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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 28, 2003

>> Inside <<

* Ta-Ta, Donny
* Your Best Trip Ever?
* Help Us Raise $3.2 Billion
* Car Rentals on the Skids
* Elliott on Savvy
* Checks and Bankruptcies
* Routed From Rio

>> First Off <<

** Ta-Ta, Donny
This week's news that Don Carty had been dethroned at American Airlines prompted Ticked.com columnist Charles Leocha to reflect on the future of airline management - and profitability. Meanwhile, I put another industry - rental cars - into my crosshairs in an op-ed also published by USA Today. Over on the TripRights.com site, find out how one woman's trip to Rio was ruined after she took a walk along Ipanema Beach (and who should pay for a vacation gone horribly wrong).

>> Underwritten By <<

** Alaska Travelgram
Alaska-bound? Check out Alaska travel expert Scott McMurren's free travel e-newsletter, the Alaska Travelgram. Exclusive bargains, hot deals and inside info on what to see, where to go and how to get there in the Last Frontier.

>> By The Way <<

** Your Best Trip Ever?
What was your best trip ever? Did you travel far or stay close to home? Was it expensive? What made it so great? This week, in a departure from this newsletter's crabby line of questioning, we want to know about your good trips. Send us an e-mail and please include your full name, city, and what you do for a living.

** Help Us Raise $3.2 Billion
Elliott's E-Mail relies on the financial support of readers like you to cover some of our operating costs. We're completely ad-free, clutter-free, and spin-free. Next month we embark on our twice-a-year fund drive, in which we ask you to pitch in to pay the bills. This month's goal is to raise $3.2 billion, the same amount as the airlines received in recent bailout money from you, the taxpayer. Oh, all right, we'll settle for half of that.

>> Elliott's Commentary <<

** Car Rentals on the Skids
Auto rental companies are heading down a bumpy road. Industry revenues slid from $19.4 billion in 2000 to $17.9 billion last year, reports Auto Rental News. In response, car rental companies cut fleet sizes by up to 20% during the past year, according to Abrams Consulting Group. Meanwhile, franchisees have ratcheted up the pressure on employees to push profitable extras - such as fuel-purchase options, insurance and upgrades. But the industry is going in the wrong direction. > Details in Opinion.

> Escape from Car Rental Traps
> Steer Clear of Car Surcharges
> Reckless in Rentals

** Elliott on Savvy
Hear Elliott fix the case of the mysterious ticket surcharge on the public radio show "The Savvy Traveler."

>> Ticked.com Talk <<

** Checks and Bankruptcies
Don Carty, CEO of American Airlines, just got sacked. Finally, a major airline CEO has been forced out of the executive suite. With year after year of miserable earnings and a never-ending litany of excuses, one would think that the owners and business partners of the major airlines would have been demanding the head of every money-losing CEO. Why haven't they? > Read more in Charles Leocha's column.

> Un-American Airline Stupidity
> Begging Airlines
> Enough AAlready

>> Triprights.com Ticker <<

** Routed From Rio
After they're attacked by a gang of teenage boys on Ipanema Beach during Carnaval, a doorman refuses to let her and her friend into their hotel. Is it a language barrier, or is the hotel at fault for exposing the couple to a gang of criminals? And who pays for the vacation when it's cut short by circumstances? Find out. > In Fix My Trip.

> Which Hotel Bill Should I Pay?
> No Status For My Hotel Stay
> No Balcony At My Hotel

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** Journeyware.com
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** JohnnyJet.com
Ever wish there were one site that listed every possible link to other travel-related Web sites? Johnny Jet.com does just that, and more. The site has links to practically everything you need to know that's travel-related. Sign up for Johnny Jet's free newsletter that has the week's travel news, tips, webcams, Web sites, and "where's Johnny Jet.

** MilesLink Voices
If you rely on Randy Petersen's WebFlyer site for timely news and information about mileage programs, you'll want to sign up for MilesLink Voices, a new electronic newsletter published in conjunction with Ticked.com. It features the sharpest opinions about travel delivered twice a month to MilesLink subscribers.

** BnBFinder.com
Bed & Breakfasts are travel's best-kept secret. BnBFinder.com offers thousands of inns for vacation, honeymoons or business travel. Gift certificates are available that let your special person choose where and when to go! Sign up for their free monthly newsletter for the latest B&B specials and discounts.

>> Who's Reading Elliott's E-Mail? <<

* Demographics
* Average newsletter circulation - 13,705
* Last month's total unique visitors
Elliott.org - 38,545
Ticked.com - 23,050
Triprights.com - 7,911
Total E3 Network visitors - 69,506
Change from last month + 8,453 visitors/594 subscribers

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