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Elliott Report

Elliott Report

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ECONOMY CLASS

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
Planes don't just feel more cramped than ever -- they are more cramped. There's also a growing realization that small seats pose a real threat to our health and safety. And while there are ways to beat the system, the ultimate fix isn't up to passengers.

Airline seats are too small. Here’s what we need to do.

May 5, 2025December 22, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Planes don’t just feel more cramped than ever — they are more cramped. There’s also a growing realization that small seats pose a real threat to our health and safety. And while there are ways to beat the system, the ultimate fix isn’t up to passengers.

Categories On Travel
Can ITA Airways keep the money for your upgrade bid but send you to economy class?

She bid $594 for an upgrade on ITA Airways but was seated in economy class. Now her money is gone.

April 2, 2025December 2, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Can ITA Airways keep the money for your upgrade bid but send you to economy class?

Categories Advocacy
A fragile medical device. An overstuffed rollaboard. A large cooler filled with snacks. You'd be shocked by what passengers are trying to fit under their economy class seats these days.

Why the space shortage is squeezing airline passengers

June 8, 2025July 20, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

A fragile medical device. An overstuffed rollaboard. A large cooler filled with snacks.You’d be shocked by what passengers are trying to fit under their economy class seats these days. 

Categories On Travel
After American Airlines downgrades Margarethe Hoenig on her flight from Dallas to Auckland, New Zealand, the airline promises her a partial refund. Then it says it can't. What's going on?

Downgraded on my American Airlines flight to New Zealand — do I get a refund?

May 11, 2025June 26, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After a passenger gets bumped to economy class, American Airlines promises her a refund for her flight downgrade. Then it refuses.

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
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
Steve Feiertag's journey from Palm Beach to Reykjavik takes an unexpected turn when Chase Ultimate Rewards mistakenly downgrades and cancels his business class flights. Facing a loss of $5,000 and left without assistance, Feiertag turns to Christopher Elliott, a consumer advocate, in a desperate attempt to salvage his travel plans.

Help! Chase Ultimate Rewards downgraded my flight — and then canceled it

January 6, 2025January 9, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Steve Feiertag’s flights from Palm Beach to Reykjavik are messed up, but Chase Ultimate Rewards won’t help him fix them. Is he about to lose $5,000?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
American Airlines downgrades Thomas Sennett and his family to economy class on their flights from Boston to Phoenix. Why isn't it refunding the fare difference?

American Airlines downgraded us. Can I get the fare difference refunded?

June 11, 2025September 18, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

American Airlines downgrades Thomas Sennett and his family to economy class on their flights from Boston to Phoenix. Why isn’t it refunding the fare difference?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
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
Here's an idea for creating a better flying experience: Why not stop economy-class airline seats from reclining?

No more reclining airline seats! Let’s lock ’em

October 3, 2024June 11, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Here’s an idea for creating a better flying experience: Why not stop economy-class airline seats from reclining? 

Categories Featured, On Travel
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