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.

If they didn’t tell me about this $200 change fee, do I still have to pay it?

February 5, 2024November 16, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

A few weeks ago, Chris Singh was scheduled to fly from Minneapolis to Norfolk, Va., on United Airlines to rent a vacation home.

Stop the presses! United Airlines removes a fee

February 5, 2024November 15, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

That’s no typo. United Airlines actually removed a fee. Really, it did.

The hidden messages of the airline industry. Sometimes, airlines reveal their true feelings about you with a simple word or phrase.

Comfort hacks for flights that cramp your style

February 5, 2024November 15, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

Air travel can be a humiliating, dehumanizing and even torturous experience — at least according to my e-mail inbox.

This week's top story was Janice Hough's first-person account about the power of social media. Twitter has a secret about you.

Twitter has a secret about you

February 5, 2024November 14, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

This week’s top story was Janice Hough’s first-person account about the power of social media. Twitter has a secret about you.

They're spoiled. They're demanding. And they're ruining travel for everyone else. That's what employees say about entitled travelers.

Putting entitled travelers in their place

February 5, 2024November 14, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

They’re spoiled. They’re demanding. And they’re ruining travel for everyone else. That’s what employees say about entitled travelers.

Privilege and human dignity in air travel: that the elites sitting in the big seats are subsidizing everyone else's low fares.

Maybe first class passengers aren’t so special after all

February 5, 2024November 13, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

One piece of conventional wisdom has gone unchallenged during our ongoing debate about class, privilege and human dignity in air travel: that the elites sitting in the big seats are subsidizing everyone else’s low fares.

Dinged for ‘normal wear and tear’ by Enterprise

June 19, 2024November 13, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

Alex Silverstein’s rental car is damaged before he picks it up. It’s still damaged, but now Enterprise wants him to pay for it. Should he?

And the most annoying passenger on the plane is …

February 5, 2024November 12, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

Here we go again. Expedia is out with yet another survey on the most annoying passengers on a plane.

When Jennifer Ferris re-ups with Comcast, the cable company downgrades her account. Is there any way out?

Broken Comcast promises, and now a cancellation fee?

February 5, 2024November 12, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

When Jennifer Ferris re-ups with Comcast, the cable company downgrades her account. Is there any way out?

Yesterday, my colleague Kendall Creighton asked if the big three airlines have a “stranglehold” on three New York area airports.

Someone just did something about the ‘stranglehold’ on airline competition

February 5, 2024November 11, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

Yesterday, my colleague Kendall Creighton asked if the big three airlines have a “stranglehold” on three New York area airports.