Elliott Confidential $10 / month

Elliott Confidential delves into consumer protection issues within the travel industry, providing alerts, guidance, and critical analyses of airlines, car rental companies, and hotels. It emphasizes consumer rights, safety concerns in air travel, the impact of government actions on airlines, and practical advice for travelers navigating commercial disputes and planning trips.

Consumer Protection Air Travel Safety Automotive Industry Trends Hotel Industry Practices Government Regulation Travel Planning and Advice

The hottest Substack posts of Elliott Confidential

And their main takeaways

Did the U.S. government just kill Spirit Airlines?

884 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24

The U.S. government blocked a merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, putting Spirit in trouble.
This is the first time the government has stopped an airline merger.
Spirit Airlines' stock has plummeted after the ruling, and the airline is seeking a refinancing deal to survive.

Consumer Alert: What to do about these unsafe planes?

1022 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24

📰 News Safety Air Travel

Consumer Alert about unsafe planes on Elliott Confidential website
Alaska Airlines and the 737 Max problem highlighted
Exclusive content for subscribers with 7-day free trial offer

No more electric vehicles for you!

864 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24

💼 Business Transportation Finance Environment

Hertz is selling off part of its EV fleet and buying internal-combustion-engine vehicles instead.
This move might mean the end of renting electric vehicles for some people.
Read the full discussion on Elliott Confidential to understand the implications.

Does recording a customer service call work?

805 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24

💼 Business Customer Service

Some customers record service calls to improve their experience.
Efforts to record calls may not always lead to desired outcomes.
It's important to consider the potential consequences before recording service calls.

How to tell if your next flight is safe

648 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24

🏝 Travel Safety Air Travel Confidence Subscription

Flying is generally safe, but recent incidents may have caused fear for some travelers.
Public confidence in air travel may have been undermined due to recent incidents.
Consider subscribing to Elliott Confidential for more insights on flight safety.

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Consumer Alert: Don't believe a word they say

589 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24

💼 Business Consumer Protection Travel Customer Service

Companies may not always keep their promises.
Be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
It's important to verify information before trusting it.

Consumer Alert: Beware of ridesharing overcharges!

628 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24

💼 Business Consumer Rights

Consumer Alert: Watch out for ridesharing overcharges.
Surge pricing and rate errors are affecting Uber and Lyft users.
Learn how to dispute and handle incorrect bills.

Consumer Alert: If you're owed a refund, you have to do this now

235 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24

💰 Finance Consumer Protection

Businesses may hope you forget about promises of refunds.
If owed a refund, especially from a third party, take action immediately.
Consider the case of Andrea Jaegli who faced refund delays from an online travel agency.

Hotel parking fees take a turn for the worse

235 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24

🏝 Travel Fees Hotels Tips

Hotels are charging guests mandatory parking fees, even if they don't have a car.
Average hotel parking fees are around $44 a night and can be higher in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.
You can dispute and fight against mandatory parking fees if you feel they are unfair.

Are you avoiding these dangerous destinations?

235 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24

🏝 Travel Travel

The U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for dangerous destinations.
Government warnings may affect your future travel plans.
Consider subscribing to Elliott Confidential for more information.

Look out! Hackers are coming for your travel account

137 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24

🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Travel Online Services Data Privacy Authentication

Use two-factor authentication and authenticator apps to protect your online travel accounts from hackers.
Enable login notifications and maximize security settings on platforms to monitor any unauthorized access to your accounts.
Avoid using simple or repeated passwords, practice safe Wi-Fi usage, and be cautious of urgent emails or suspicious links to prevent hacking incidents.

Congress adds new airline consumer protections — but are they enough?

137 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics

The U.S. Senate passed the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, providing new consumer protections for airline passengers.
This legislation is seen as a chance to address issues within U.S. airlines and improve the passenger experience.
Despite the new protections, there are questions about whether the Congressional action goes far enough to protect airline consumers.

Do you believe these on-time rankings for airlines?

137 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24

🏝 Travel Air Travel Airlines

Delta Air Lines was the most on-time airline last year
OAG provided the on-time rankings based on flight data
The accuracy and relevance of these rankings is questionable

Consumer Alert: Nonrefundable doesn't always mean nonrefundable — especially now

117 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24

💼 Business Consumer Rights

Nonrefundable doesn't always mean nonrefundable.
Consumer rules can be flexible during extreme circumstances.
Consider hidden options for refunds in uncertain situations.

Traveling this spring? Don't make these horrible mistakes

78 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24

🏝 Travel Tips Destinations Alternatives

Plan ahead and book your spring break vacation early to avoid last-minute price hikes and limited availability.
Consider working with a travel expert to navigate the busy spring break season successfully.
Stay flexible with your travel plans to save money and consider destinations off the beaten path to avoid crowds.