We spent the summer upgrading everything. The Elliott Report has a new look, this newsletter has been completely redesigned, and we launched a new podcast.

So for one week, we’re taking down the paywall and giving you the full experience, including the stories our members normally get to themselves.

If you like what you see, I hope you’ll stay. Your PRO subscription pays for this reporting, and it comes with our members-only coverage, a key to a private section on Backchannel, our private forum, and every book I’ve written.

One of our readers takes on American Airlines over $100

Carol Bowen wrote to me this week about a refund American Airlines owed her and wouldn’t pay.

American canceled her flights from Boston to Indianapolis during the ground stops that shut down much of the East Coast. It rebooked her on an 18-hour itinerary that would have landed after the event she was flying for, so she declined. It refunded the tickets and one set of seat fees, then kept the rest, just under $100. A phone agent told her she was right and sent her to the website. The website sent her a form letter apologizing for the inconvenience.

So she looked up American’s manager of customer relations in our contacts directory and wrote to her.

Two hours later, a customer service manager called to apologize and promise the money.

“I feel vindicated, and justice is served in a small way,” she says.

You can do the same thing. Our contacts directory is free to anyone who needs it, and if you get stuck, our advocates will take your case. Elliott Advocacy is a nonprofit, and we have never charged a consumer for help.

Catch up on the latest stories from the Elliott Report

The ugly truth about August travel: Why you should stay home—or do this
August travel means thin staffing, dirty rooms and more cancellations, all at peak prices. Why the system breaks down every summer and how to work around it.

Would you pay extra to use the overhead bin?
If you’ve ever wondered what they’ll think of next—at least when it comes to airline fees—here’s your answer: Jetstar announced this week that it will soon charge you to put a bag in the overhead bin.

A stunning reversal for airline consumer rights
The government hasn’t assessed a single civil penalty against an airline for violating consumer protection rules this year.

More travelers are losing their insurance claims because of this. Don’t be one of them.
When something goes wrong on the road — a flight delay, vanishing luggage, illness — you file a travel insurance claim, expecting a quick reimbursement.

My hotel reservation disappeared. Why won’t Booking.com refund me for my new room?
A missing hotel reservation left him booking two rooms at his own expense. What to do when a hotel cannot find you, and how to get the difference back.

Viva Aerobus canceled my flight. Why did it send my $844 refund to the wrong bank?
Viva Aerobus cancels Carol Bartell’s flight to Mexico and insists on wiring her refund to a U.S. bank account. But the money disappears after a SWIFT code error sends the cash to the wrong credit union.

The laws of physics say you can’t be in two places at once—unless you have a Capital One card
Kim Calla has a superpower. According to her credit card issuer, she can sit in two airline seats at the same time.

Coolcations aren’t cool anymore. Why you should book a trip to a hot place
Is the rush to the Arctic Circle really the smartest way to beat the summer heat, or is it just the fastest way to burn through your savings?

Overhead bin fees and whether premium economy is still worth it

Yesterday’s story about Jetstar charging for overhead bin space set off a run of posts in Backchannel. Stephanus Surjaputra wanted to know what’s supposed to happen in a bulkhead seat, where there’s nowhere to put a bag except the bin. John McDonald said he’d rather airlines just sell reserved bin space and be done with it, so boarding groups stop mattering. Add your answer here.

Also worth your time: our members are arguing about whether premium economy is worth the money now that it can cost close to double a coach ticket. Tara Cannon pays it for anything over five hours. Lin Garlick flew United’s Premium Plus to London and felt ripped off. How about you?

Information and insights for Elliott Confidential PRO subscribers

The European Parliament has confirmed an upgrade of the EU’s air passenger rights law, voting 646 to 12 with three abstentions. The Council of the EU signed off six days later, closing out a process that started with a 2013 European Commission proposal.

We covered the political agreement in June (Air travelers deserve stronger consumer protections) and how it stacked up against U.S. policy in July (The US and Europe just split on airline fees).

Here’s what’s changing:

Still, Parliament’s win was defense, not offense. Council negotiators had pushed to raise the compensation threshold from three hours to five, which would have cut payouts for a large share of delayed passengers. MEPs blocked it.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, the transport committee’s vice chair, called the result “good news for everyone who flies.” Rapporteur Andrey Novakov said the vote is “a win for both passengers and European aviation,” capping what he called 13 years of legislative deadlock.

The rules won’t take effect until 12 months and 20 days after they’re published in the EU’s Official Journal, which puts the real start date sometime in late 2027. And the compensation bands are the same numbers Brussels set in 2004: €250, €400 or €600 depending on distance.

We ran the inflation numbers on those figures back in June: a €250 payout would need to be closer to €390 today just to hold its value, and the €600 tier closer to €950. Parliament kept the amounts from getting cut, but it didn’t get them raised.

The takeaway: Keep filing claims under the current EC 261 rules, not the new ones, until the 2027 effective date arrives. Here’s how.