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

October 1, 2001

> Inside

* Why Travel Now?
* New Column Lineup
* Site Redesigned
* What did the Media Miss?
* Where are They Now?
* Steel Reefs: Chapter 4 Completed
* We Can't All Be Road Scholars
* Into Thin Air
* Ticket Tricks May Be Legal

> This Week in Travel

** Why Travel Now?
You didn't click on this site for a feel-good message about how we all need to travel more in this post-Sept. 11 world. But you're probably wondering - why bother? Why not stay home and out of danger? Leave the flying to passengers with a death wish. I could tell you that it's safe to travel, but that wouldn't be entirely accurate. Security at most airports sucks. I could tell you that it's your patriotic duty to travel, but despite what our president may suggest, it isn't. So, wiseguy ... why travel? I can only think of one reason, to be honest: because it's cheap. Airfares are coming down. It's a buyer's market for tickets. Take advantage of it. - CE

> By the Way

** New Column Lineup
Just when you thought - and maybe hoped - that the market for cutting-edge travel commentary was dead, I'm proud to announce a new fall column lineup on elliott.org. Don't let me bury the proverbial lead here: The Travel Technologist is back. So is Ask Chris, which is now called The Travel Troubleshooter. And I'm introducing a new feature, The Travel Tightwad, this week. It's a common-sense column about how to save money on the road. The columns will appear on The Last Honest Travel Site, SmarterLiving.com and in syndication. As part of this arrangement, I've also become a contributing editor to SmarterLiving.com.

** Site Redesigned
The Last Honest Travel site has a new look. It's even more streamlined and user-friendly to help you get the information you need quickly. Check it out at http://www.elliott.org and let me know what you think.

** What did the Media Miss?
If you've read one story about traveling in the wake of the terrorist attacks, you've probably read one too many. But what are the other media outlets missing? Have they covered everything - or is there something about travel that you're still curious about? Let me know. Send your thoughts to feedback@elliott.org and please include your full name, city and contact information.

** Where are They Now?
The untimely demise of Biztravel.com left more than this columnist displaced. Joe Brancatelli, who is hands-down the best business travel commentator in the industry, and frequent flier guru Randy Petersen, also found themselves without an outlet. Where are they now? I'm pleased to report that Randy is still alive and well at http://www.webflyer.com and that Joe has resurfaced on his site at http://www.zyworld.com/brancatelli/Home.htm

** Steel Reefs: Chapter 4 Completed
The manuscript for "Steel Reefs: How the Florida Keys Sunk the Spiegel Grove and Vandenberg" is now in its fourth chapter. Early last week I traveled to the James River Reserve Fleet to check out the mothballed Air Force ship Hoyt Vandenberg, which is scheduled to go down near Key West soon. For photos and more details on the project, click on http://www.elliott.org/about/book.htm

> Elliott's Cheap Travel Tip

** No Sale? Look Closer
The skeptics e-mailed last week asking "where are the deals"? They assumed that the airlines would begin cutting prices the old-fashioned way, with blowout fare sales advertised in newspapers, maybe even on TV. But many of the deals, in fact, were to be had through travel Web sites and consolidators. The airlines know better than to advertise a big fare sale after getting $15 billion in federal bailout money. But that doesn't mean they haven't significantly reduced prices. Or that they will continue to do so.

> Our Sponsors

** The FrequentFlier Crier
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** Readers Like You
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> Elliott's Commentary

** We Can't All Be Road Scholars
The road can be a cruel, unforgiving teacher. Especially when it comes to technology. Take it from me. I'm writing this column from a public library as a direct result of one of the road's more painful lessons. My laptop computer, which I depended on for this trip, is history-the victim of dreaded OS decay. Yesterday evening when I tried to boot the Gateway Solo up it screamed at me-"Beep! Beep! Beep!"-revealing only a dark screen and a clicking hard drive. In The Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2001/lessons.htm

** Into Thin Air
A reader is about to board an America West flight when the attendant informs her that she can't take her bags on the plane even though they meet the size and weight requirements. One thing leads to another, and soon $15,000 in computer equipment are missing - vanished into thin air. Now the airline is refusing to pay up. What to do? In The Travel Troubleshooter at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2001/crvanished.htm

** Ticket Tricks May Be Legal
Unless you're a travel industry insider, you've probably never heard of a "hidden city" or "back-to-back" itinerary. But these two ticket booking tricks can save you big money on your next vacation-sometimes more than 50 percent off the published fare. Which may be one reason you've never heard of them. Airlines claim that both hidden cities and back-to-back (or b2b) tickets are illegal because they're a violation of their tariff rules. They say travelers who take advantage of these loopholes are breaking their contract, and they've gone to great lengths to keep people like you from finding out about them. In The Travel Tightwad at http://www.elliott.org/tightwad/2001/b2b.htm

> Other Sponsors

** Notes from the Road
Social commentator and writer Erik Gauger uses photos and stories to get to the bottom of sometimes eerie, sometimes humorous cities and landscapes in Notes from the Road (http://www.notesfromtheroad.com), and award-winning site that illustrates travels in city and country. Track his journeys online or subscribe to his monthly newsletter at http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/join.htm

** AirJet Airline News
AirJet offers the most comprehensive coverage of the airline industry. No wonder it's the largest electronic airline news magazine on the Internet. News updated hourly at http://www.airlinebiz.com

** M-Travel
The stock markets are down. The luster is off the dot-coms. But the application of mobile technology in the travel industry is alive and well. Although still in its infancy, mobile travel sales and services will be the biggest thing in wireless commerce. Visit the only Web site devoted exclusively to mobile communications and travel technology. Free weekly e-mail newsletter. Go to: http://www.m-travel.com

> Your Opinion Matters

Read something you disagree with? Got a story idea or a gripe? Your opinion can make a difference. E-mail editor@elliott.org or call (305) 453-4781 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.

> Be an Underwriter!

This site relies on support from travelers like you. If you care about journalism that's uncompromising, cutting-edge and consumer-focused, then you're invited to become a member of elliott.org. Your contribution will help keep the Last Honest Travel Site operating. For more information, go to http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P34Z3D2F0Z734N

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