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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
http://www.elliott.org

April 22, 2002

> Inside

* Phantom Fare Increases
* What Ticks You Off?
* Big News in May
* Miles or Money?
* No Balcony at My Hotel
* Back Side of My Palm
* Southernmost Symphony
* I'm On Your Side
* Hewitt's Travel Briefs
* The Carrier's Civil War
* Who Needs Agents?

> This Week in Travel

** Phantom Fare Increases
Will the latest efforts to raise airfares finally fly? The major airlines have repeatedly tried to hike prices by $20 for a round-trip leisure ticket in an apparent effort to jump-start their earnings, but they've quickly rescinded the raises when their competitors refused to match. Instead of wondering when one of these price changes will stick, as much of the mainstream media has recently done, we should pay closer attention to the mechanics of the proposed fare increases. Read the details.

> By the Way

** What Ticks You Off?
Open question this week: What ticks you off about travel? Send us an e-mail, and please don't forget to include your full name, what you do for a living, and contact information. Your response might appear in a future story.

** Big News in May
Here's a good reason to look forward to next month: Expect a few BIG announcements from this Web site, including new outlets, our biannual pledge drive and a special surprise. You won't want to miss the May issues of Elliott's E-Mail!

NOTE: A hypertext version of this newsletter is available on the Web.

> Our Sponsor

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> Elliott's Commentary

** Miles or Money?
Marc-Albert Michaud needed to fly to Los Angeles for a spring weekend, but sky-high airfares threatened to ground him. "I couldn't find anything for less than $500," he says. So at the last minute, he parted with 25,000 frequent flier miles and landed a seat on a United Airlines flight. "The tickets were selling for $2000 at that point," he says. "It was worth it." Cashing in frequent flier miles instead of paying for a ticket can be a great way to save money. But not always. In The Travel Tightwad.

** No Balcony at My Hotel
The brochure said her room came with a balcony, but when she checked in, there was none. Now she wants her money back. But is this reader asking for too much? Find out if her hotel has breached its contract with her - and what you can do if the same thing happens to you. Read the details in The Travel Troubleshooter.

** Back Side of My Palm
Donna Hart is an unhappy Dell Computer customer. But she's particularly peeved at the manufacturer of the personal digital assistant (PDA) she bought through Dell: a Palm m505. Her experience begs the question: Is there a back side to this popular computing device - and if so, what you can do about it? Check out The Travel Technologist.

** Southernmost Symphony
Sebrina Maria Alfonso is on a mission to bring high culture to Margaritaville. And while her Key West Symphony Orchestra may look as laid back as the island itself, its sound - and purpose - is anything but slipshod. Experience a Southernmost Symphony rehearsal and find out why this group is a 'hot' classical act. In Destinations.

> There's much more news and commentary about travel. Click on http://www.elliott.org for details. <

> Ticked.com Talk

** I'm On Your Side
Cheap Charlie has been bombarded by emails from travel agents that feel he's maligned their industry and the "Mom and Pop" integrity in his last column, Watch Your Wallet. He's been called every name in the book and them some. Whoa, he says this week - I'm on your side. Read more of Charlie Leocha's column.

** Hewitt's Travel Briefs
We're worried about what grandparents might have hidden in their boots to smuggle past security, but what about when an entire plane crashes the thin blue line of airport security? Ed Hewitt takes a look at out-of-control aircraft and other absurdities of comercial travel in his latest column. Get the details in The Independent Traveler.

** The Carrier's Civil War
The nation's airlines are at economic war with each other, says Joe Brancatelli. We have a vital stake in this airline civil war. The future of how, how often - and even if - we will fly on business hangs in the balance. The "good" guys in this civil war are a small but growing collection of carriers that, for reasons both fundamental and pragmatic, are pitching lower fares for business travel and forging a rational, logical, understandable pricing structure. If they win, we will be able to travel on business at a reasonable price whenever and wherever we need to fly. Read more at JoeSentMe.com.

** Who Needs Agents?
When major U.S. airlines axed the already dwindling commissions they paid travel agencies last month, it was the latest in a series of punches that have left the industry reeling - and travelers heading elsewhere. The explosive growth of the Web as a travel information and booking source, coupled with declining commissions from airlines that still sell 75 percent of their tickets through agents (including online agencies), are forcing traditional, full-service retailers to reinvent themselves and the relationships with the travelers they serve. Read more in Laura Bly's column in USA Today.

> For links to other engaging travel opinions, visit http://www.ticked.com today. Don't forget to bookmark the site. <

> Other Sponsors

** Single Parent Travel
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** 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 here.

** Frequent Flier Mile Alert! from SmarterLiving.com
Want to earn more miles toward your next free ticket? Sign up for SmarterLiving.com's free Mile Alert! newsletter to receive bi-monthly e-mail updates on the lastest mile-earning news from major airline programs, plus ways to earn miles without flying. Sign up for free and receive special member discounts on travel!

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* Journeywoman - The premier travel resource for women on the Internet.

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