Do travel companies tell the truth about prices? Here's how I caught one red-handed.
New rules designed to make the travel industry tell the truth won't stop them from lying + VERY SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
Do you know what travel companies will do now that they’re forced to tell the truth about their prices?
I may have discovered the answer — the hard way.
As you probably know, the government now requires hotels and airlines to disclose a full price up front. No more “gotchas” at the end of the reservation!
I’ve wondered how they plan to get around that. Until this weekend, when a prominent travel site lied to me not once, not twice, but three times about its prices.
Don’t let ‘em lie to you!
Before I get to the details, I wanted to share a very special offer with you. These pricing shenanigans are exactly why I publish Elliott Confidential.
Every week, I expose travel industry tricks, hold companies accountable, and arm you with insider strategies to fight back.
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🔥 30 PERCENT OFF your first year.
🔥 A chance to win a new Aquavault Wireless ChargeCard (a $79.99 value!) — your ultimate travel power solution. (Details in a minute.)
🔥 A full year of protection against travel scams.
Here’s how to subscribe to Elliott Confidential now.
The lies your travel company might be telling you
Back to my story. I discovered the travel industry’s new playbook when I tried to booking a rental car in Athens through Priceline.
The online agency quoted me $525 for a one-week rental, but the moment I clicked "BOOK," the price jumped.
Whoah! That’s quite a price increase.
I tried to go back and reserve the car again, inputting my correct dates. And again it quoted me a price of $525.
But when I tried to book, it switched prices to $860. Grrrr!
I waited a few hours, hoping it was just a glitch.
It wasn’t. This time, Priceline showed me a new rate: $617. I tried to book, and the price changed again.
Oh no!
I asked Priceline about the issue, and a representative promised to escalate this to the product team to “see if there was a site glitch.”
This is precisely what the government was trying to ban when it created new regulations.
Can an online travel agency change the price because of fluctuations in demand? I don’t think that’s right.
There is no other resource online that will warn you of these pitfalls and explain how to avoid them. That’s why you need the proven protection of an Elliott Confidential subscription for the next year.
Here’s how to subscribe to Elliott Confidential now.
Here’s How Elliott Confidential protects you
Elliott Confidential is the only newsletter that:
Decodes hidden fees and predatory pricing
Reveals what suppliers don’t want you to know
Gives you the tools to travel smarter — and save thousands.
It’s simple: You can’t afford not to have a subscription to this newsletter. My resolution? I made a reservation through a different car rental company. I’m not getting baited into paying a higher rate, and neither should you.
Become a full subscriber to Elliott Confidential now.
About that ChargeCard giveaway …
The Aquavault Wireless ChargeCard is a game-changer. It’s the only card I recommend for travel.
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This week, I have a box of ChargeCards to give away, so there are plenty of chances to win this innovative product.
Here’s how to subscribe to Elliott Confidential now.
A personal note about this newsletter
Since you’re already subscribed to the free version of Elliott Confidential, you know that this is more than a simple travel newsletter.
It’s proven protection against the schemes, swindles and shady deals that threaten you as a consumer.
It’s also a very personal mission.
I hate being scammed. I’m not going to allow a travel site to lie to you — or me.
So if you want to be empowered as a consumer and you’re looking for someone who will fight for your rights every day, I invite you to subscribe now.
I’ll see you out there on the road.
Christopher Elliott
Publisher
Elliott Confidential