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.
Flying with diabetes information

Flying with diabetes: What you need to know

Before she boarded her flight from Santiago, Chile, to Buenos Aires, the unthinkable happened to Barbara Rowan: a security screener tried to confiscate her needles.

Rowan, who is a diabetic, needs to carry hypodermic needles with her for medical reasons. So she struck a deal with the Chilean airport officials: The chief purser would hold the packaged needles until the plane landed in Argentina.

Here's how to make your trips more authentic.

How to make your trips more authentic

Sean Cummings helped put New Orleans back on the map after Hurricane Katrina. As one of the thousands of small business owners in the city, he faced a difficult choice in the storm’s wake: rebuild his hotel, the iconic International House in the financial district, at a price that exceeded its value or leave.

What are car subscriptions?

Car subscriptions could be boon for travelers

When the lease on his Nissan Leaf ran out, Paul Evans knew exactly what kind of car he wanted: None.

Instead, Evans downloaded an app called Clutch. He registered his driver’s license and noted his vehicle preference and delivery address. A few hours later, Clutch delivered a late-model Audi A6 to his front door, and he joined an up-and-coming travel trend — car subscriptions.

Take your travel industry complaint to the top

Got a complaint about the travel industry? Take it to the top.

If you’re thinking of taking your travel complaint to the top, here’s a little good news: someone’s listening.

When I started advocating for consumers more than 20 years ago, executive email addresses often were dead ends. Managers would order an assistant to comb through their messages and forward the important ones — or they’d ignore them altogether. Now they are far more likely to read every message personally.

Here's how to survive an extreme weather vacation

How to survive an extreme weather vacation

Extreme weather can happen at any time. But when it interrupts your vacation, you’re in real trouble. Consider my recent misadventure when my oldest son, Aren, and I hiked up our favorite trail during Arizona’s famously unpredictable monsoon season.