News and notes from around the interweb:

• This isn’t speed tape.

  Exit row ln on @united yes this panel is held up with Band-aids. Yes this panel came undone 3 minutes after takeoff. Yes it hit me in the head. Yes it stayed like this for the rest of the flight. No this can’t be @FAANews approved, do better. #ua4305 pic.twitter.com/3Li5LjJILu

  — Christian Cooper (@coopinhtown) October 31, 2024

• Choice Privileges used to let you redeem free hotel nights only 30 or 60 days prior to a stay. They improved that to 100 days six years ago, but that’s still crazy.

  They’ve just announced that starting early next year they will finally allow points bookings up to 50 weeks in advance. In addition, they will introduce premium room awards (no word on pricing), and will bring back Radisson’s RewardSaver starting at 6,000 points per night. All good things!

• United is improving business class meal service on premium cross country flights

  Starting November 15, 2024, United will elevate the premium transcontinental dining experience for business class passengers including the addition of linens, an “elevated” wine selection, and the addition of an appetizer. A larger pre-arrival meal with both hot and cold options plus a side salad will also be served.

• Lured by Luxury Vacations, They Were Stuck With Debt (NYT) “Consumers claim they were duped by a vacation club managed by Hyatt. Some are locked into 40-year, $50,000 contracts that they say offer few rewards.”

  Timeshare ownership is complicated, by the way, as Marriott’s timeshare business actually bought Hyatt timeshares in 2018. Of course, Marriott Vacation Club was spun off from Marriott International in November 2011 as a separate publicly traded company.

• San Jose airport had a Halloween pet parade inside the terminal on Thursday – with therapy animals from their Happy Tails program.

  

  

• Former American Airlines Chairman Doug Parker used to say he wanted to make ‘culture a competitive advantage’ for his company. At Southwest, through everything, it actually still is.

  Gotta love @SouthwestAir happy #Halloween pic.twitter.com/UK52mqqewf

  — Jordan Caballero (@jordancaballero) October 31, 2024

  It is, indeed, a HAPPY HALLOWEEN on ⁦@SouthwestAir⁩ ‍♀️2024 pic.twitter.com/KscbPdVrKV

  — Meg Stowe (@MegStowe) October 31, 2024

• This happened.

  Someone hit a $1.5 million Wheel of Fortune jackpot at the airport this morning. ( @KyleSullivan85) pic.twitter.com/ubnFAsZeVW

  — Las Vegas Locally (@LasVegasLocally) October 31, 2024