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Copyright Elliott Publishing. All rights reserved. For more information, call (305) 453-4781 or send e-mail to us.

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

September 22, 2001

> Inside

* Never Mind
* Regular Schedule Resumes Oct. 1
* How do You Feel About the Deals?
* Write and Wrong
* Travel Industry on Sale
* The Travel Technologist Logs Off
* Air Will They Allow Cell Phones on Planes?
* What's it Like to Fly?
* Hotel Hell

> This Week in Travel

** Never Mind
Never mind that the airline CEOs probably should be indicted for criminal negligence after last week's terrorist attacks instead of being rewarded with government subsidies. Congress has answered the clarion call of the airline lobby and is rallying to help an industry once awash in profits. There's little talk of reform in the $15-billion airline rescue package. Legislators are thoughtlessly spending our tax money, and we're likely to be repaid by an airline industry that will cut service, eliminate amenities and redouble efforts to lie to its customers. Talk about biting the hand that feeds it. - CE

> By the Way

** Regular Schedule Resumes Oct. 1
Elliott's E-Mail is transmitting early this week again, due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks. It will resume publishing Mondays on Oct. 1.

** How do You Feel About the Deals?
Nearly every airline, hotel and cruise line is offering special sales in an effort to lure travelers back. What's the best deal you've seen this week? And how do you feel about taking advantage of these bargains in the wake of the terrorism disaster? Is it opportunistic - or patriotic? Send your thoughts to feedback@elliott.org and please include your full name, city and contact information.

** Write and Wrong
Last week's newsletter was compiled under tremendous deadline pressure, and in retrospect there are some things I should have written that I didn't - and some things I did that I shouldn't have. I suggested, for example, that no other travel commentators had anything relevant to say about the terrorism tragedy, which is absurd. I berated one Web site for being opportunistic when it pledged to donate part of its profits to firefighters. I should have congratulated it. I also let readers of The Travel Technologist down by skipping my column (more on that in my farewell commentary for Biztravel.com). I'm sorry.

> Elliott's Cheap Travel Tip

** Travel Industry on Sale
It was bound to happen in this post-September 11 world. The travel industry is officially on sale. The deals are everywhere. In fact, I'm hard-pressed to find a single supplier that hasn't put some of its products on sale. No one knows how long the deals will last, so take advantage of the bargains while you can. Got a tip? Send it to tip@elliott.org.

> Our Sponsors

** 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

** Readers Like You
If you care about quality travel industry coverage and want to support the leading consumer advocacy Web site, you can become an underwriter, too. It's easy, it's painless and it's totally anonymous. Just click on http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P34Z3D2F0Z734N for details.

> Elliott's Commentary

** The Travel Technologist Logs Off
Farewell, Travel Technologist. Good-bye, Biztravel.com. I never imagined I'd have to write this column. But now, because of circumstances that no one could have anticipated, I do. We're history. Before I sign off, though, I wanted to do a few important things. First, to apologize. Some of you turned to Biztravel.com last week looking for commentary on the World Trade Center incident and its implications on travel technology. You didn't find any. I wish I could say that I skipped last week's column for all the right reasons. Maybe the tragedy had affected me in a personal way - or maybe I was too upset to write anything, as some of my colleagues were. The truth is that I didn't write the Travel Technologist for all the wrong reasons last week. I'm sorry for letting you down and grateful to those of you who cared enough to contact me. In a special edition of The Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2001/bye.htm

** Will They Allow Cell Phones on Planes?
The cellular phone, which played a pivotal role in last week's terrorist attacks, is now at the center of another controversy. Travelers who used to reluctantly respect the airlines' ban on wireless devices now are vowing to defy the rules, and a confrontation appears inevitable. It's easy to see why some passengers aren't turning their wireless devices off in flight. Reports that the hijacking victims used their phones to call family members shortly before their planes crashed are forcing everyone to rethink the limits on cellular calls from planes. In The Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2001/cellpermit.htm

** What's it Like to Fly?
Planning to fly this week? There's good news and bad news for travelers who are headed to the airport. First the good news: the dire warnings of lengthy check-in procedures and frequent delays are, in some cases, unnecessary. Passengers who took to the skies after last week's terrorist attacks report that while security is often noticeably stricter, check-in times remain short, and they're still reaching their destination on time. Which brings us to the bad news: despite a new directive by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that tightens security precautions at U.S. airports, there are widespread reports that the new safety measures are being enforced haphazardly. In The Travel Troubleshooter at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2001/crfly.htm

** Hotel Hell
Got a gripe about your hotel room? Take a number. J.D. Power and Associates estimates that the rate of guest complaints climbed 22 percent between 1998 and 2000. Meanwhile, room rates jumped 7.1 percent, according to research by PKF Consulting in Atlanta. Result: Frequent travelers are upset at dwindling service levels and rising prices. Here's how to get relief. In Entrepreneur Magazine at http://entrepreneur.com/Magazines/Copy_of_MA_SegArticle/0,4453,292810----1-,00.html

> 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 After last week's terrorist incident, AirJet offered the most comprehensive coverage of the unfolding drama. No wonder it's the largest electronic airline news magazine on the Internet. News updated hourly at http://www.airlinebiz.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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