elliott.org

‘Keystroke error’ turns $289 rate into $28

Christopher Elliott — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:33:27 +0000

Terry Capps finds a $28 a night room rate at a Westin hotel in Orlando. Turns out the hotel made a mistake, and that the real price is $289 a night. What now? Should the resort honor the original price or can it change the rate and force Capps to pay?

“CheapoAir made my mother cry”

Christopher Elliott — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:11:12 +0000

And they were not tears of joy at having found a bargain. Elizabeth Hutton's mother, Mary Ellyn, bought a round trip ticket from Cincinnati to Tallinn, Estonia, with stopovers in Newark and Stockholm. But something was wrong with the reservation, and she had to pay for another flight.

What’s new on Elliott: CheapoAir made me cry, confusing holiday forecasts, and contagious niceness

Christopher Elliott — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:09:34 +0000

CheapoAir made my mother cry. Plus, confusing holiday forecasts, a car rental disaster and contagious niceness.

Holiday travel forecasts: “Cautious optimism” — or billion-dollar bloodbath?

Christopher Elliott — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:56:05 +0000

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.

After car rental disaster, angry customer mails “gesture of goodwill” back to Thrifty

Christopher Elliott — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:23:48 +0000

Like most travelers, Bette Waterstreet doesn't expect much when she rents a car. A clean, running vehicle that's in the same car class she ordered will do just fine. But that's not what she got when she rented from Thrifty in Ontario, Calif., recently.

What’s 1.4 percent, really? A second look at the Thanksgiving forecast

Christopher Elliott — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:54:29 +0000

After a sharp drop last year, more Americans are expected to travel for the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, although travel by air will decline. That's how the play-it-straight AP played the just-released AAA Thanksgiving forecast.

United’s Denny Flanagan: “Being nice is contagious”

Christopher Elliott — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:49:47 +0000

United Airlines Captain Denny Flanagan had his 15 minutes of fame -- and then some -- when he was "discovered" by several prominent print and broadcast outlets two years ago and profiled for his many random acts of kindness. But long after the TV crews left, Captain Flanagan continues to do good at...

Car rental FAIL? Industry misses a “D” by one point — again

Christopher Elliott — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:17:09 +0000

Pretend, for a minute, that car rental companies are high school students. The average class grade on a recet test is 73 percent, which is a C- and, truth be told, just a point away from a D.

Here’s a receipt for your airline ticket (PS, you don’t have a ticket)

Christopher Elliott — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:37:25 +0000

Doris Weller booked a set of roundtrip tickets from Wichita, Kan., to Houston on AirTran recently. Her husband, Lawrence, needed to be in Houston for an important medical treatment. The airline sent her a confirmation. But it wasn't the kind of confirmation she expected.

What’s new on Elliott: A holiday survival guide, taxes and hotels and a shuttle launch

Christopher Elliott — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:26:04 +0000

Do this before you travel for the holidays. Plus, taxes and hotels, car rentals and court and a shuttle launch.