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

March 28, 2004

>> Inside <<

* Another Week, Another Insult
* Question of the Week: Save or Splurge?
* Rate Your TSA Experience
* Thanks (And Yes, I Know I'm Early)
* Tips on Tipping for Travelers
* This Week in Travel
* Passing the Buck
* An Unconventional Deal in Las Vegas
* Finding the Forgotten Virgin
* Flashback: Things That Make Ya Go "Hmm"
* Spring Cleaning at 36,000 Feet
* Extreme Reservations
* Driving Up Prices
* Cell Contracts Anger Travelers

>> First Off <<

** Another Week, Another Insult
Sometimes I look at a week's lineup of columns and ask myself: "Who are we not offending?" Sometimes the answer is: no one. This is one of those weeks. In my column on tipping, which appeared yesterday on MSN's Canadian site, I take on the dysfunctional system of gratuities in North America. It's one of the best-received columns I've ever written for the site, and definitely worth a click. Frank Steward also takes aim at the airlines - and airline passengers - for passing the buck. And in Fix My Trip on Triprights.com, check out the case of discrimination against Las Vegas conventioneers. Finally, in our retrospective section, newly renamed "Flashback" to avoid confusion with current columns, we take at the things that make you go "hmmm."

>> Underwritten By <<

** Travelhunters.com
If you like to find great travel bargains, you've got to check out TravelHunters.com - the bargain travel community. The site was created by two brothers from Minnesota who love to help people find the best travel bargains. You'll find numerous hot deals for vacations and cruises, bargain travel articles, travel resources, and a comprehensive travel message board. Be sure to sign up for the free monthly newsletter - the Travel Hunters News - dedicated to helping people find amazing deals. > Here's the site.

>> By The Way <<

** Question of the Week: Save or Splurge?
When you travel, you're always faced with choices. Fast food or fancy restaurant? First class or economy? Full-size or subcompact? But if you're traveling - especially on business - then you know that it's not always a good idea to be a miser. So this week, we want to know when to spend - and when to save. Do you stay at a budget hotel, or go for the full-service property? Is too much fast-food too much of a good thing? 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. It did for Sheldon Beck, our February winner.

> Trying to e-mail me? Please read this first.

** Rate Your TSA Experience
Our friends at Innovation Analysis Group have teamed up with Travel Agent Magazine to poll travelers about their airport security experiences. OK, I know for a fact that all of you have opinions about the TSA. Well, here's your chance to sound off anonymously. The survey collects certain demographics but does not gather any respondent-traceable data. Results will be published soon. Your help is much appreciated and will make a big difference. > Here's the survey.

** Thanks (And Yes, I Know I'm Early)
First of all, thanks to all of you who came out to the Miami Herald Travel Expo last weekend to see my panel. Kari, Aren and I had a great time meeting all of you. Second … yes, I know it's Friday. This newsletter normally transmits on Sunday, but I'm on assignment again - this time checking out Palm Beach, Fla. Keep your eye on a future issue of Elliott's E-Mail for a full report.

>> Elliott's Commentary <<

** Tips on Tipping for Travelers
The tipping system in North America is seriously flawed. It exploits service personnel such as waiters, baggage handlers and hotel staff, paying them substandard wages but relying on the generosity - or guilt - of the people they serve to make up for the shortfall in their salary. I would much prefer raising prices to cover the increase in pay or incorporating a mandatory gratuity into the final price, as they do in Europe. But the system is what it is, and as travelers we have to work within it. So here are five tipping tips I've picked up while on the road: > Details in Power Trip.

>> This Week in Travel <<

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

> Air Travel Finally Rebounds (3/26)

> Southwest is 'Coming to Kill Us' (3/25)

> Gasoline Hits Record High Prices (3/24)

> Airline Loans Probed By Government (3/23)

> For Airlines, it's All About the Food (3/22)

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

>> Ticked.com Talk <<

** Passing the Buck
You get to the airport and see the endless lines at the check-in counter. This is because of spring break travel, the agent informs you. Then you head to the security section, the slow-moving lines, near-cavity searches and confusion - this is due to the 9/11 tragedy. You get to your gate and your flight is delayed - due to weather. Just once, would it kill one person to apologize and take responsibility? > In A Frank Steward.

