UNDERWRITER Archives

Do you have your star yet? You know, the ★ next to your name. On this list.

They want this site to disappear in 2018. Here’s what you should tell them.

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018 Christopher Elliott 7 Comments ADVOCACY, CONSUMER ADVOCATE, CONSUMER HELP, FUNDRAISER, UNDERWRITER

They’re out to get us.

I know, because I see the “cease and desist” letters their law firms send us, demanding that we remove their executive contacts from our site. I read the hateful comments on their industry fan blogs. I also deal with their Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks that temporarily knock us offline.

Their goal? To denigrate, discredit and dismantle the advocacy you depend on every day.

Commentary

What have I done for you lately?

December 23, 2017December 23, 2017 Christopher Elliott 1 Comment BitCoin, HELP, INVEST, UNDERWRITER

Forget Bitcoin. If you want a sure thing, invest in the consumer advocacy on this site.

Commentary

What does the Wild Thing really mean?

December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments CONSUMER ADVOCACY, ID, POM, POMCHIES, SUPPORT, UNDERWRITER

This is the Wild Thing. It’s a fun, practical luggage ID made by our friends at Pomchies right here in my home state of Arizona. I’ve given away this frilly fabric accessory, called a Pom ID, to supporters of my website for the last few years.

Commentary

This is war! Whose side are you on?

December 16, 2017December 16, 2017 Christopher Elliott 12 Comments AIRLINE, DOT, HELP, SUPPORT, UNDERWRITER, war

Unless you read the federal register for fun, you probably missed the Oct. 2 regulatory review by the Department of Transportation. It invites comments from the public as the agency considers “existing regulations and other agency actions” to evaluate their continued necessity, determine whether they are crafted effectively to solve current problems, and evaluate whether they potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources.

Sounds pretty innocent, right?

Commentary

Is your name on the list?

June 26, 2017June 25, 2017 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments ADVOCACY, BOINGO, DONATION, SUPPORT, THANKS, UNDERWRITER

You read this site every day. You follow our well-researched, useful stories. Maybe you comment on the posts, too.

Commentary

What if they pulled the plug on this site?

June 5, 2017June 4, 2017 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments ADVOCACY, AIRLINE INFO, CONSUMER, HELP, policy, SUPPORT, UNDERWRITER

What if they pulled the plug on this site? What if the stories you read here every day vanished? What if I stopped holding companies’ feet to the fire in the pages of the Washington Post, USA Today and in my syndicated columns?

On Your Side

Why we’re breaking a few rules for you today

October 14, 2015October 17, 2015 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments SUPPORT, THANK YOU, UNDERWRITER

As you can probably tell, this isn’t your average fundraiser.

Commentary

I’m giving away $500 in HotelPower credit – here’s how to qualify

October 23, 2014October 23, 2014 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments FUNDRAISER, UNDERWRITER

Can you feel the excitement building? Every day during our October fundraiser, I’ve been giving away luggage, books and other

Commentary

Listen up! The best is yet to come

October 22, 2014October 22, 2014 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments PREMIUM, UNDERWRITER, WALL

If you’re tuned in to your public radio fundraiser, this is about the time of the month you start getting

Commentary

If your name isn’t on the wall, here’s why it should be

October 21, 2014October 21, 2014 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments RECOGNIZE, UNDERWRITER, WALL

Is your name on the wall? If you’re reading this, then it should be.

Commentary

Today is your day

October 17, 2014October 17, 2014 Christopher Elliott 5 Comments FUNDRAISER, OCTOBER, UNDERWRITER

If you’ve ever read something useful on this site that allowed you to make a more enlightened consumer purchase, today

Commentary

Join the cause and get a set of wheels for the weekend, new luggage … and more!

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments GIVEAWAY, UNDERWRITER

You’re the reason I publish this consumer advocacy website. And twice a year, I share some of the love by

Commentary

Don’t you dare read this story!

October 6, 2014October 6, 2014 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments FUNDRAISER, UNDERWRITER

They don’t want you to read this. They don’t want you to get involved. They want you to be ignorant.

Commentary

Meet the underwriters: Florida Vacation Auction

October 13, 2010October 13, 2010 Christopher Elliott 1 Comment FLORIDA VACATION AUCTION, UNDERWRITER

Sal Dickinson is the president of Florida Vacation Auction, and he inaugurates our “Meet the underwriters” feature today. Our underwriters support the consumer advocacy you see on this site, and I’m grateful to every one of them for helping make the travel industry a better place.

Commentary

Thanks to your help, consumer advocacy isn’t extinct yet

August 29, 2010August 31, 2010 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments DONATION, SUPPORT, UNDERWRITER

These aren’t the best of times to be in journalism. Budgets are being slashed. Writers are being let go. Makes me feel like a dinosaur on the verge of extinction.

Commentary

What do Minor Trips, Scottevest and the Seattle TourSaver have in common?

December 10, 2009December 11, 2009 Christopher Elliott 0 Comments FUNDRAISER, UNDERWRITER

It’s not a trick question. You can win valuable premiums from these three companies for supporting this site and newsletter. Right now.

AirHelp — AirHelp is the world’s leading flight delays compensation company, helping passengers apply for compensation following a delayed or canceled flight or when boarding has been denied. It is AirHelp’s mission to fight for passenger rights by holding airlines accountable for flights disruptions that are out of passengers’ control. AirHelp has already helped 5 million people, taking the stress out of applying for compensation and making it as hassle-free as possible for travelers around the world.

