News and notes from around the interweb:
- Bonvoyed! How An Epic Diarrhea Storm Ended A Convention At The Parsippany, New Jersey Sheraton, “The Hotel Ran Out Of Toilet Paper” (single guest report from one bathroom) … the health department suspects food poisoning, the hotel says they’re absolved of blame and refuses compensation. (HT: Paul H)
Of the 306 individuals who responded, 152 reported illness. Most of the illnesses were diarrheal and typically lasted days. There were no reported hospitalizations.
Testing revealed Clostridium perfringens bacteria collected from one attendee. It is likely that this bacteria was the cause of the outbreak. Clostridium perfringens bacteria are a common cause of food poisoning in the United States and most often associated with foods cooked in large batches held at unsafe temperatures.
- It appears that the ability to move points between British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus has been suspended without notice. It’s still possible to move points between BA, Qatar and Finnair (and, it appears, Qatar, Finnair, and Iberia).
They seem to be dealing with fraud issues where points get drained into Iberia. That’s inconvenient for members but there are still workarounds.
- Wyndham Springfield City Centre hotel owner sued for intentionally vandalizing his own hotel for the insurance money. (HT: Joe R.)
- Follow the science.
Did you know that 7% of humans, including the woman sitting next to me at Gate E27, are born with a genetic defect that prevents them from understanding that everyone else can hear when they have their phone volume turned way up at the airport?
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 28, 2025
- It’s not just U.S. airlines.
Some people seriously have zero class
byu/thewanderbeard inLufthansa - Russia has patented a new widebody aircraft “WBLA” with 8,450 nautical mile range and seating for 236 to 320 passengers. It comes after Russia dropped out of the joint Chinese development effort on the CR929.
So… good luck with that. Maybe they’ll promise to sell planes to American Airlines.
Credit: Rostec
All hotel rooms come with a bidet (and a waffle maker). You just have to understand what you’re looking at…
Since all of the meals were served by Sheraton, they would be the likely source of the food borne illness.
As always, thank you for naming and shaming specific locations and operators who are at the very least likely negligent; guests shouldn’t be getting sick like this.
When people next to me talk on the phone with the speaker on, I loudly join in on the conversation (“Oh, I don’t think you should do that” or “That’s a terrible idea! You should really try……”). Sure, I get the dirty look or “FU” comment, but they always walk away and become someone else’s problem.
Walking into a Sheraton is enough to give anyone GI distress.
Salmonella from eggs at the Sheraton in Mexico. Enough sickened to bring in a doctor. Food poisoning can happen anywhere (and does). Pro tip: if traveling as a couple, asked be moved to separate rooms. Otherwise it becomes a game of thrones.
@Maryland. “game of thrones”. Heh, heh, heh….
Love the comment of joining in the conversation when folks are on speaker! Definitely will use this next time!