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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

November 23, 2003

>> Inside <<

* Giving Thanks
* Right Rental Car?
* Switching to Sundays
* Travelers Give Thanks
* Airline ATMs
* Priceline Gets an Upgrade
* One Helluva Honeymoon

>> First Off <<

** Giving Thanks
Travelers have a lot to be thankful for, right? According to my column, "Travelers Give Thanks," the answer is "yes." But it's also "no." This Thanksgiving holiday, as we reflect on the things we are grateful for, let's not forget the things we should not be grateful for - but which the travel industry tells us we should be happy about. Our airline industry is hopelessly broken (listen to my essay on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday for more on that). Buying online travel is too difficult (but getting easier, according to Cheap Charlie's column on Priceline). In short, we should give thanks … but only for what's really good about travel. Not what we're told is good.

>> Underwritten By <<

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>> By The Way <<

** Right Rental Car?
How do you pick the right rental car? Do you go by price? Is the determining factor comfort or safety ... or how many frequent-flier miles you can collect? Send us an e-mail and include your full name, city, and what you do for a living.

** Switching to Sundays
Elliott's E-Mail is now being transmitted on Sunday. Since this newsletter started in 1997, we've sent it out on various days - first Saturday, then Wednesday, then Monday. But you've let us know that your preferred day to get the newsletter is Sunday. So from now on, the site will update on late Saturday with the newsletter transmitting early Sunday morning. Think of it as a reality check against your Sunday travel section.

>> Elliott's Commentary <<

** Travelers Give Thanks
People who spend a lot of time on the road often spend a lot of time complaining about it. They gripe about intrusive security screenings, hostile hotel employees and bad restaurants. Most of all, they criticize each other for everything from bad hygiene to bad cell-phone manners. Complaining, as I observed in a previous column, is part of the culture of frequent travelers. We wouldn't be called "road warriors" if we couldn't let off a little steam. But it's not always that way. People on the go have much to be thankful for, too. Enough to set aside their Mad Max personas for a few moments and give thanks. > Details in Power Trip.

** Airline ATMs
Airline ticket kiosks have been on NPR travel commentator Christopher Elliott's mind lately. The do-it-yourself check-in terminals are showing up at more airports, where travelers use them to print boarding passes, change reservations, and even select their meals. But there's something about these airline ATMs that flies in the face of reason. > Listen to the essay on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.

> Is the future of online travel all business? Plus, find out which US Airways VP should have his computer confiscated. It's all on Elliott's Travel Notes.

> This week's blog entry can be found here.

>> Ticked.com Talk <<

** Priceline Gets an Upgrade
Priceline is changing. This is a big change. No, they are not returning to the days of bidding for groceries and gasoline. They are improving their airline section and expanding from simply "name your own price" to providing the option to purchase from the airlines directly, more hotels and a new "weekender" alternative. Though written off for dead several times by many on Wall Street and in the travel industry and battered by dropping airline ticket prices, Priceline is healthy, regrouping and in position to compete and grow its business. > Read more in Cheap Charlie's column.

>> Triprights.com Ticker <<

** One Helluva Honeymoon
On their outbound flight for their honeymoon, a rude American Airlines gate agent denies his new wife boarding. The reason? She took the wrong birth certificate along. Now their hard-earned vacation is ruined. But whose fault is it that she didn't know better? The airline's? Her travel agent's? The U.S. government's? Time to call in the troubleshooter to sort it all out. > In Fix My Trip.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** DreamofItaly.com
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** Journeyware.com
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** All Cruise E-News
Now you too can be a well-informed cruiser by subscribing to this 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. Sign-up now.

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