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August 15, 2001 Travel Newsletter
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NIAGARA FALLS / MONTE CARLO Web Site Of The Week ELECTRIC GUIDE Bonus Mile Offers Of The Week *AA / THRIFTY / USAIR / AIR CANADA AND MANY MORE.... Special Offers Of The Week MIDWAY / SWA / UNITED / AUSTRIAN ......... Where's Johnny Jet? CHICAGO / DETROIT / NEW JERSEY / NEW YORK / CONNECTICUT Tip Of The Week RULE 240 Newspaper Of The Week DETROIT FREE PRESS Chicago Tribune US AIR FIGHTS TO SURVIVE Dallas Morning News ST. PAUL COMPANION Los Angeles Times DESTINATION: AUSTRALIA New York Times WHAT'S DOING IN SLOVENIA Washington Post OUR FAVORITE EVERYTHING USAToday TOURING BUCKINGHAM PALACE BestFares FREE 40 MIN GUIDED TOUR OF CHICAGO Other News TOKYO GUIDE Yahoo 5 STAR ALLIANCE LOUNGE OPENED ZURICH ABCnews NWA ENDS FLIGHTS TO ITALY CNN TOURISM EXPANDS SWEETENS CUBAN LIFE MSNBC ORLANDO WET WILD AND MAGICAL SmarterLiving JAPAN TIPS AND OBSERVATIONS Weekend Specials LOOKING TO GET OUT OF TOWN THIS WEEKEND FOR CHEAP? Good To Know! TIPS TO PARENTS FLYING SOLO
WEB CAMS OF THE WEEK WEBSITE OF THE WEEK http://www.kropla.com/ This is a guide to some important issues when deciding to use your electrical appliances in another country. It includes a table describing electrical systems worldwide, illustrations of electrical plugs you may run across, advice on using your computer and other general advice that you may find helpful. Finally, there is a list of sources for electrical travel accessories.
That American flight landed in Chicago. We stayed near the world famous Michigan Avenue at the Sutton Place Hotel. Everything was ok, except the location, which was excellent. At 10:30am we checked into the hotel. My three colleagues checked in
first, and when it was my turn. The guy says "sorry sir we don't
have anymore rooms available for early check-in. The next available room
will be ready at 2pm". I said: "WHAT! Your joking right?" He says "No,
I am sorry". Sorry doesn't cut it. "Do YOU realize I have been up
since 3:30am (you know I have been spending way too much time in NY) and
I have to go to work
at 2pm?" "Sorry sir" he says. I looked at his shirt and I saw two
badges. Great, I thought, now I can't even ask for a supervisor because
he must be it. Then he stood straight up and I read his tag and it said
TRAINEE! I said "dude get me your SUPERVISOR right now". I told her
the story and she says let me check. Why is it always the supervisors who
can find the rooms that just open up? After I received my room key
I was about to climb over the desk and bust that trainee dude right in
the head (just kidding).
I love going to Chicago because I can catch up with some friends and family. BTW: My Dad came in that night (I gave him some miles at the last minute so he could join us and get away). He loved it! We went to two of my favorite restaurants in Chi town. One was Food Life. The other was BD's Mongolian BBQ. Here you put together your meal (meats, vegetables, sauces, spices...), then bring it over to the chefs and they grill it right in front of you. The best part is it's all you can eat for $12.99! One of the highlights was: We rented a black Isuzu Rodeo from Avis.
We were going to my cousins' house in Evanston, so I called the valet to
get my car. After 20 minutes and still no car, I ask one of the valet guys
is that my rodeo parked across the street? He says "I don't think so but
let me check". Then another valet guy comes up and says "what are you waiting
for" I said "a black Rodeo". He says "that it across the street,
it's been there the whole time, we never brought it down to the garage".
I thought dang that was a long time to be out on the street. I had
my cousin
Dennis drive because he knew how to get there and I was tired.
Amber and I sat in the back and Ikaika in the front. We drove about 20
miles (which took an hour) and Dennis goes where did you drive this thing?
