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.

Barbara Hilliard's dogs didn't make their KLM flight from Nuremberg, Germany, to Dallas via Amsterdam. Neither did she.

Is this enough compensation? A partial refund for my dogless flight

January 20, 2024April 19, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Barbara Hilliard’s dogs didn’t make their KLM flight from Nuremberg, Germany, to Dallas via Amsterdam. Neither did she.

Refund cases are in a class by themselves, when it comes to frustration, but this one probably deserves its own category.

Can this trip be saved? Paid twice for a flight home, but they refunded the wrong ticket

January 20, 2024April 18, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Refund cases are in a class by themselves, when it comes to frustration, but this one probably deserves its own category. It comes to us by way of Ann Vaninetti, who recently took a cruise with her husband, Dave, in Brazil.

This is six-year-old Anna Drexel getting a pat-down in New Orleans earlier this month. The TSA is taking a lot of heat.

Should the TSA pat down kids?

January 20, 2024April 15, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

This is six-year-old Anna Drexel getting a pat-down in New Orleans earlier this month. The TSA is taking a lot of heat.

Travel insurance and complete documentation for a canceled trip due to a bicycling accident, Access America refuses to pay the claim.

Insurance claim denied after bike accident

January 20, 2024April 15, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

John Frow pays for his airline tickets with $601 in credit. But then he has a bike accident and cancels his trip. When he makes an insurance claim, Access America turns him down, believing he didn’t suffer any financial loss. Now what?

Catherine had a little extra peace of mind because she'd purchased an insurance policy for her flights through Access America.

Case dismissed? Travel insurance won’t cover my canceled tour

January 20, 2024April 14, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Catherine Markland was looking forward to her Ecuador trip with Friendly Planet this month. She had a litte extra peace of mind because she’d purchased an insurance policy for her flights through Access America.

Jorge booked a nonrefundable room at the Hampton Inn & Suites Reagan National Airport through Orbitz and then canceled the trip.

No credit for your nonrefundable hotel room

January 20, 2024April 13, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

True, Jorge Sanchez-Salazar booked a nonrefundable room at the Hampton Inn & Suites Reagan National Airport through Orbitz. And it’s true, too, that he canceled the trip, and that under the rules, the hotel could keep his money — all of it.

Days Inn doesn't exactly have a reputation for sparkling clean rooms and five-star customer service. Alyssa Erikson didn't choose the hotel.

Is this enough compensation? A $10 voucher for a filthy hotel room

January 20, 2024April 12, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Days Inn doesn’t exactly have a reputation for sparkling clean rooms and five-star customer service. Then again, Alyssa Erikson didn’t choose the hotel — Priceline did when she booked it through the site’s popular “Name Your Own Price” service.

Slipped and fell at a luxury resort -- how about a refund? You can't get a room next weekend for less than $200 a night.

Can this trip be saved? Slipped and fell at a luxury resort — how about a refund?

January 20, 2024April 11, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena is billed as a five-diamond “iconic landmark hotel” at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California. You can’t get a room next weekend for less than $200 a night.

After yesterday's poll that asked if asking I should continue using polls on this site, I feel as if I have a mandate.

Bunny Lady vs. TSA, Deep Throat gets choked up, and a comment about comments

January 20, 2024April 10, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

I won’t bury the lede, as they say in journalism: After yesterday’s poll that asked if asking I should continue using polls on this site, I feel as if I have a mandate.

Is the travel industry thinking small or just being small-minded?

January 24, 2024April 9, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

True story: US Airways, which has been in the news this week for announcing it will add first class service to its smallest planes, sent frequent flier Margery Wilson the following apology late yesterday.