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.

Teri Weissinger’s tale of being stuck at San Francisco Airport for eight days drew a swift and predictable reaction from readers.

Stuck at the airport because of luggage fees

January 22, 2024November 16, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Teri Weissinger’s tale of being stuck at San Francisco Airport for eight days drew a swift and predictable reaction from readers.

When they checked into the Seattle boutique hotel this summer, one of their bags was stolen after they surrendered it to the bellhop.

Hotel luggage theft: “He looked like a professional”

January 22, 2024November 15, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Athena Foley and her husband wish they’d never stayed at the Hotel Ändra. When they checked into the Seattle boutique hotel this summer, one of their bags was stolen after they surrendered it to the bellhop.

Compounding that tragedy was the fact that Southwest Airlines was trying to stick her with two overpriced plane tickets.

Is “heartless” Southwest Airlines profiting from dad’s death?

January 22, 2024November 14, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Jennifer Kucinski lives in Kansas City. Her father lives in Orlando. Make that lived in Orlando.

Richard Hartman rented a car from Alamo in Montreal this summer. It's a decision he regrets, they called collection agency.

No damage to rental car, but they called a collection agency anyway

January 22, 2024November 10, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Richard Hartman rented a car from Alamo in Montreal this summer. It’s a decision he regrets.

David Willard buys 350 points in Disney Vacation Club, Disney's timeshare program. But now he can't use them. Is he out of luck?

A broken Disney Vacation Club promise?

January 22, 2024November 4, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

David Willard is offered help with making a booking at a Disney Vacation Club — a promise Disney reneges on after his salesman goes on medical leave. Is there any way to get Mickey to keep his word?

Beware of the pre-existing medical conditions clause in your travel insurance policy! Oh alright, maybe that's a little dramatic.

Case dismissed: “The insurance will not cover our tickets”

June 27, 2024November 3, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Hardly a day seems to go by that I don’t get a complaint about the TSA. Ridiculous or not: Just who does the TSA think it is?

Just who does the TSA think it is?

January 22, 2024November 2, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Hardly a day seems to go by that I don’t get a complaint about the Transportation Security Administration.

Here's an unusual case with an equally unusual resolution. It involves two airline passengers, a medical device and EU airline passenger law.

Airline removed me because of confusion about medical supplies

January 22, 2024November 1, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Here’s an unusual case with an equally unusual resolution. It involves two Lufthansa passengers, and FDA-approved portable oxygen concentrator and EU airline passenger law.

A JetBlue aircraft, a freak storm, passengers stranded on an aircraft for hours -- and all happened near the media capital of the world.

Here we go again! Another tarmac stranding incident — beware of outraged talking heads on TV

January 22, 2024October 30, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

It seemed eerily familiar: A JetBlue aircraft, a freak storm, passengers stranded on an aircraft for hours — and all happened near the media capital of the world.

If Disney totaled this guest's minivan, why won't it cover the damage?

Is this enough compensation? Disney totaled my minivan

January 22, 2024October 25, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

As Joyce Dunne was checking out of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando recently, a cast member slipped her some bad news: Her Honda minivan had been damaged by the parking valet.