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ELLIOTT'S E-MAIL
http://www.elliott.org

February 1, 2004

>> Inside <<

* Tech Troubles
* Question of the Week: Getting Wired on a Plane?
* See You at the LA Times Travel Show
* How to Spot a Tech-Friendly Hotel
* Cruising the Virtual Seas
* Roaches: We're 'Reluctant Activists'
* This Week in Travel
* Worst Jobs in Travel
* So Long, Legroom
* A Hotwire Bait-and-Switch?

>> First Off <<

** Tech Troubles
This week's issue is a little tech-heavy, but don't click away just yet. It's fun, too. Power Trip looks into laptop-friendly hotels. Our Question of the Week (don't forget, you can win free luggage for answering) is about getting wired at 36,000 feet. And the troubleshooter tackles a Web problem for one reader who thinks Hotwire is running a bait-and-switch with its airfares. Also, don't miss Terry Riley's very entertaining read on dead-end jobs in the travel industry, and a fascinating interview with the leader of a group that's been "bugging" US Airways.

>> Underwritten By <<

** EasyTravelAir
The must-have travel accessory If you've fumbled with your ID while taking off your shoes and coat, emptying your pockets, and removing your computer, you'll find getting through airport security a lot simpler and less stressful with the Security Pouch. Purchase the travel-warrior-tested Security Pouch online special only $10 or call (800) 282-1469 to order at $14.99 each. Order now.

>> By The Way <<

** Question of the Week: Getting Wired on a Plane? No, this week's question isn't about caffeine intake when you fly. It's about getting connected to the Internet when you're airborne. Ever surfed the 'Net while flying? What did you think? Tell us your story, and please share any tips for those of us who have never done it. Is it worth the money? Does it always work? Send us an e-mail and include your full name, city, and what you do for a living. Remember, your story could mean free luggage.

** See You at the LA Times Travel Show
Planning to attend the LA Times Travel show next week? Please stop by and say "hello" after my panel on Saturday, February 7, at 3:30 p.m. I'll be the guy with a target painted on his back. I'm just kidding. > Details on the show (I'm listed under "speakers/entertainment," and I kind of wonder which I am - maybe both?) is here.

>> Elliott's Commentary <<

** How to Spot a Tech-Friendly Hotel
Just as many hotels made special arrangements for pets and kids in the late 1990s - and saw their businesses thrive as a result - the lodging industry is now discovering laptop travelers. They've known about them for a while, of course. But by "discover," I mean that they've really begun catering to them, by offering wireless Internet access, a PC "valet," 24-hour tech support, a laptop-friendly business center, and connectivity accessories in the gift shop or to borrow from the front desk. At a hotel in Orlando, Fla., that I recently visited, I saw the concierge handing out RJ-45 cables so users could connect to the high-speed data ports. > Details in Power Trip.

** Cruising the Virtual Seas
The conventional wisdom used to be that booking cruises was too complex for the Web. The many cabin classes and shore excursions--plus the fact that a cruise often represents a major purchase--were thought to make it unsuitable for online buyers. Travel agents also touted the "personal touch," since they're often cruise vets. But now, online travel agencies are making their cruise pages more user friendly. > Details in U.S. News & World Report.

** Roaches: We're 'Reluctant Activists'
When US Airways senior vice president B. Ben Baldanza questioned the loyalty of frequent fliers who booked cheap tickets in a recent newspaper interview, he inadvertently spawned a grassroots organization called the Cockroaches. But this secretive group of frequent travelers did more than retaliate by criticizing the carrier in public forums; eventually, the vociferous bugs became so influential that US Airways turned to them for advice. Robert Johnson, the Mystic Island, NJ, corporate sales trainer who leads the Roaches, explained the spread of the organization from just a few fliers being on the receiving end of what he calls "bug spray" to a swarm, several hundred strong, which now has the ear of the airline's management. > Details in Interview.

>> This Week in Travel <<

News, opinion and analysis from Elliott's Travel Notes blog.

> Ooops, Wrong Airport (1/30)

> Better Beds, Bigger Profits? (1/29)

> Commission Hears Attendant Call (1/28)

> Europe Approves Passenger Rights (1/27)

> Passenger Screening Gets Tougher (1/26)

> See archived blog postings or catch up on today's news.

>> Ticked.com Talk <<

** Worst Jobs in Travel
On a recent trip to Kaua'i, my wife and I visited the facility where the ubiquitous Original Red Dirt Shirts are produced. Standing in that goop, watching young guys in storm gear go about their jobs, it occurred to me that there are a lot of jobs in the world that are worse even than mine. Moreover, as a part-time travel writer, I realized that many of those jobs are in the travel business. So I've assembled what, from my point of view, seem to be the ten worst jobs in the travel biz. > Read more in Err Travel.

** So Long, Legroom
With dismay I read that American Airlines has decided to squeeze more seats into their coach cabins. I know, I know, they say it is only on the Las Vegas flights and a few others. But it is a mistake. As anyone who reads this column occasionally knows, I am a big fan of Southwest. But I became a fan of American Airlines as well when they finally took the lead and gave coach/tourist class passengers more room in the back. > Read more in Charlie Leocha's archived column.

>> Triprights.com Ticker <<

** A Hotwire Bait-and-Switch?
Are Hotwire's airfares a bait-and-switch scam? That's what one traveler wants to know after he inadvertently buys a ticket from Anchorage to Phoenix through the Web site. He means to fly in the other direction - from Phoenix to Anchorage - but now Hotwire wants to bill him an extra $198 for the change. If he doesn't pay up, will he lose the entire airfare? > In Fix My Trip.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** FirstClassFlyer.com
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** Journeyware.com
The new destination for exceptional luggage, business/tech cases and travel accessories from leading brands like Travelpro, Lewis N. Clark, RoadWired and more. Great prices, fast, free UPS ground shipping on orders of just $50 or more! All with a level of uncompromising, personal service that you might not be used to getting these days (especially if you are a frequent traveler). Enter coupon code ELLIOTT and click "update" at checkout for an additional 10% off any order.

** Cheapflights.com
The NEW home of cheap airline tickets! Compare all the hot deals from airlines - including JetBlue and Southwest - from travel agents, discounters and specialists. We are independent and do not sell tickets ourselves. This unique Web site helps you shop around for the best deals FAST (no more than three clicks to the deals). We also have a cool, four-in-one online booking tool so you can search Orbitz, Hotwire, Travelocity and Qixo without having to re-enter your dates. Try it now or visit us online.

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