Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.
Want to get great airline service even in the worst conditions? Use your "pleases" and "thank yous" – and don't expect too much.

How to get the best airline service

Want to get great airline service even from airlines? Use your “pleases” and “thank yous” – and don’t expect too much.

You can score excellent service, even in the worst condition, by understanding your airline, minding your manners and taking care of a few basics.

Everywhere we went in Provo, we saw Charlie. No question about it. Charlie was having a wild time in Provo -- and so were we.

How to have a wild time in Provo, Utah

Everywhere we went in Provo, we saw Charlie. There were signs for Charlie on power poles. We saw Charlie — or at least we thought we saw him — zipping between the apple orchards on the sprawling Utah Valley Hospital campus.

No question about it. Charlie was having a wild time in Provo — and so were we.

If your vacation is ruined by a hurricane, will it be covered by trip insurance? The short answer is: sometimes. But in this case, it's more complicated.

If a hurricane ruins my vacation, will trip insurance cover me?

Norman Fitton and his wife paid $2,615 for a vacation rental in Kitty Hawk, N.C., from Sept. 7 to 14. Unfortunately, they had an unexpected visitor: Hurricane Dorian. The storm made landfall at Cape Hatteras, forcing the Fittons to ask: If your vacation is ruined by a hurricane, will it be covered by trip insurance?

The short answer is: sometimes.