The Is Marriott Discriminating Against Single Travelers? thread, intended to be tongue-in-cheek and lighthearted in nature, is swimmingly interesting because apparently nobody is allowed to be in the pool area alone at the Courtyard Marriott River North property in Chicago, and FlyerTalk member whirledtraveler had to walk through the pool area to get to the exercise room.

whirledtraveler walked through the pool area alone anyway.

Did whirledtraveler exercise good judgement? Do not be a dumbbell. Get pumped up and weigh in on this issue by posting in the Is Marriott Discriminating Against Single Travelers? thread.

If you are a woman traveling alone, you may want to refer to the Hotels for women travelling alone? thread.

However, some female FlyerTalk members feel that all women who travel alone need are some good common-sense tips on how to stay safe and enjoy the trip.

By the way, there is already one post in The Gate that discusses a hotel where one floor is reserved for women only for an extra fee.

Randy Petersen and OpenSkies are at it again.

This time, the founder of FlyerTalk and the subsidiary of British Airways are giving away 10 pairs of tickets between New York and Paris to 10 lucky FlyerTalk members as yet another way to celebrate 10 years of FlyerTalk.

FlyerTalk member hobo13 already received the first pair of tickets. Will you be next?

Information on how to qualify, as well as what type of seats are being given away, links to trip reports on OpenSkies, and other information and details can be found in the 10 Pairs (of OpenSkies tickets) Over 10 Weeks to Celebrate 10 Years of FlyerTalk thread.

As one of the 20 or so FlyerTalk members who was a passenger on the inaugural flight from New York to Paris, I highly recommend you attempt to qualify for this giveaway.

Apparently, the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, in Florence, South Carolina, forced FlyerTalk member uva185 to purchase a see-through quart-sized zipper-locking bag.

FlyerTalk member sbm12 told the Transportation Security Administration personnel at LaGuardia Airport in New York to simply keep the one toiletry instead of worrying about it not being in a see-through quart-sized zipper-locking bag.

Read all about it, as well as the strong opinions of other FlyerTalk members, in the TSA made me buy a zip lock bag for 1 item thread.

For those of you who are Hyatt Gold Passport members, you need to know that you can no longer earn Gold Passport points at Hawthorn Suites properties as of July 18, 2008. Award stays that have been already booked at Hawthorn Suites properties will be honored until October 18, 2008.

For additional details, please consult with the Sale of U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (Hawthorn Suites) thread.

Leave it to British Airways to make it real.

FlyerTalk member rweintra recounts a story about what was found on British Airways flight 347 in the There’s a WHAT on the plane?!?!? thread, which will rock you like a hurricane. The situation became so crazy, it was almost like being at the zoo. I will bet that at least some people could not wait to be coming home.

rweintra, no one like you can tell a story such as this one. It is enough to keep one in trance.

So, what in fact was found on the aircraft?

Hey you: is there anybody out there? Read the thread. Now!

Well, no. In fact, this story is potentially more disgusting. I would even go so far to say that this story blows, but that would be wishful thinking.

FlyerTalk member ALadyNCal went out to eat lunch at a restaurant where the server was serving the food while his nose was obviously dripping.

Hopefully what was dripping out of his nose is not the secret – or should I say secreted - ingredient that flavors the food.

ALadyNCal asks Sick Server — What would you have done?, which is a thread that has the potential to be running longer than the nose of the server. After all, who nose what you would have done if you do not post in that thread?

Time for me to sinus off on this one…

According to an email sent by United they do.  Check out the reactions.

Insider ITA Hacker has posted the clearest explanation I’ve ever seen on why you can sometimes avoid (or reduce) fuel surcharges.  Check out this invaluable info <here>.

At the time that this was written, there were 177,464 FlyerTalk members — enough people to populate a moderately-sized city.

It stands to reason, therefore, that FlyerTalk members, who are as varied and diverse as the population of most cities and towns throughout the world, could support each other in what I like to call the FlyerTalk Economy.

Perhaps your company is searching for a new employee? Is there a product or service that you want? Are you looking to travel to meet other FlyerTalk members and are looking for ways to increase your capital to finance the trip? Do you need assistance in completing a project?

Why not give preference to fulfilling your needs to a fellow FlyerTalk member?

Here are four threads to help jump-start the FlyerTalk Economy:

• Hire a Flyertalker – Ideal for both FlyerTalk members who are searching for employment, as well as FlyerTalk members who are looking to hire someone.
• The FlyerTalk Business Exchange Forum - Ideal for both FlyerTalk members who are searching for a product or service, as well as FlyerTalk members who are looking to promote either their own products and services or the products and services of their companies.
• Earning Compensation to Attend FlyerTalk Gatherings: An Idea – If you are attending a gathering of FlyerTalk members and are seeking ideas on how to finance the trip, why not be creative and ask FlyerTalk members in the area in which you plan to visit and find out if someone who can use your talents, products or services will compensate you?
• The Continuous “Please Assist a FlyerTalk Member” Get-Together Thread - Ideal for those FlyerTalk members who can mutually benefit each other by agreeing to offer their assistance and support to the other in order to complete projects, such as working on each other’s homes.

If there are any other threads that you believe would contribute to the FlyerTalk Economy, please send me an e-mail at canarsie@mail.flyertalk.com and I will update what has been posted here.