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.

Should I have been charged extra for my checked luggage?

January 22, 2024December 7, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Deborah Bouchette researches the luggage rules for an upcoming flight, but is surprised by a 200 Euro fee to check her bag, anyway. Her airline says she should get a refund — so why isn’t she?

Someone urinated on my airline seat — is this enough compensation?

January 22, 2024December 6, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Anything can happen on a plane. Anything did happen to Rita Auth when she boarded a recent flight from Dallas to Tucson.

Is your credit card safe at cruising altitude?

August 11, 2025December 2, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Maybe it was the Bloody Mary that got Jean Shanley into trouble on a recent flight from Louisville to Las Vegas.

No refund for a sick United passenger?

January 22, 2024December 1, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Susan Fuhrman’s husband is sick, and she can’t get a straight answer from United Airlines about her refund request. One representative agrees to a full refund, but another refuses. Who’s right?

The TSA as we know it is dead — here’s why

January 22, 2024November 30, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

The TSA is doomed. You’ll have to at least agree that the agency as we know can’t continue to exist as it does.

Insurance claim denied because of … air traffic?

January 22, 2024November 29, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Arthur Ruffino’s travel insurance claim is a real heartbreaker, for several reasons.

They showed her the net rate and now she wants it

January 22, 2024November 26, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Eleanore Brouhard knows a secret.

Is this the beginning of the end for the TSA’s full-body scanners?

January 22, 2024November 25, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

To absolutely no one’s surprise, the mainstream media last week ignored a legitimate grassroots protest against the TSA’s allegedly invasive full-body scanners.

After the storm, who has your refund?

January 22, 2024November 24, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

The recent superstorm and series of nor’easters that slammed into the East Coast grounded tens of thousands of travelers, including Neil Weiss.

Charged $1,341 for damage I didn’t do

January 22, 2024November 23, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Theodore Mariano’s rental car has a scratch, and although his rental company promises it won’t charge him for the repair, it does. Did the scratch exist before he picked it up? Maybe.