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

January 2, 2005

>> Inside <<

* Out With the Old …
* Surprise Surcharge?
* New Site Delay
* This Week in Travel
* 8 Simple Rules for Travel in 2005
* What's So Funny?
* Notes on a Nutty Year
* Hey, I Didn't Buy That Ticket
* Flashback: Ringing in the New Year
* New Year's Nightmares
* Taking The Cautious Road
* Four 'Secret' Times to Travel

>> First Off <<

** Out With the Old …
Well, it's that time of year again. It's the first week of January, when we travel commentators have nothing better to do than ponder the year gone by and look forward to the next one. John Frenaye strikes a controversial tone in his 2004 retrospective. I have a column about the new rules for travel in 2005. Plus, there's more from James Wysong and a brand-new troubleshooter case.

>> Underwritten By <<

** Journeyware.com
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>> By The Way <<

** Surprise Surcharge?
It's a New Year. Time for new fees? What are some of the new charges you've seen on your bill when it comes to travel? Seen anything on your hotel bill, airline ticket, car rental invoice, or even on your cell phone? E-mail us. As always, please include your full name, city, and what you do for a living.

** New Site Delay
We were hoping to launch our new Web site and newsletter today. Alas, several members of our project team have been out sick - so we're hoping to do it next week. Thanks for your patience.

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

>> This Week in Travel <<

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

> Northwest Passengers Nearly Riot (12/31)

> End of the Line For US Airways? (12/30)

> More Airline Chaos in Store Next Year? (12/29)

> Government Investigates Airline Snafus (12/28)

> 'Death Came From The Sea' (12/27)

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

> NEW! Sign up for Travel Notes by e-mail. Find out more.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** ProTravelGear.com
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>> On Elliott.org <<

** 8 Simple Rules for Travel in 2005
It's been a flier's market since 2001 - as well as an opportune time for travelers of all stripes. The post-9/11 travel downturn led to three years of great deals, often at the last minute. But all that is changing. Americans are traveling in big numbers again. Bargains are scarcer, and planning ahead will often be essential. But you can still snare a good deal - if you hew to the new rules for travelers in 2005. > Details in US News & World Report.

>> On Travelcomment.com <<

** What's So Funny?
A passenger approached me in the back galley with a semi-smug grin. "I guess there's not much to laugh at in the airline industry these days, eh?" I just blew it off with a smile and a shrug of my shoulders. I didn't want to get into it at that moment, but the more I thought about it, the more I disagreed. Sure, times are tough in the airline world but there is always plenty to laugh at, you just have to look a bit harder. The following week, I made it my mission to find the humor of airline travel. This is what I came up with. > In James Wysong's column.

** Notes on a Nutty Year
2004 was a year of peril for the airlines, that's for sure. Bankruptcies. Liquidations. Kate Spade uniforms on Song. There were fare wars, air rage, security tensions, body-cavity searches (oops, I'm getting a little ahead of myself - that's 2005), and of course the omnipresent "job actions." Now don't get me wrong, I think everyone is entitled to a fair wage, and that unions have a very prominent, important and useful place in our workforce. But, for those who support these "job actions," I have one question: Are you nuts? > In John Frenaye's column.

>> On Triprights.com <<

** Hey, I Didn't Buy That Ticket
There's a mystery charge on Jerry Wilson's credit card. Priceline has billed him $472 for an airline ticket from Washington to Colorado. But Wilson never meant to buy the tickets and he has an alibi: the aftereffects of viral encephalitis, which can cause confusion and memory loss. Is that enough for Priceline to refund his ticket? Plus, when should you not consider using Priceline's name-your- price Web site - and what are the alternatives? > In Fix My Trip.

>> Also Underwritten By <

** FirstClassFlyer.com
Want to fly first class for less than what others pay for coach? Looking for free and purchased upgrades, 2-for-1s, advanced ticketing techniques, and a fast-track to elite status strategies? Look no further ... these hot deals and more are available at First Class Flyer's Web site.

>> Flashback: Ringing in the New Year <<
The New Year is always a great opportunity to reflect on the last one - and to ponder the future. Here are a few archived examples.

** New Year's Nightmares
When I heard about FAA chief Jane Garvey's Y2K publicity-stunt flight from Washington to San Francisco, I thanked my lucky stars that I wasn't one of the reporters booked to go along. Take a long transcontinental flight with a cabin full of other journalists, throw in a mandatory stopover at Dallas/Fort Worth and the chance that wherever we land could be paralyzed by a Y2K computer blackout, and you end up with the New Year's Eve from Hell. > In The Travel Critic.

** Taking The Cautious Road
As I gaze into my crystal ball, here's what I see in 2003: 1) Airline ticket prices will head back up again; 2) Car rental rates will edge slightly higher; 3) Hotel prices will stay about the same; 4) I'll be named the CEO of a major airline. Yeah, right. I know better than to write a column that predicts the year ahead in business travel. And you probably know better than to read any story that claims to forecast what will happen with travel during 2003. > In Power Trip.

** Four 'Secret' Times to Travel
When is the perfect time to travel - when prices are low, there are no crowds and everyone gives you the individual attention you deserve? I'm not talking about the traditional "low" season, like summertime in the tropics, when hotels are shuttered, stores are closed and temperatures soar. Of course, those are excellent times to travel - as long as you don't mind living with Category Four hurricanes and cigar-sized insects. > In Power Trip.

>> Even More Underwriters <<

** Cheapflights.com
Flights price comparison site. Compare sales, specials and cheap flights to New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, London, Cancun, San Jose and over 600 more destinations. Cheapflights.com provides a quick and independent picture of the market for cheap flights from airlines (including Southwest and JetBlue), travel agents and specialist discounters. > Find cheap flights now.

** Dream of Italy
Looking for the perfect gift for the Italophile on your list? Look no further than a gift subscription to Dream of Italy, The Insider's Guide to Undiscovered Italy, recommended by National Geographic Traveler and American Way (American Airlines). Each holiday gift subscription (for that matter - each subscription - even one for yourself!) comes with a 2-DVD set of the Italian cinema classic La Dolce Vita (a $35 value). Published 10 times a year, Dream of Italy covers everything Italian (art, cooking schools, cultural events, destinations, hotels, museums, restaurants, shopping, villa rentals) for luxury travelers. All subscribers receive online access to over two years of back issues! A subscription by mail is $79 per year and a subscription via the Internet costs $69 a year. > Visit Dream of Italy online or call 877-OF-ITALY

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