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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

January 27, 2003

>> Inside <<

* Mileage Madness
* Burning Question: Bad Business Lunch
* Which Way?
* Cut Up Your Frequent-Flier Card
* Mileage Programs Here to Stay
* Airline Axis of Evil
* Pleeeeeeeeease Mr. Tilton!
* Best and Worst Airports
* No Fee Waived for Jury Duty
* Lost Luggage: Who Pays?

>> First Off <<

** Mileage Madness
If you're an avid point-collector, do yourself a favor and stop reading now. This week's modest proposal on mileage programs is sure to make you wonder why you've been loyal to one airline for so long (hey, you're not alone). I've also included some of my favorite frequent flier articles from the past eight years. Ticked.com's theme is "Stupid Airline Tricks," and folks, I have good news: the irreverent, irascible columnists at Ticked.com are back to having fun. Cheap Charlie goes after United Airlines' Glenn Tilton this week, while Terry Riley puts American Airlines in his crosshairs.

>> By The Way <<

** Burning Question: Bad Business Lunch
Ever been on a business lunch that didn't turn out the way you expected it to? This week, we'd like to hear your tales of culinary woe from the road - from bad service to bad company, and everything in between. 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.

** Which Way?
Elliott's E-Mail is the newsletter thousands of travelers depend on for a travel-industry reality check every week. But we've been doing a lot of soul-searching lately, and we figure - hey, it's your newsletter, too. What do you want? Are you looking for more straight-up op-ed commentaries? More stories about travel strategies? More destination features? Let us know. You can e-mail me or call me at (305) 453-4781. Your opinion is very important to me.

>> Elliott's Commentary <<

** Cut Up Your Frequent-Flier Card
Take your frequent-flier membership card out of your wallet. Cut it in half. Does that feel good? It should. You've been a prisoner of points for so long, you probably don't remember what it's like to book an airline ticket, reserve a room or call for a car without thinking about the miles you could amass. > In Microsoft's bCentral.

> Confessions of a Mileage Junkie
> Rewards: Grab 'Em or Let 'Em Fly?
> Save Time When You Use Miles

** Mileage Programs Here to Stay
Peter Dowling is a Premier Executive 1K member, the most elite United Airlines frequent flier. Make that, was a Premier Executive 1K member. "I have just cashed in all my miles," says the Los Angeles foreign affairs consultant. He booked two trips: one to Tonga on United partner Air New Zealand, the other to Portugal on Lufthansa. With United and US Airways in bankruptcy reorganization and other carriers changing the rules of their programs, some travelers are quietly redeeming their frequent-flier miles. > Details in a special Power Trip extra.

** Airline Axis of Evil
What if the pilot on your next flight suddenly decided to stop following directions from the control tower? You wouldn't feel safe, would you? But wait - isn't that what three airlines did last week, so to speak? In announcing that they would defy the Transportation Department's restrictions on a new alliance between Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, the threesome have essentially told the metaphorical control tower to stick it. > Details in Opinion.

>> Ticked.com Talk <<

** Pleeeeeeeeease Mr. Tilton!
The airlines still don't get it. As we all know, United Airlines is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and US Airways is still clawing from the brink of Chapter 7. You would think all the major airlines -- American, Delta, Continental, Northwest, United and US Airways -- would jettison their bloated management layered with bureaucracy and their counterproductive fare structures. I don't really know where to start. Perhaps, United is as good a place to begin. > In Cheap Charlie's column.

> Leocha: Un-American Airline Stupidity
> Tourist: Stupid Airline Passengers
> Riley: Enough AAlready!

** Best and Worst Airports
It's time for my annual look at in which airports we're wasting the most time. Although some of the information that follows will be hard to refute, remember the old saying: there are three kinds of lies: Lies, d***ed lies, and statistics. > Read more in Ed Hewitt's column.

>> Triprights.com Ticker <<

** No Fee Waived for Jury Duty
He booked a nonrefundable flight on Continental Airlines. Then he got a a summons for jury duty. As an elite-level frequent flier, will the airline consider waiving the $100 change fee - even in an era of "no waivers, no favors"? Maybe, maybe not. Find out how civic-minded today's airlines are. > In Fix My Trip.

** Lost Luggage: Who Pays?
Passengers' primary source of recourse for luggage mishaps is the airline. For domestic flights, an airline's liability for checked luggage is limited to $2,500 per passenger, an amount set by the Department of Transportation, which doubled the previous limit at the end of 1999. Mobility devices like wheelchairs are exempt from this limit, and most airlines stipulate that they are not liable for computers, electronic equipment, jewelry, watches, antiques, medication, cameras or fragile items. > In The New York Times.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** 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.

** DreamofItaly.com
Discriminating travelers with a passion for Italy finally have a timely resource for planning their next visit to the land of la dolce vita. Dream of Italy is a new, bi-monthly subscription travel newsletter available by mail or on the Internet. Each issue is packed with the latest news and insiders' advice on Italian travel and culture. For a free sample copy or to subscribe, visit its Web site or call 877-OF-ITALY (toll-free).

** Ticked.com Top Ten
What are travelers reading? Find out at Ticked.com's Top Ten list of bestselling travel titles. Compiled monthly, the list features the most-purchased travel books on the Internet, thanks to the Web site's affiliate relationship with Barnes & Noble. Whether you're looking for something to read on your next trip or wondering what to buy for the traveler in your life, the Ticked.com Top Ten can help.

** 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.

>> Talk To Us <<

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