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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

March 4, 2003

>> Inside <<

* Don't Miss an Issue
* Winging It
* Frequent Sighers
* Getting Around Bad Service

>> First Off <<

** Don't Miss an Issue
This week's issue of Elliott's E-Mail is a little shorter than usual. That's because yours truly is on assignment and under the weather - a combination he wouldn't wish on anyone. But skip an issue? Never. Not with a story on frequent flier miles, done with the help of Brierley & Partners and published in this week's issue of U.S. News & World Report, hot off the press. Or an important column about customer service appearing in bCentral.

>> Underwritten By <<

** 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 at http://www.dreamofitaly.com or call 877-OF-ITALY (toll-free).

>> By The Way <<

** Sick of Travel?
Have you ever gotten sick while you're traveling? Did you cancel the trip - or keep going? How did you get better? Since I'm bedridden and 2,862 miles away from my office this week, I'm inspired to examine the topic of illness on the road. So send me 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.

** Winging It
Subscriber Doug Jensen shared an item in Gary Leff's "View From The Wing" blog in which he took me to task for last week's column on the best airline flights. In it, Leff writes that the story "really set me off" and then proceeded to say that I "offered tidbits just are just wrong." Now, I'm sure he meant to write that I offered tidbits "that are just wrong," and a good editor is hard to find, indeed. But as I contemplated Leff's critique, two thoughts crossed my mind: 1) There's no such thing as bad publicity; and 2) Hey, at least someone is reading with a critical eye. Thanks, Gary.

>> This Week <<

** Frequent Sighers
Frequent fliers are hitting turbulence before they even take off. Airline loyalty programs are in turmoil, and a new survey, conducted for U.S. News by frequent-flier consultants Brierley & Partners, shows that loyal customers are feeling the pinch. Nearly half of the 2,136 frequent travelers polled said it's recently become more difficult to swap miles for a ticket. About a quarter said it's much more difficult or virtually impossible to get a free flight to choice spots like Hawaii or Europe. And 1 in 4 admitted to cashing in miles sooner, nervous about the state of the airline industry. > In U.S. News & World Report.

** Getting Around Bad Service
If you're looking for textbook examples of terrible customer service, just talk to a few travelers. Mary Day checked into room 315 at a Days Inn recently and requested a wake-up call at 6 a.m. The next morning, her phone rang. She got out of bed and checked out. Then she noticed that it was still dark outside. It turns out she'd received a call at 3:15 a.m. An isolated case? If only. The travel industry is often synonymous with substandard customer service, many industry observers agree, for a variety of reasons. > Details in bCentral's Power Trip.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** Greatcruises.com
Disappointed with your last cruise? Planning your first cruise? Don't want to fly to and from your next cruise? Now, you too can be a well-informed cruiser. Subscribe to "All Cruise E-News," our free monthly e-mail cruise newsletter. You'll get breaking news on all the new ships being inaugurated this year, what cruises will be sailing from U.S. ports near you, recent price trends in cruising, cruise ship health and safety inspection results, family-friendly cruise lines, and much more to ensure that your next cruise will be "just right for you." Also, cruise tip of the month, important travel industry news, more.

** TheTravelzine
Travel columnists from Sydney to Seattle are touting TheTravelzine as the top group for travel discussion. A wonderful source of information and friendship, TheTravelzine is part of the very popular non-commercial travelogue's Web site.

** 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.

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