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.

Information is power. No industry understands that better than airlines, which parcels out information about itself on a need-to-know basis.

Why do airlines hate it when you know your rights?

January 26, 2024January 13, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

Information is power.

To call Smathers Beach in Key West, Fla., a beach might be a little stretch. When a beach isn’t really a beach, and other disappointments.

When a beach isn’t really a beach, and other travel disappointments

January 26, 2024January 12, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

To call Smathers Beach in Key West, Fla., a beach might be a little stretch.

As Juanita Centanni boarded a recent Cayman Airways flight from Tampa to Grand Cayman, she braced herself for an awful travel experience.

Maybe good airline service is possible after all

January 26, 2024January 11, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

As Juanita Centanni boarded a recent Cayman Airways flight from Tampa to Grand Cayman, she braced herself for an awful travel experience.

After Chandra Bhandaru points out a few scratches on a Hertz rental, the car rental sends a bill — and then another bill. What happened?

When renting a car, no good deed goes unpunished

May 4, 2024January 10, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

After Chandra Bhandaru points out a few scratches on a Hertz rental, the car rental sends a bill — and then another bill. Now the company wants to refer the matter to a collection agency. What happened?

Klaus Schuller's wireless modem doesn't arrive before his trip to Europe. It doesn't arrive while he's in Europe.

Wireless company failed to deliver modem, then pocketed my money

January 26, 2024January 9, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

Klaus Schuller’s wireless modem doesn’t arrive before his trip to Europe. It doesn’t arrive while he’s in Europe. Instead, it’s waiting for him when he gets home. Why can’t he get a refund for a hotspot he never got to use?

If you're a regular reader of my consumer advocacy columns, you probably already know that the word "free" should trip all kinds of alarms.

Want to live debt free? 4 signs you might be getting ripped off

January 26, 2024January 8, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

The airline says their seats are unique products, and loathe the idea of "commoditization" which says all seats are basically the same.

Does this “disgusted” passenger deserve a full refund?

January 26, 2024January 7, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

Airlines often speak from both sides of their mouth.

Glenn Rossi’s recent Avis car rental had him seeing double. Literally. Luckily there is a fix for that for travelers.

Billed twice by Avis car rental? There’s a fix for that, travelers

May 15, 2025January 5, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

Glenn Rossi’s recent Avis car rental had him seeing double. Literally.

As Ralph sees it, Delta Air Lines had him over a barrel when he tried to change the dates on a flight from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Hartford.

Should airline tickets be transferrable?

January 26, 2024January 4, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

As Ralph Santopietro sees it, Delta Air Lines had him over a barrel when he tried to change the dates on a flight from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Hartford, Conn.

When Judi McManigal arrives at her hotel in Paris, she discovers she doesn't have a reservation. Her online travel agency won't help her.

Hotels.com left me in Paris sans hotel

January 26, 2024January 3, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

When Judi McManigal arrives at her hotel in Paris, she discovers she doesn’t have a reservation. Her online travel agency won’t help her. Is she stuck with the bill?