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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

February 10, 2003

>> Inside <<

* Bad Flights
* Are You Playing it Safe?
* Circulation Rises Again
* Become an Underwriter
* Five Flights from Hell
* Catch the Cruise Wave
* Not Thinking About the Game
* Behave, You Gate Hoarders!
* Kids in Airports: A Primer
* What's a 'War Concern' Surcharge?
* When Things Go Missing

>> First Off <<

** Bad Flights
Charlie Leocha filed an excellent and insightful commentary on the new airline code-sharing deal between Delta, Northwest and Continental this week. After I posted it on Ticked.com, I noticed that for some reason, most of the columnists in this week's issue were fixated on bad flying experiences. So I resurrected some old favorites, such as Pamela Batch Garza's amazing story of being kicked off a Delta flight. And I've added my own two cents with "Five Flights from Hell." Here's hoping all of us will avoid these nightmare flights on our future travels.

>> Underwritten By <<

** 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.

>> By The Way <<

** Are You Playing it Safe?
What kind of precautions are you taking when you travel? With an imminent war and ongoing terrorism concerns, we'd like to know what kind of strategies you're using to make sure you make it home. Are you booking safer hotels or airlines? Renting bigger cars? Keeping certain destinations off your visit-list? Send us an e-mail and please don't forget to include your full name, city, and what you do for a living. Your answer may appear in a future column.

** Circulation Rises Again
It seems like only a few weeks ago that Elliott's E-Mail celebrated its last circulation milestone - 12,000 subscribers. But here we go again: This week, we passed the 13,000-subscriber mark. Thanks to all of you who recommended this newsletter to a friend. Remember, it's your support that keeps this newsletter going! (Please see the end of this newsletter broadcast for details on circulation and site visitors.)

** Become an Underwriter
Elliott's E-Mail and its companion site, Elliott.org, is totally ad-free. We don't run any banners, irritating pop-ups or flashing skyscrapers, and instead rely on you for help paying the bills. Please consider becoming an underwriter. You'll be supporting one of the only Web sites dedicated to telling the unvarnished truth about the travel industry.

>> Elliott's Commentary <<

** Five Flights from Hell
Frequent fliers avoid them. Flight attendants fear them. Tourists get burned by them. They're the airline flights from hell - routes where you encounter the rudest passengers, the most indifferent crew members, substandard (or nonexistent) meal service, rough flying conditions or, often, all of the above. Of course, you can have a bad flight anytime. But there are certain trips where you're likelier to walk off the plane feeling as if you'd rather stayed home. > In Microsoft's bCentral.

> Bad Flight Leaves Me Speechless
> When Travel Goes Really Wrong
> Do Laws Persecute Wireless Travelers?

** Catch the Cruise Wave
At $1,500, a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas seven-night New Year's cruise was a steal last year. Even bargain-hunters like Jill Miller, a dental hygienist from Morrow, Ohio, didn't think rates could sink any lower. But they did: The identical cabin on the 2003 New Year's itinerary is $240 less--a bargain she couldn't pass up. Miller and her dentist husband booked two cabins, one for themselves, another for their teenage daughters, Danielle and Jolie. "In all my years of cruising I've never seen prices like this," she says. "I don't think I ever will again." > Details in U.S. News & World Report.

** Not Thinking About the Game
Spring training? Yeah, we've got that. The Boston Red Sox are right here in Fort Myers, Fla. The Minnesota Twins play down at the Lee County Sports Complex. It's all-you-can-eat Grapefruit League excitement. But that's just the half of it. Unlike other Sunshine State destinations, where baseball is front-and-center during the final throes of winter, the game is really a sideshow here. A diversion. > In Destinations.

>> Ticked.com Talk <<

** Behave, You Gate Hoarders!
Most of us have read about the impending code share and frequent flier alliance between Delta, Continental and Northwest. It was approved with many strings attached - strings that the airlines have declared they will ignore. Now we have a pending war between renegade airlines and the regulators. Initially, this war will be fought by lawyers. The first skirmishes are already underway. This will be a test of federal enforcement of their regulations. > In Charlie Leocha's column.

> Airport Upgrades? Better Start at the Gate
> Are Gate Agents Responsible for Drunk Passengers?
> Is it a Crime to Ask for a Contract of Carriage?

** Kids in Airports: A Primer
Airport security checkpoints are tricky enough terrain these days; add the impulsiveness, curiosity, wariness, and "interesting" priorities of a child to the mix, and you get the following: The kid who watched his favorite plush animal disappear into the x-ray machine, thought it had been killed, and raised holy heck; The kid who refused to let anyone take off her shoes, no matter who was doing the asking; she had to do it herself; The father who ran after his straying children, resulting in a complete terminal evacuation. > Read more in Ed Hewitt's column.

>> Triprights.com Ticker <<

** What's a 'War Concern' Surcharge?
A week before her Caribbean cruise on the Royal Olympia's Voyager, her travel agent faxed a notice saying that there would be a new $6 per person, per day fuel surcharge relating to "war concerns" and a $3 per person per day security surcharge. But hang on - doesn't the fine print on her ticket say she's entitled to 20 days advance notice if there are any new costs? Yes, it does. So what's Royal Olympic going to do about it? >> In Fix My Trip.

** When Things Go Missing
When we got to our hotel on St. Martin last week for a midwinter vacation, my wife and I found our suitcases' zippers had been locked tight somewhere en route with six-inch strips of tamper-proof heavy plastic ties. No problem, we initially decide. All that's needed is a pair of scissors or a sharp knife to snip the ties and get the bags open. Oops. No scissors or blades allowed in carry-on bags, we remember. > In The New York Times.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** 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. The site has been featured in over 100 major publications including: USA Today, Time, Fortune, New York Times, CNBC, MSNBC, and has been named "One of the top best money-saving Web sites for travel" by Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine. Sign up for Johnny Jet's free newsletter that has the week's travel news, tips, webcams, Web sites, and "where's Johnny Jet."

** EasyTravelAir.com
The must-have travel accessory to get through the post-9/11 airport is the EasyTravelAir Security Pouch. The hands-free pouch lets you display your ID and boarding pass and keeps your credit card, passport and other travel essentials safe and secure. Call (800) 282-1469.

** The FrequentFlier Crier
Travel faster, safer, smarter, cheaper, better... and earn more frequent flyer miles in the process. How? Subscribe to the newsletter savvy travelers consider a "must read" - the FrequentFlier Crier. Every week, the Crier delivers travel news you can use: frequent flyer program updates, special fares, industry news and trends.

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

* Demographics
* Average newsletter circulation - 13,003
* Last month's total unique visitors
Elliott.org - 33,162
Ticked.com - 21,842
Triprights.com - 5,338
Total E3 Network visitors - 60,342

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