On the United team? No thanks....Terrific Tweets...Jim's Deals of the Day

Call me old-fashioned, but I'm not real big on chatty airline pilots and overly folksy flight attendants.

I was on a United flight from SF to Toronto on Monday, and the pilot kept going on about how happy United was to have me on their team for the day.

"Hey, great to have you on board. Hey, they're just filling up the baggage pits so if you folks would take a seat we can get going. Hey, we're about 10 minutes early but if you look out to your right you can see Lake Tahoe."

I DO like being told about interesting vistas from a plane. I find it endless fascinating to look at dry creek beds in Nevada and croplands in Saskatchewan and mountains just about anywhere. But I don't like professionals acting so folksy that it makes me think they're not taking their jobs seriously enough. Travel is serious business, and I want people who exude a sense of professionalism.

I appreciate the inclusiveness, United, but I don't want to be on your team. You guys fly the plane and keep an eye on my safety and I'll just sit back and try to relax in my crammed, little window seat in economy and tune into the movie. Oh, wait, this isn't Air Canada. I dont' have a seat-back entertainment system. Instead, it's the old flip-down screens you can barely see and only one movie choice - The Time Traveler's Wife. No, thanks.

Still, it was an uneventful flight and we landed safely. So thanks for that, guys. And ladies. The flight attendants were quite good, and I do find that United and other American carriers have have friendlier attendants than Air Canada.

TERRIFIC TWEETERS

Thanks to worldhum for a look at some great "tweets" over the last month. Here are a few of my faves:

@SpudHilton
Vancouver travel tip: Do not get your bearings based on “that tall, skinny apartment building.”

@alexanderbasek
Lesson from last night’s Central Europe Experience party: stuffed cabbage and jaeger schnitzel are not easily transformed into canapés.

@sarahcuda
Middle seat, coach, behind TWO babies for 15 hrs. Thank you whoever invented ambien.

@bhammerling
OH at pool in Mexico: “ask me anything” “ok where’s Dubai?” “India, silly. Ask me a hard one. Like from Cranium”.

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$172 - Toronto to Turks and Caicos, return flight this Christmas ($403 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1733

$347 - Toronto to Puerto Plata, 1 week all-inclusive beachfront holiday ($667 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1734

US$59/nt - 12 night 4.5* cruise of Spain, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1735

HARD ROCK RESORT

USA Today reports the Hard Rock chain plans to open its first all-inclusive resort and casino next spring, when it begins operating the 121-acre Moon Palace Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Hard Rock chain - known for a music memorabilia collection that includes an Eric Clapton guitar (and probably a bunch of junk from overrated AC/DC) - runs hotel and casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. The 1,800-room Punta Cana resort will mark the chain's 13th hotel.

Hard Rock International plans to target couples, bridal parties, families, music fans - and gamblers. Expect a major casino with 457 slots, 40 tables, and a high-limit poker room, according to the company's press release.

Yeah, this is just what the world needs.

.

Comments

[JR Jake]

Say what you want I would much rather have a pilot or stewardess who is in a good mood than someone who brought all their problems from home, and are ready and prepared to unload them on anyone within earshot. The problem I have with United is in all the years I have been flying, not that I am a world traveler, that airline has been the only one two lose my luggage twice.

The worst was when I was on a ski vacation in Idaho, and they finally delivered all my clothes one day before I left. To say I was little numb, and ticked, would be an understatement. I can usually make the most even in a bad situation. Oh well, it is a great thing I am a forgiving person. Have a great Dec. 1.