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

May 7, 2001

> Inside

* Destroying the Final Frontier?
* Become an Underwriter
* Debit Card Tip
* Travel Content: Dead or Alive?
* Ouch! Mobile Users Zap Columnist
* DUI in the Sky
* Turn it Off
* Here's Your Answer
* Riley: Guarded Travel
* Perkins: What Price Airline Meals?
* Brancatelli: Bare Knuckles and Iron Fists

> This Week in Travel

** Destroying the Final Frontier?
Dennis Tito, the Los Angeles financial adviser who spent a fortune to visit the International Space Station, returned to earth last week. After touching down in Kazakhstan, he told reporters that being in space couldn't be described. "It is [like] being in a different world," he gushed. Let's hope he stays tongue-tied, because the more he talks, the more the U.S. tourism industry perks up to the possibilities of space tourism. Imagine paying $20 million to endure surly service and eat awful food - for six days. It's not much different from today's average business trip, when you think about it. - CE

> By the Way

** Become an Underwriter
Elliott.org is one of the few remaining online publications that troubleshoots your travel-related gripes. For nearly three years, it has published ChrisCrossings, an irreverent question-and-answer feature that acts as both an advocate and adviser. How much does the site charge for the service? Nothing. As a not-for-profit, elliott.org collects no money from readers or advertisers in exchange for the column. Instead, it relies on underwriters like you to cover research and editorial costs. So during this May pledge drive, consider supporting The Last Honest Travel Site. Your gift of $5, $20 or $50 will help underwrite quality consumer advocacy journalism. Click on http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay/TPAI2PPMO7FZN

> Elliott's Cheap Travel Tip

** Debit Card Tip
This week's cheap travel tip comes from Shel Horowitz, author of "The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook" (http://www.frugalfun.com). Those of you heading to Europe this summer (we pity you!) should consider using a debit card for getting local currency. Says Horowitz: "It's cheaper and faster than any other method, in my experience." Not only that, but the exchange rate is far more favorable than at the airport money-exchange kiosks, which routinely take a generous commission for their services.

> Our Sponsor

** SmarterLiving.com
Find the best travel deals of the web for airfare, hotels, car rentals and more to save you the time of searching the net. Sign up for free newsletter alerts for last-minute airfare bargains from your departure city of choice, travel specials from airlines, hotels and vacation providers, frequent flier mile earning info, and more. Join now for free and receive special travel discounts from our partners! Visit http://www.SmarterLiving.com/Elliott0501

> Elliott's Commentary

** Travel Content: Dead or Alive?
This week's online travel news, as cartoonist Walt Kelly might have put it, is us. Not only is this column ending after more than five years of covering the interactive travel business. So is its competitor, The Industry Standard's Tech Traveler newsletter. When you consider the anemic demand for travel-related information in general, you're left to wonder if the battle between commerce and content hasn't been won. Read the farewell installment of Inside Interactive Travel at http://www.elliott.org/interactive/2001/dead.htm

** Ouch! Mobile Users Zap Columnist
I wasn't kidding. I really do believe portable phones should be restricted at airports, if not banned altogether, as I suggested in last week's column. I think phone-free terminals will make airports safer, saner places, and I'm not going to back down from my conclusion that curbing loudmouth wireless callers is a reasonable idea. But who cares what I think? You obviously couldn't wait to weigh in with your opinions, and let me tell you, you didn't hold back. Read this week's Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2001/bancellphones2.htm

** DUI in the Sky
A witness to an altercation between a drunken passenger and a flight attendant wonders who's responsible for the mile-high melee. Is it the airline, the flight attendant, or the passenger? Travel critic Chris Elliott tries to sort it all out in this week's column. Read the details in ChrisCrossings at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2001/crbooze.htm

> PS

** Turn it Off
Becoming an underwriter isn't much different than supporting your public radio or TV programming. At the $5 and $20 level, your name is acknowledged on the site as a benefactor. This week, the first three $50 donors will receive a copy of Gil Gordon's new book "Turn it Off: How to Unplug from the Anytime-Anywhere Office Without Disconnecting Your Career" (http//www.turnitoff.com). Since the online system elliott.org uses to administer its underwriting program is completely anonymous, you will need to send your transaction ID, name and mailing address to underwrite@elliott.org in order to qualify for the premium.

> Audio Commentary

** Here's Your Answer
Tired of annoying mobile phone users? Here's one unorthodox solution, courtesy of an Israel-based company. (Of course, it could be illegal.) Click on Outtakes from the Laptop Traveler at http://www.elliott.org/audio/outtakes/2001/answer.mp3

> Other Voices

** Riley: Guarded Travel
There are many safe travelers on the road, reports Ticked.com security expert Terry Riley. Granted, they usually got religion after having been victimized or having experienced a close call or two. Nevertheless, they now exercise a fair amount of caution while traveling. But there's another group - Riley calls them the "Dufuses" - made up of travelers who are clueless about travel in general and safety in particular. Are you one of them? Click on http://ticked.com/errtravel/2001/errdick.htm

** Perkins: What Price Airline Meals?
Would you pay $8.21 for a dinner on American Airlines? Or $3.14 for lunch on U.S. Airways? Or 23 cents for a bag of peanuts on Southwest? That's what those airlines spent on each passenger for meals last year, reports SmarterLiving.com columnist Ed Perkins. And while cost isn't always a measure of quality, it's a pretty good indicator of how well you'll fare when mealtime arrives. At http://www.smarterliving.com/columns/ed/What20010503.1.html

** Brancatelli: Bare Knuckles and Iron Fists
A federal district judge in Wichita, Kansas, issued an important ruling on the state of airline competition last week. If we have any hope of saving the nation's air-transportation system from the iron-fisted grip of just two or three airlines, then we'd better start thinking about how we come to terms with his pronouncement, reports Biztravel.com's Joe Brancatelli. Click on http://www.biztravel.com

** Heard a Rumor? Got News?
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.

> Other Sponsors

** 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/

** The FrequentFlier Crier
Want to travel faster, safer, smarter, cheaper, better... and earn more frequent flier miles in the process? Every week, The FrequentFlier Crier delivers travel news you can use: frequent flyer program updates, special fares, industry news and trends. Sign up free at http://frequentflier.com/subscribe.htm

** 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

** Bonjour Paris
It's a virtual trip to France for lovers of all things Parisian and French. Find travel information, food, wine and hotel tips, as well as lively cultural information. On the interactive side, the site features French lessons, hosts French language chats and English language theme chats. Want to know about Paris must-sees and destinations throughout France, meet fellow Francophiles and travel virtually to Paris? Click on http://www.bonjourparis.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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