>> Triprights.com Ticker <<

** An Unconventional Deal in Las Vegas
If you're attending a convention, should you pay more for your hotel room than a leisure traveler? Apparently, a lot of Las Vegas hotels think so. One reader, who books a package deal through Southwest Airlines' Web site, is worried that his resort might discover he's in town on business - and charge him more for his room. Is it illegal to pretend to be a vacationer in order to save money? Find out what Southwest has to say about it.> In Fix My Trip.

>> Destination of the Week <<

** Finding the Forgotten Virgin
Her white-sand beaches that fade into a green ocean are among the most postcard-perfect in the Caribbean. Her history, from the crumbling windmills to the old sugar-cane plantations, is among the most fascinating. Her people, accomplished in the West Indian art of island hospitality, are among the friendliest. So why is St. Croix the lost Virgin Island, at least when compared with her two showy sisters, St. Thomas and St. John? > In Not2Far.com's Destinations of the Week.

>> Flashback: Things That Make Ya Go "Hmm" <<
This week, Elliott's E-Mail takes a look at columns that make you go "hmm." And in case you can't read numbers (and I include yours truly in that group - I'm hopelessly innumerate) than listen up: these are retrospective columns. Check out the dates. They're from past issues.

** Spring Cleaning at 36,000 Feet
Ever flick that light switch above your airline seat only to discover - Oh no! - you actually pushed the "service" button? You wait a few seconds for the annoyed flight attendant to come over and say, "Yeah, what is it?" Seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours. No crew member ever shows. It's happened to me a time or two. Maybe I didn't press the button hard enough, but nothing happened. That doesn't surprise Cynthia Kane, a spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants in Washington, who says she's not familiar with any federal or airline rules that would compel a crew member to respond. > In The Travel Critic.

** Extreme Reservations
A seat assignment in economy class is about as desirable as a protracted stopover in a smoke-filled airport terminal or consuming airline food that gives you heartburn, to hear travelers talk about it. In fact, experienced fliers will go to great lengths to avoid the back of the plane. They plead for upgrades to business class (yes, I've seen them get on their knees and beg). They hover around the gate and argue with the overworked airline employees. They even wait until the next flight if there's a chance they can score an upgrade. In Power Trip.

** Driving Up Prices
Next time you rent a car, read the fine print. Diane Scholfield forgot to when she booked Dodge Neon from Avis. Her three-day rate in Salt Lake City was listed at $143.97. "I bought some insurance for $9.99 per day, and I chose the prepay gas option at $13.12," remembers the San Diego, Calif., editor. "Mentally, I'm figuring less than $200 for the rental." Wrong. Her bill came to $223.78-that's $17.61 in taxes, $14.40 for a "concession fee recoup" and $4.71 for a "trans corridor perserv revolving loan fund." "I'm getting crabby about hidden charges," she fumes. > In The Travel Critic.

** Cell Contracts Anger Travelers
How does Cellular One become Cellular Two? Ask Kent Withrow, and he'll tell you the unbelievable story of multiplying carrier contracts. The Austin, Texas, software designer recently inked a one-year agreement for wireless service in Chicago with Cellular One - or so he thought. "I'd been on the plan about 14 months when I decided to move away from Chicago and cancel my cell phone there," he remembers. "So I called up customer service they said, 'Oh, you're on a two-year contract so that'll be $300 to get out of it.'" The Cellular One representative offered to let him out of the remaining ten months if he could fax over the original contract. He did. > In The Travel Technologist.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

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

* Demographics
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Total E3 Network visitors - 86,202

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