I said why? He says because it only has a half a tank of gas. I said
"that's funny we only drove from ORD to the hotel". He said "did the rental
place fill it up all the way ?" I said "yep, I checked". I asked how many
miles were on it, and looked at the rental agreement. "OH my gosh
there's a hundred more miles on it then their should be". Then Ikaika yells
"They pulled a Ferris Bueller" (You know the movie in which the valet guys
take their car for a 3 hour joy ride). We were like no wonder why it was
out on the street! Give me the phone I am going to call the hotel right
now". Then I realized the rental agreement I was holding was from National.
We rented from Avis. Then it hit us: WE WERE DRIVING IN THE
WRONG
CAR! I called the hotel and said your valet guys gave us the wrong
car, please don't give our car away. We found out the renter
was named Luis Gonzalez and every where we went we talked about him and
how he got "Ferris Buellered". Ha Ha Ha! This was the big joke of
the trip.
NEXT STOP: Detroit. We took the hour flight over to Michigan (I was excited because it was my very first time there). I was told there's not much to do in Detroit and I think they're right (especially about downtown). Luckily we stayed in the suburbs, but we did make it downtown for dinner at Hockey Town. Then we checked out the new Tiger ball park, and the legendary Fox Theater. From there we went to Canada. That's right, Canada. I didn't realize
how close Canada was (it's only about a mile from downtown). We took
the tunnel over and the bridge back. Both cost $2.50. Be prepared to answer
all kinds of questions at the border. "What citizenship are you?
Where are you going? What did you buy?..." I heard you need your license
but they never asked us.
MEDIA ALERT!
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TIP OF
THE WEEK:
By Chris
McGinnis
If you suspect that you are being delayed for something other than a weather or air traffic problem, approach the gate agent and confidently assert your suspicion, give a reason why you cannot wait, and ask to be booked on the next flight out on that airline or a competing airline. This is called Rule 240 and all the major airlines include it in their contract of carriage. (The terminology is from old CAB, or Civil Aeronautics Board jargon, when airlines were regulated.) If there are no acceptable flights available, the airline must refund your money, even if you are holding a "nonrefundable" ticket. Rule 240 requires the original carrier to pick up the tab for any additional expense in getting you to your intended destination via another carrier. Rule 240 applies to other direct flights to your final destination as well as to any connecting flights that may exist. When you really want or need to get out of town, ask the gate agent: "Can you 240 me?" (It is important to use their lingo.) They should code your ticket, and you will be on your way. Newfangled electronic tickets can present problems for those hoping
to 240 their way out of a flight cancellation mess. In order to get coded
over to another airline, you must first obtain a paper ticket from the
original carrier (at the gate or customer service counter) before making
arrangements with another carrier to accept your ticket.
NEWSPAPER OF THE WEEK: (DETROIT FREE PRESS)
If your friends don't get JOHNNY JET....
GOOD TO KNOW!
-- Have your child carry all needed information in a safe place.
Besides the name, address and phone number of a contact person,
-- Make sure your child has the ticket in a safe place. If it becomes
lost, be sure the child knows to ask the flight attendant for help
-- Provide your child with a pre-paid calling card and instructions on where to reach you if there are delays en route. -- Check with airline to see if it will allow you to escort your child onto the plane before the flight. This will allow you to meet the people seated nearby, point to the lavatories and explain how and when to use the flight attendant call button. -- If your child will be changing planes, try to avoid late afternoon or evening flights. The chance of a flight delay becomes greater as the day progresses. -- Leave home early enough to arrive at the airport at least one hour before departure, and at least two hours before an international flight. -- When checking in, you will need to complete the airline's ``unaccompanied minor'' form, show your ID and tell the attendant who will be picking up the child. -- Check with the airline to determine how it will identify your child as a solo flyer, such as with a special pin. -- Instruct younger children to stay seated after the plane lands and wait for a flight attendant to help. -- Don't leave for home until the plane takes off in case the flight is delayed and passengers are asked to leave the plane. -- Be sure the people responsible for picking up your child get to the gate before the plane arrives and have the proper ID. Notify them of any delays or change in plans. As the nation's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA
provides its nearly 44 million members with travel, insurance, financial
and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit,
fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safety and security
of all travelers.
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