Allianz Travel Insurance — The Allianz Travel Insurance company has built its reputation on partnering with agents all around the world to provide comprehensive travel insurance for their clients. Contact Allianz Travel Insurance for a comprehensive list of coverage.

Chubb -- Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, and recognized as the premier provider of insurance for successful individuals and families in the U.S. and selected international markets, offering coverage for high-value automobile, homeowners, recreational marine/aviation, valuables and umbrella liability coverage. As an underwriting company, Chubb assesses, assumes and manages risk with insight and discipline, and combines the precision of craftsmanship with decades of experience to conceive, craft and deliver the best insurance coverage and services to individuals, families and business of all size.

Enterprise — A family-owned, world-class portfolio of brands. A global network that spans across more than 85 countries. Some 97,000 dedicated team members sharing common values. And more than 1.9 million vehicles taking our customers wherever they need to go.

Fareportal — Fareportal’s portfolio of brands, which include CheapOair and OneTravel, are dedicated to helping customers enjoy their trip. Whether you want to call, click, or use one of our travel apps, one thing is clear: We make it easy to take it easy.

Insuremyrentalcar.com – An independent provider of low cost CDW/LDW insurance for use with rental cars. Up to $100,000 cover with no deductible. Policies available on a per day, per trip or per year basis. Also works with overseas rentals. Try Insuremyrentalcar.com now.

InsureMyTrip - It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. Rated A+ for travel insurance by the Better Business Bureau. All travelers that purchase a policy through InsureMyTrip have access to Anytime Advocates® for claims assistance.

Mediacom Communications - The nation’s fifth-largest cable operator, serving the smaller cities and towns in the Midwest and Southern regions of the United States. We are a high-performance broadband, entertainment, and communications company that brings the power of modern technology and quality customer experience to life inside the connected home by combining ultra-fast gigabit speeds with personalized local and over-the-top entertainment choices that fit your lifestyle. Details at Mediacomcable.com.

SCOTTeVEST -- An innovative apparel brand for people who want easy access to everything they need. For those who live for every second, SCOTTeVEST lets you maximize your life. Ditch the carry-on bag and pick up a SCOTTeVEST.

Virtuoso -- The leading global network for luxury and experiential travel. This invitation-only organization comprises over 1,000 travel agency locations with 17,500 advisors in over 45 countries, and holds preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world’s finest travel companies. Virtuoso advisors collaborate with their clients to create personalized itineraries featuring exclusive perks, while also providing advice, access, advocacy, and accountability. For more information, visit Virtuoso.com.

VisitorsCoverage - As a company that is constantly striving to simplify travel insurance, VisitorsCoverage, is on a mission to help travelers make the better decisions about purchasing travel insurance, quickly. VisitorsCoverage has helped millions of travelers globally to buy the suitable travel insurance and explore the world with confidence. Get insurance for your next trip at VisitorsCoverage. Lowest Price Guaranteed.

Corporate underwriters and individual donors help pay for this site's operating expenses. Sponsorship is not an endorsement and does not affect editorial coverage.

MedjetAssist — Medjet is the premier global air-medical transport, travel security and crisis response membership program for travelers. With a MedjetAssist membership, if you become hospitalized more than 150 miles from home, we will get you from that unfamiliar hospital all the way home to the hospital you trust. All you ever pay is your membership fee. MedjetHorizon members add 24/7 personal security and crisis response benefits. Elliott.org readers enjoy discounted rates. Travel safer with MedjetAssist.

Southwest Airlines — The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit. We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth.

Sungard Availability Services – Leveraging more than 35 years of experience, Sungard AS designs, builds and runs critical IT services that help businesses manage complex IT, adapt quickly and build resiliency and availability. A leading provider of critical production and recovery services, Sungard AS partners with customers across the globe, delivering resilient IT systems, infrastructure and recovery services tailored to achieving desired business outcomes.

TravelInsurance.com – TravelInsurance.com makes it fast and easy to compare and buy travel insurance online from top rated providers. Our unbiased comparison engine allows travelers to read reviews, compare pricing and benefits and buy the right policy with a price guarantee, every time. Compare and buy travel insurance now at TravelInsurance.com.

Squaremouth – Squaremouth helps travelers easily and instantly compare travel insurance policies from all major providers. Only companies that meet the strict requirements of Squaremouth’s Zero Complaint Guarantee are available on the website. Compare policies on Squaremouth.com to save over 70 percent on your next purchase.

Travel Leaders Group – Travel Leaders Group is transforming travel through its progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Travel Leaders Group assists millions of travelers through its leisure, business and network travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands including All Aboard Travel, Andrew Harper Travel, Colletts Travel, Corporate Travel Services, CruCon Cruise Outlet, Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, SinglesCruise.com, Travel Leaders Corporate, Travel Leaders Network and Tzell Travel Group, and its merger with ALTOUR. With more than 7,000 agency locations and 52,000 travel advisors, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry’s largest retail travel agency companies.

Travelers United – If you’ve been mistreated by the airlines, Travelers United is your voice in Washington. Join the #1 travel advocacy organization working with Congress to improve and protect travelers. Plus, get $400 of annual benefits you can use for travel for only $29/year. Add your voice to ours. Make travel better. Join today.