Happy Travels, Part II
Last week's unusually cheery commentary left a few of you shell-shocked and wondering "Where's Crabby?" He's still here. But before inviting him back, it's worth noting one other upbeat news item. Palmair European - an airline with just one plane - recently took top honors in a customer service survey, as reported by Britain's Daily Express. How could a one-aircraft operation fare so well? The airline's founder, Peter Bath, personally greets passengers when they depart. He's also removed a whole row of seats so all of his customers have more legroom. So to all of our friends in the U.S. airline industry who are still wondering why they never win any decent awards, we'd be happy to put you in touch with Mr. Barth. - CE

> By the Way

** Roaming Horror Stories
Ever been overbilled for roaming outside your cell phone's service area? If you have and you'd like to be part of a story about roaming charges, here's your chance. E-mail feedback@elliott.org with your experience, and don't forget to include your full name, city and a good contact phone number.

** Outtakes from the Laptop Traveler
This week, the audio feature called "Outtakes from the Travel Technologist" becomes "Outtakes from the Laptop Traveler." It remains a one-minute commentary delivered in MP3 format. However, it will now also be syndicated at LatopTravel.com (http://www.laptoptravel.com).

> Our Sponsors

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

** RoadNews.com
Elliott's E-Mail is also sponsored by 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

> Elliott's Commentary

** Is Windows ME For You?
It's not as if we have a choice. If we buy a new laptop computer, we're stuck with Windows Millennium Edition, the operating system released by Bill Gates and company last fall. A few of us will buy a PC running Windows 2000, the sequel to Windows NT, while a few others will think different and get a Macintosh. And yet we like to pretend that we've got a choice. Read this week's Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2001/os.htm

** Online Travel's Long, Strange Trip
Two cancellations didn't kill it. Neither could a horde of furious suppliers or the flames of a thousand angry readers. As improbable as it would seem, this column - the Energizer Bunny of online travel - turns five this week. Hard to believe, isn't it? This feature was there at almost the very beginning, documenting the rise of Internet travel, profiling the personalities behind the sites and analyzing the industry before there were industry analysts. In this week's Inside Interactive Travel at http://www.elliott.org/interactive/2001/trip.htm

** Turn it On
Why do you have to turn your laptop computer on at an airport security checkpoint? Good question, and as answer guy Chris Elliott learns, the answer is somewhat disturbing. Go behind the scenes at the airport and find out about the outmoded techniques and equipment that airlines use to screen passengers. And see where all the shenanigans could lead if something isn't done about it. Get details in this week's installment of ChrisCrossings at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2001/crscreen.htm

** Bugged by Buggies
Forget air safety. Travelers should worry about airport safety, to hear people like Leo Cole talk about it. "Those darned carts that are supposedly for the handicapped or the elderly are a menace," complains the Memphis, Tenn., salesman. "Every time you turn around, one is about to run over you." Cole's close calls with the electric buggies - he says they often approach from behind in a crowded terminal and push their way past him - thankfully haven't resulted in any injuries. But others haven't been so lucky. In this week's column from the vault at http://www.elliott.org/vault/critic/1998/buggies.htm

> Audio Commentaries

** OS Troubles
All those problems you're having with your laptop - it may be your operating system, not your hardware that's to blame. Find out how to pick a good OS in this week's Outtakes from the Laptop Traveler at http://www.elliott.org/audio/outtakes/2001/os.mp3

** Laptop Checkpoints
Heard the one about the laptop thieves at the X-ray machines? Forget about it. That's the least of your worries when you pass through an airport security checkpoint. Hear the whole thing in Outtakes from the Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/audio/critic/2001/laptop.mp3

> Other Voices

** Hobica: Strike-Proof Your Next Trip
Chances are good that sometime in the next few weeks or months, a major airline will go on strike. In early February, Delta's pilots voted to authorize a walkout, although they haven't struck yet. Northwest's machinists are in a cooling-off period. At American and United, various unions are in contract negotiations, but already tensions are rising. Fortune's George Hobica tells you how to avoid getting caught in the crossfire at http://www.fsb.com/fortunesb/articles/0,2227,1462,00.html

** Brancatelli: Submitted for Your Approval
Joe Brancatelli is doing his best Rod Serling impression this week. You're invited along for the ride on Biztravel.com. These really are days when he thinks the travel business is The Twilight Zone. So, read on ... at your own peril. Click on http://misc.biztravel.com/content/news_and_views/branc/01/030101branc.htm

** Riley: Costa Rica Crimes
Ticked.com security expert Terry Riley wanted to see a rainforest before they had all been processed into Adirondack furniture for baby-boom executives in the Hamptons. He and his wife chose to visit Costa Rica for their rainforest "experience" because of, among other reasons, the reputation it enjoys as a fairly safe country - especially when compared to its neighbors. Yeah, right. At http://www.ticked.com/errtravel/2001/errcosta.htm

> 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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