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Elliott Report

Elliott Report

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AIRLINE INDUSTRY

Paying extra for an airline seat assignment can feel like a money grab, yet it may be necessary for comfort. While many travelers opt to skip the fees, understanding when to pay for a preferred seat can enhance your travel experience and save you from unnecessary stress during flights.

Should you pay extra for an airline seat assignment?

May 5, 2025May 4, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Is it worth paying extra for a seat assignment on a flight?

Categories On Travel

Angry air travelers are lashing out at each other. Here’s what to do.

December 15, 2024July 27, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Is it my imagination, or are air travelers getting angrier at each other this summer? 

Categories On Travel
Airlines are surprising customers with unexpected kindness, such as shedding fees and offering free perks. This shift, influenced by government regulations and a surge in passenger complaints, aims to improve customer satisfaction and retain loyalty. While low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier lead this change, even legacy airlines are stepping up. However, experts warn that this newfound niceness might be short-lived and could eventually result in higher fares. Real, lasting change will only occur when passengers value service quality over cost, pushing airlines to consistently prioritize customer care.

Why are airlines being so nice to you?

July 15, 2024July 13, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Airlines are shedding fees, giving away free stuff, and being extra nice to their customers. Has the world gone mad?

Categories On Travel
Your next flight may get an upgrade. No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It's bigger than that -- much bigger.

Is air travel getting better? Here are the surprising reasons it is

August 2, 2024March 2, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Your next flight may get an upgrade.
No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It’s bigger than that — much bigger.

Categories On Travel
Air travelers often exhibit "exit envy," a phenomenon where passengers rush to disembark the moment the plane lands, leading to chaos and frustration. Whether driven by the need to make a tight connection or simply a desire to leave the plane as soon as possible, this behavior disrupts the usual deplaning process. However, there are courteous ways to ensure you can exit early without inconveniencing others, including enlisting the help of flight attendants or securing a seat near the front. Learn the art of exiting a plane early without stepping on toes.

Why does everyone want to get off the plane first? It’s exit envy!

March 27, 2025February 24, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Why do air travelers want to get off the plane first? As soon as the aircraft pulls up to the gate, it’s a mad stampede to the front.

Categories Featured, On Travel
Airline mergers often lead to higher fares and reduced service quality. As major carriers like Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines consider merging, passengers like Eloisa Hife express deep concerns. With the government stepping in and consumer groups rallying, there's a growing call for public action to protect competition and consumer rights.

Yes, you can stop these airline mergers. Here’s how

January 7, 2024December 23, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Want to block the latest airline mergers? Here’s how your voice can challenge the turbulence of airline mergers and protect passenger rights.

Categories Advocacy, Featured
Discover how to handle the 'delay rage,' by understanding your passenger rights and utilizing coping strategies during flight delays. Explore the bigger issue of airline accountability and potential government regulation to improve the air travel experience.

Don’t become a victim of delay rage this summer. Here’s how.

July 15, 2024July 23, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

If the click of the public announcement system in the boarding area is all it takes to make your heart skip a beat, maybe you’re susceptible to this summer’s travel epidemic: delay rage. 

Categories Airline Problems, On Travel
On a recent flight from Phoenix to London, Gerri Hether found herself seated next to an overweight passenger -- so overweight that he couldn't fit into his seat. 

Do overweight passengers deserve a bigger seat on a plane?

July 15, 2024July 15, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

On a recent flight from Phoenix to London, Gerri Hether found herself seated next to an overweight passenger — so overweight that he couldn’t fit into his seat. 

Categories Airline Problems, Featured, On Travel
Frontier Airlines overcharged Abbey Colville for her luggage on a recent flight from Denver to Detroit. Way overcharged her.

What should you do when an airline overcharges you for luggage?

November 21, 2024July 7, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Frontier Airlines overcharged Abbey Colville for her luggage on a recent flight from Denver to Detroit. Way overcharged her.

Categories Advocacy, Featured
Krista O'Brien accidentally pays $449 extra for her checked luggage on an Aer Lingus flight. Why won't the airline help her undo the mistake?

I paid Aer Lingus for extra luggage I didn’t need. Can I get a refund?

November 4, 2024April 4, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Krista O’Brien accidentally pays $449 extra for her checked luggage on an Aer Lingus flight. Why won’t the airline help her undo the mistake?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
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