MESSAGE CENTER

Kudos to United, Cont'd

I WOULD like to second what Margaret McDonald wrote about how much better United Airlines' customer service has become [Message Center, Jan. 28]. I flew from Dulles to Heathrow during the busy holiday season in 2005 and 2006. The former was a mess of huge queues and lack of United reps and coordination, whereas 2006 was smooth as could be. Last year it took me an hour and a half to check in; this year, a quarter of an hour.

Antonia Balazs, Washington

Chat Plus Plus

I SUGGEST that the reader seeking a midrange private game reserve in Kruger National Park [Chat Plus, Jan. 28] consider bungalows and cottages in the park. They accommodate three people and have refrigerators. We froze water in plastic bottles for our treks, knowing that we would have long days. We ate inexpensive buffet meals in a lodge and then set out for a day of viewing critters in a rental car. You must stay in the vehicle (except in bird-hides), but with a hearty breakfast (and perhaps a stop for lunch at another park-run camp) we had a wonderful days and saw more than we did on the organized tours that are provided by the camps. For information: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/.

Patti Pride, Washington

Rental Cars, Cont'd

I WOULD like to expand on Donald Hirschfeld's excellent letter about car rentals [Message Center, Jan. 21].

Car manuals are out. They are too detailed and take time to study. The renter wants to get into the car and go.

Hirschfeld's checklist idea is the answer. It could be helpful if illustrations or pictures of the various controls involved were included.

Arthur L. Podolsky, Gaithersburg

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