One last Steven Slater bit...Air Canada Vacations and Delta do social media

I see today where CNN is reporting that Steven Slater's lawyer says his client...wait for it...wants his job back.

I am gobsmacked. My gob is smacked.

IS THIS GUY NUTS? IS IT A JOKE? IS HE TRYING TO STRETCH HIS ANDY WARHOL MOMENT?

I guess they have to play it straight, but I also see where Jet Blue spokesperson Jenny Dervin says Slater's airline (his former airline, since he did announce his resignation in such unusual style) is "conducting an internal investigation regarding his status as an employee at JetBlue."

That should take about as long as a plea for mercy from the Queen of Hearts.

"We say she's guilty your majesty."

"All right, then. Off with her head."

That's the sort of justice Slater should expect if he's really serious about getting back to work.

Of course, if you're Jet Blue maybe it's a wise move. They'd look like good guys, turning the other cheek and all that. They might get a bump in business. And just think of all the publicity from people wanting to have their photo taken with Slater.

On the other hand, imagine the crush of people wanting to have their photo taken with Slater. It would make the post-landing rush out the door with large luggage look like a church picnic.

CNN was reporting that an internal memo sent Thursday by JetBlue Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Maruster and obtained by the network "describes a company that appears unlikely to forgive."

"Intentionally arming and deploying an evacuation slide for anything other than the express purpose of protecting the safety of our crew and customers is unacceptable," the memo says. "It will not, and can not, be tolerated."

AIR CANADA VACATIONS DOES SOCIAL MEDIA

Air Canada Vacations is giving away a seven-day trip for two people to an undisclosed Sun destination during a 48-hour contest. Starting Monday, Aug. 16, ACV will put out information on its Facebook page and on Twitter, seeking applicants for the trip to a Bahia Principe Hotels and Resorts location.

Good for them for getting into the social media spirit.

Participants will have to provide their name, email address and telephone number.

They're not saying where they'll be taking people except to say it's a Sun destination. The Caribbean seems the obvious choice. Or perhaps Pittsburgh.

As good as it is for Air Canada Vacations to do the Facebook giveaway, that's nothing compared to Delta. The U.S.-based company on Thursday unveiled a feature that allows customers to buy airline tickets on the company's Facebook page. That's not embracing social media, it's climbing into bed and giving it the old, well, you get the idea....

As CNN reports, it's dubbed "the ticket window" and the system comes "just days after the company gave its homepage a thorough redesign as part of what Delta says is a larger plan to improve the online experience for customers.

Delta says other plans include improvements to airport kiosks, and a new iPhone app that will let fliers check in, research flight statuses, check frequent-flier-mile balances, and even set parking reminders."

HOLLAND NIGHT IN TORONTO

Thanks to the folks at Netherlands Tourism for a nice event in TO the other night. They're highlighting everything from stylish hotels in Amsterdam to new museums and, of course, tulips and Dutch master painters such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt.

It's been a few years, and I really should get back. I love Indonesian food, and the beer is pretty damned good in Holland in case you haven't heard. Great place to ride a bike, too, especially for people like me who find the hill between Bloor Street and St. Clair Avenue enough of an exercise, thank you.

VISA INFINITE HOTELS UNVEILED

Visa the other day launched the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, billed as a "new premium travel program that provides Visa Infinite cardholders exclusive benefits at a selection of the world's most renowned and prestigious properties."

Officials say the hotels include Burj El Arab in Dubai, the Shangri-La in Vancouver, Moraine Lake Lodge in Lake Louise and the St. Paul Hotel in Montreal. Exclusive perks can include VIP guest status, access to best rates, automatic room upgrades, complimentary valet parking or in-room Internet and more.

HONG KONG SURGE

Hong Kong, not to mention New York, is on target for its best-ever year in tourism. And, to celebrate (well, to take advantage of that), Cathay Pacific will be adding two flights a week between Toronto and Hong Kong. That'll mean 12 flights to choose from each week.

Cathay Pacific also is offering discounts on economy class fares from Canada to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Taipei, Beijing and Shanghai, with fares starting as low as $1,034.