wow - can airlines really claim this is a "force majeure event". Of so, when would a traveler file for a hearing/trial? Also - will there be any CRAF flights? ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Christopher Elliott <[email protected]>To: [email protected] <[email protected]>Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 06:00:46 AM PSTSubject: Are airlines doing enough to help during the Iran war? | | | | | March 07, 2026 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Are airlines doing enough to help during the Iran war? | | More than 23,000 flights have been canceled since the Iran conflict began, leaving travelers stranded with no hotels, no meals, and sometimes thousands in out-of-pocket costs. Airlines say itâs âforce majeureâ event, which lets them off the hook. Is that fair? In todayâs forum, I dare ask the question. | | | | Tell Me What You Think | | | | â Christopher Elliott | | EMBARK Beyond is a luxury travel advisory dedicated to creating thoughtfully designed experiences that go beyond a destination. Focused first on client needs, we have built (and continue to build!) relationships with the worldâs most sought-after lifestyle and fashion brands to open the world - beyond imagination - to our clients. Find out more at EMBARK Beyond. | | | | This weekendâs stories are for subscribers only, but ⊠| | You can still get access to our full Elliott Confidential archives and exclusive reports on travel scams, consumer rights, and industry secrets. (There will always be a free version of this newsletter, of course.) | | Donât miss out. If you join us now, you can secure full access for just $4.25 per month, based on an annual subscription. Thatâs 40 percent off the standard rate. | | Why stay connected? | | - Exclusive weekly discussions: Get access to the Forum, a weekly discussion about the latest consumer issues. - Read our famous Consumer Alert: Be a more informed traveler every week by staying on top of the news. - Exclusive access to Need to Know, our new commentary feature: You can read about consumer rights and how weâre fighting to make things better. | | | | Get 40 Percent Off | | | | | | đŹ What youâre saying | | Readers shared their own strategies for staying safe in unfamiliar cities, from decoding European architecture to finding the most honest hotel staff members. | | Looks can be deceiving. Mr. Smith and Tina noted that a crumbling exterior rarely means a neighborhood is dangerous, especially in historic European districts. The Brown Crusader added that a run-down facade usually just points to a lack of historical investment rather than an actual security risk, proving you cannot judge a street by its cover. | | Finding the honest locals. M.C. Storm argued that concierges often direct guests to boring tourist traps to avoid liability, recommending that travelers talk to housekeepers or night-shift workers instead to get the real scoop. Blues Traveler echoed this skepticism of official sources, noting that even embassy warnings get watered down by diplomatic pressure, making expat forums much more reliable. | | Trusting your gut over apps. While some travelers use safety apps, Miles Will Save Us All warned that digital scores simply cannot update fast enough during a sudden protest or crisis. Tim agreed, pointing out that local events like a baseball game can completely change a neighborhoodâs dynamics in minutes, meaning there is no substitute for your own situational awareness. | | | | Leave a Comment | | | | | | đ Here's what you missed this week | | | | This is what you need to know about your neighborhood before you travel When his cab pulled up to a rental apartment in Lisbon, Walter Meyer knew he was in trouble. The building was crumbling, and the neighborhood looked sketchy. Even his taxi driver â a local whoâd probably seen it all â seemed to hesitate before rolling to a stop. | | This Frigidaire refrigerator keeps breaking â but the company refuses to replace it Victoria Evans thinks she made a smart purchase when she buys a Frigidaire refrigerator. But within 7 months, her appliance starts flashing temperature warnings and spoiling her food. Multiple repair visits under warranty fail to fix the recurring problem, and technicians twice declare the unit unrepairable. Yet Frigidaire is giving her the cold shoulder. | | Why wonât Travelpro repair my carry-on bag? I have a lifetime warranty! David Tashji purchased a Travelpro rollaboard in 1998, which came with a lifetime warranty. Now the retractable handle has broken, but Travelpro claims it canât repair it because replacement parts are no longer available. Is he out of luck? | | I booked a hotel with American Airlines miles. Why do I have to pay this $165 resort fee? Lai Leong thought she was helping her friend Zeng by using some of her American Airlines miles to book a hotel in Honolulu. She had no idea that Zeng would be on the hook for a surprise fee. | | Is the âoffâ season disappearing for travel? Remember when you could get a deal on travel by waiting until a few weeks after summer ended? Thatâs history. | | Many thanks to Couture Trips and SCOTTeVEST for sponsoring this issue of Elliott Confidential. | | |  | | | Faye Travel Insurance provides whole-trip travel coverage and care that brings out the best in each journey with industry-leading technology that enables smarter, faster, smoother assistance and claims resolutions. Our robust travel insurance covers your health, your trip, your stuff, and even your pet, via an app that provides real-time proactive solutions, quick reimbursements and 24/7 support from anywhere in the world. Wherever you go, weâre there too, taking care of the details so you can make the most of each moment, with the only travel protection that is by your side and on your side every step of the way. | | |  | | | | | â Subscribers only | | These articles are for Elliott Confidential paid subscribers only. Hereâs how to upgrade your subscription. | | CONSUMER ALERT: Your vacation rental is changing this spring. Hereâs what you need to know. If youâre planning to book a vacation rental this spring break, you might be in for a surprise. Local governments have spent the long winter plotting a new regulatory course, and the result is a wave of laws taking effect that could leave you stranded or, at the very least, paying a lot more. | | NEED TO KNOW: You canât hack airfares, but airlines are hacking you Expedia claims it has the secret to cheap flights. But is it promoting a dangerousâand self-servingâmyth? | | FORUM: Have airlines failed you during the Iran war? Most air carriers are doing what's required. Maybe it's not enough. | | | | Upgrade My Subscription | | | | | | đ„ Burning question: What are the new rules for avoiding lost luggage? | | Iâm researching a story about the evolving rules and strategies for managing checked airline luggage in an era of high-tech tracking. Despite the integration between airlines and systems like Appleâs Find My, and the widespread use of Bluetooth trackers, luggage loss remains a persistent headache for travelers. The old advice of simply putting your name on a paper tag or packing an AirTag is no longer enough to ensure your belongings arrive when you do. | | Iâd love to hear from travelers who have used advanced technology to find their lost bags. I'm particularly interested in those who have employed redundant trackingâsuch as pairing an AirTag with a Tile or Galaxy SmartTagâto locate a bag that the airline insisted was lost. I also want to hear from travelers who have started taking digital evidence photos of their luggage tags, receipts, and suitcase contents to fast-track claims, as well as anyone using unconventional strategies to ensure their suitcase actually meets them at the carousel. | | I'd love to use your answer in my story. If you'd like to see your name in print, please include your full name, city, and daytime occupation. If you're retired, please tell me what you did before retiring. | | | | Share Your Story | | | | |  | | | Flying Angels provide medical transport anywhere in the world on commercial airlines with a Flight Nurse or Doctor. A Flight Coordinator handles the logistics. The client receives care during the entire transportâbedside to bedside. Visit FlyingAngels.com or call 877-265-1085 to speak with a flight coordinator. | | |  | | | â  Connect with us now | | If you want to get the news first, please follow us on social media and watch us commit acts of consumer advocacy every day. If you're already friends with us, please consider sharing our stories on social media. It makes a big difference and it will help other consumers. | | PLEASE NOTE: My advocacy team and I are always here for you. If you need help with a consumer problemâany consumer problemâplease drop by the Elliott Advocacy Facebook group or our Elliott Advocacy community on WhatsApp. | | Elliott Confidential is published daily by consumer advocate Christopher Elliott. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 Elliott Confidential 1010 West 30th Avenue Spokane, WA 99203, United States | | Terms of Service | | | | | | | |
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