• What's elliott?
• About elliott
• Contact us

t o p i c s

• Business
• Commentary
• Destinations
• Help
• Leisure
• Technology
• Vault

Copyright Elliott Publishing. All rights reserved. For more information, call (305) 453-4781 or send e-mail to us.

E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

February 10, 2004

How 'Total' is Car Rental Price?
Nothing makes business travelers' blood boil quite like the unexpected fees and surcharges that car-rental companies tack onto their bills, from airport taxes to a $6-a-gallon charge for filling up the gas tank when the vehicle is returned. A recent study by Travelocity, the online travel agency, found that the car-rental customer paid an average of 24.4 percent in taxes and surcharges over the base rate when renting at a major American airport. The car-rental industry and the online travel agencies recently began rolling out a program called total pricing, intended to quote a price that includes all taxes, fees and surcharges. But it doesn't always work. The New York Times | Posted 6 a.m.
-- CNN: Strategies for lowering your car rental bill
-- ARN: Orbitz extends car rental 'matrix'

• Say, that byline looks awfully familiar. Send us your comments.

Europeans Balk at Air Travel Rights
The International Air Transport Association and the Association of European Airlines each voiced concern over new regulations that protect European air passenger rights in the event of lengthy flight delays, cancellations and denied boardings, calling them hasty, ambiguous and difficult to implement. The rules were adopted last month by the European Council and the European Parliament and will begin to be put into effect in the coming weeks, with full application by 2005. BTN | Posted 6:15 a.m.
-- AP: Euro carriers threaten to go to court

Look Out for Extra Hotel Fees Online
I believed I was very clever when I managed to book a room at a hotel in central New York for only $99. What a bargain, I thought. But there was a surprise in store for me when I checked out. The bill had ballooned to almost $150 once all the taxes, charges and room-service bills were added. It was a lesson well learnt. I now know to always, always look for hidden extras, especially when I think I have landed a bargain. Let me give you some hard-earned advice on hidden charges, starting with hotels. The key is to try to find a "net " rate. Sunday Times | Posted 6:20 a.m.
<-- Elliott.org: Hotel fee relapse

-----------------------------------

• And finally ... these are not the best of times for the TSA. Lawmakers are trying to pull the plug on its controversial CAPPS II screening program. And the bulletin boards have been buzzing with complaints about screeners mishandling laptop computers and engaging in unhygienic practices when screening shoes. Posted 6:30 a.m. | Send us your comments.

>> Yesterday's Notes | Tomorrow's Notes <<

E-mail Elliott | Other bloggers | About this blog

Latest Travel Notes | Complete Archives