by Charlie Leocha | Jul 23, 2026
Are airline customer service commitments worthless? They do not have the force of law yet. Every airline has a customer service commitment. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires it. But, DOT refrained from making these customer service commitments a part of...
by Charlie Leocha | Jul 16, 2026
Near monopolies make airlines anathema to good customer service. An old issue of The Atlantic started with these paragraphs. It dealt with customer service. That’s more than five years ago. A security guard stops a customer as she tries to enter a well-stocked...
by Christopher Elliott | Oct 3, 2025
Tipping is dead. At least tipping as you and I understand it. A mandatory 20 percent gratuity on every restaurant meal? Obligatory tips for housekeepers, concierges and tour guides? Kiss them goodbye. And if you want to know why, just ask Gerri Hether. Like many...
by Christopher Elliott | Sep 6, 2024
If you think customer service is a joke, you’ve probably been traveling recently. I have. I lost my credit card last week while I was on the road. My bank, which promised me a replacement Visa by the next business day, sent an emergency card to the wrong...
by Christopher Elliott | Jul 3, 2024
It’s not your imagination. Customer service is improving. Janet Heller noticed it when she broke her arm and could no longer drive. She needed a prescription filled and was worried she couldn’t make it to Walgreens. That’s when she discovered that...
by Christopher Elliott | Aug 16, 2022
A pandemic benefit was good customer service. Today, the travel industry is beginning to return to its old ways. During the pandemic, travelers enjoyed some of the best customer services in years. Hotels welcomed returning guests with rock-bottom room rates....