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

March 10, 2004

The Art of Booking a Hotel Online
It's just four walls, a bed, some curtains and occasionally a mini-bar. Sounds simple enough, but trying to book a hotel room, and making sure you've chosen the right property at the best possible price can be as complex as doing a Rubik's cube or setting your VCR. Prices bounce up and down like a demented kangaroo, and just when you think you've found the perfect hotel at the perfect price, you find out that your niece's college roommate's mother stayed there, and was plagued by noise from the elevator, or waterbugs, or an unfriendly staff, or sheets that just couldn't seem to stay on the bed—the list of what can go wrong on a hotel stay is endless. So you rebook, feeling like you've made a narrow escape. MSNBC | Posted 6 a.m.
-- Sidestep Launches Sidestep Hotels (press release)

• Booking a hotel room has never been easy. As I pointed out in a previous column, you're never sure if you got the lowest possible rate. Send us your comments.

American Cuts Steerage Services
American Airlines will remove food service for coach passengers on some flights from its hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport but will add food service for first-class passengers in an effort to appeal more to its best customers. The Fort Worth-based carrier will remove "Bistro Bag" service from its flights to California and the Northeast, except flights to New York and Boston. The changes will take effect April 1. American will use the savings to bring back first-class snacks and meals to 189 flights on the American system, a level similar to before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Dallas Morning News | Posted 6:20 a.m.
-- CBF: American Airlines boosts flights

'Urinating' Travelers Banned on Airline
A party of golfers has been banned from flying with the low cost airline easyJet after one of the group allegedly urinated into a seat pocket, it emerged today. The airline claims one of the group of 15 men urinated during the flight from Bristol to Portugal last Friday afternoon. An easyJet spokeswoman said cabin crew were horrified when they made the discovery after landing at Faro airport. “Our staff were cleaning the aircraft ahead of its return trip to Bristol when they discovered one of the group had urinated into the seat pocket." Scotsman | Posted 6:30 a.m.
-- BBC: Crew faced with a "repulsive incident"

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• And finally ... I've been hearing from an unusual number of travelers who have become victims of "fine print" in an airline, car rental or hotel contract. If you're one of them, let me know. I suspect the lawyers have been working overtime in the travel industry. Posted 6:40 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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