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Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
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    • Advocacy
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    • The Travel Troubleshooter
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CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

When traveling, saying the wrong thing can quickly lead to poor service. Businesses claim to offer excellent customer care, but their employees, being human, may react negatively if you disrespect them. Say something like "Do you know who I am?" or "I'll sue," and you might find yourself with the worst seat or service available. To avoid this, it’s crucial to say things calmly, stick to the facts, and treat employees with respect. A friendly word can go a long way in ensuring a better travel experience.

Traveling? Here’s what to say if you want to get the worst treatment — guaranteed!

December 2, 2024September 8, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

It’s easy to get treated like a second-class citizen when you travel: Just say the wrong thing. That’s an undeniable fact that people are rediscovering during the busiest year in the history of modern travel.

Categories On Travel
Loyalty in travel is being questioned as more travelers hit their breaking points. Recent experiences, like Andy Abramson's delayed flight with American Airlines, highlight the growing frustration. Research shows that 1 in 10 travelers have had poor experiences this year, leading many to reduce or eliminate spending with the offending companies. The travel industry's focus on profits and the devaluation of loyalty programs are major factors. As service quality declines, many are considering whether it's time to switch to competitors that prioritize customer care and satisfaction.

Travelers reached their breaking point this summer. Is loyalty dead?

September 5, 2024September 1, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When it comes to travel, is loyalty dead? 
That’s the question many travelers have been asking themselves during a record-breaking summer.

Categories On Travel
Traveling recently? You're not alone if you've encountered laughably bad customer service. I lost my credit card last week, and my bank botched the replacement, sending it to the wrong address. Now, I'm stuck on endless calls with unhelpful representatives. The travel industry isn't faring any better, with record complaints and declining service quality. Airlines, car rentals, and hotels are scoring low in customer satisfaction. As travel booms, companies are taking customers for granted. Learn why this is happening and what you can do to manage the situation effectively.

Want better customer service when you travel? You must be joking

January 13, 2025August 18, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

If you think customer service is a joke, you’ve probably been traveling recently.

Categories On Travel
In a quest for better customer service, frustrated travelers like Robert Grunfeld are recording their calls with airlines. While this tactic can yield mixed results, experts suggest alternative strategies, highlighting the complexities of customer service interactions and the evolving legal and ethical considerations in the digital age.

Frustrated travelers start recording customer service phone calls. But does it work?

January 16, 2024January 13, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Oh, the lengths some people will go to get better customer service. Like recording phone calls with a customer service agent. 

Categories On Travel
Andrew Bottorff's return of a surge protector to Amazon via Whole Foods led to a baffling double charge. A system glitch and a lost email receipt escalated the issue, requiring intervention for resolution.

Amazon lost return: What happened to my surge protector?

June 19, 2024December 21, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

After Andrew Bottorff returns his surge protector to Amazon through a Whole Foods store, Amazon tries to charge him again. How can he get his money back?

Categories Problem Solved
Erin Mahoney, banned by Airbnb without explanation, faces the opaque world of customer blacklists. Discover how to navigate and resolve such bans in the secretive travel industry, and what happened when she appealed...

Blacklisted by a travel company? Here’s how to avoid it — and what to do if you’re banned

February 5, 2024December 16, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

If you’re banned by a travel company, how do you get unbanned? It’s happening to more people than ever. Here’s what to do.

Categories On Travel
When Robert Preuss tries to buy a Fisher-Price Power Wheels Dune Racer from Amazon, he can't complete the purchase. Amazon offers to fix the problem but then reneges, leaving him with a $304 bill.

Did Amazon bait-and-switch me on this toy car I ordered online?

February 2, 2024July 5, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When Robert Preuss tries to buy a Fisher-Price Power Wheels Dune Racer from Amazon, he can’t complete the purchase. Amazon offers to fix the problem but then reneges, leaving him with a $304 bill.

Categories Featured, Problem Solved
The content discusses the issue of a long-delayed cruise refund for a Greek Islands cruise booked with Vantage Travel. Despite agreement for the refund, it has taken almost three years due to the pandemic causing widespread delays in the travel industry. The article explores the reasons behind the wait and whether it is possible to expedite the process.

He paid Vantage $18,536. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund?

January 19, 2024February 9, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

The pandemic created massive refund delays that are still affecting passengers today. So why are cruise refunds dragging on? And can you make them go faster?

Categories Advocacy
After a Panera trainee gets Mel Ettenson's order wrong, he tries to contact the company. Why isn't it responding to his complaint?

After “terrible service” at Panera, can this customer get a fresh start?

February 1, 2024November 2, 2017 by Christopher Elliott

After a Panera trainee gets Mel Ettenson’s order wrong, he tries to contact the company. Why isn’t it responding to his complaint?

Categories Problem Solved

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  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Get Help