elliott.org

The Insider: Should I take a cruise?

Christopher Elliott — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:53:27 +0000

The world of travel used to be divided into two groups: People who cruised -- and people who didn't.

I have a seat but I don’t have a seat assignment

Christopher Elliott — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:56 +0000

If you have a seat on a plane, shouldn't you also have a seat assignment?

Did United Airlines do enough for mystery meat victim?

Christopher Elliott — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Something happened to Steve Mukherjee on his recent flight from Accra, Ghana, to Washington -- something that even to this day makes him "sick to my stomach."

Don’t fall for these scams!

Christopher Elliott — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:26 +0000

I‘m often asked about the worst “gotchas” out there, and given that I wrote the book on the subject, I ought to know. But as I discover in this week’s Mint.com personal finance column, the answer is constantly changing. You’ll want to read it to find out what scams to...

Black mold in my Amtrak cabin — how about a refund?

Christopher Elliott — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:02 +0000

Here's a case where a ticket contract and the reality of an experience find themselves on a head-on collision of sorts. And I'm kinda in the middle.

Bill aims to scuttle new airfare pricing rule

Christopher Elliott — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:29 +0000

Enjoy the government’s new airfare rule. It might not last.

TSA Watch: Agents do the strangest things!

Christopher Elliott — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:48:24 +0000

What's with TSA agents' bizarre behavior lately?

I paid for tickets on the wrong airline

Christopher Elliott — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:32:49 +0000

Laurie Spear's travel agent tells her she's booked on American Airlines. But it turns out she's on British Airways and that leads to all kinds of problems. Who's responsible, and how does she fix it?

Whatever happened to passenger rights?

Christopher Elliott — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:17 +0000

Remember all that talk about the passenger rights a few years ago? Well, the chickens came home to roost with the likely passage of the FAA Reathorization bill and several new DOT rules, and the news is ... well, it's hard to say for sure.

Who’s responsible for this bump in my bumper?

Christopher Elliott — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:28 +0000

Chris Benzinger has a problem with National Car Rental. The company sent him a surprise repair bill, but it isn't telling him what he did to deserve it.

You’ve gotta try these Apalachicola Bay oysters

Christopher Elliott — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:16:01 +0000

We interrupt this consumer blog to bring you the following important message: If you're ever in Northwest Florida, you must drive down to Apalachicola to try the oysters.

The tricks they play at the car rental counter

Christopher Elliott — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:09 +0000

Ask George Mayo about car insurance, and he'll tell you that his State Farm policy covers rentals. He's certain of it. And he's also certain that when he rented a car from Avis in Nashville, recently, he declined the optional insurance.

Did I forget to mention I was born in Canada?

Christopher Elliott — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:58 +0000

Harry Kopy has a secret.

Are you a cheatin’ customer?

Christopher Elliott — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:18 +0000

A customer who cheats a company out of rightfully-earned revenue is the ultimate "man-bites-dog" story for consumer reporters. But what would you do if you could cheat -- and get away with it?

Disney promised me fireworks! Where are the fireworks?

Christopher Elliott — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:12 +0000

It may sound insignificant, but to Mona Ogden, the fireworks at Disneyland are a big deal. She even spent $900 to upgrade into a "club-level" room at the Disneyland Hotel on a recent visit because they promised "a view of the Disneyland Park fireworks show from above with in-house soundtrack."