The Beetle of the Skies?

A New York Times Great Getaways advertorial message that arrived in my inbox this morning reads: "Öntimenleiven means you'll be impressed by Lufthansa's punctuality. You'll also appreciate nohassleböarden, and the warm greetings you'll receive from Lufthansa personnel. Once on board, you can settle into your schnöozenseat to be pampered in comfort for your entire journey. It all adds up to eazenträvel for you to over 400 worldwide destinations."

It brought to mind the old Volkswagen ad campaign featuring a real German word, Fahrvergnügen -- meaning "driving pleasure." Then I thought of Häagen-Dazs ice cream, a premium brand that is part of the Dreyer's multi-brand ice cream empire, which I think is now produced under a joint venture company of Pillsbury and Nestle. In any case, before it became a cog in a multi-national corporate wheel, Häagen-Dazs was developed and named in the Bronx. Rueben Mattus, who founded the brand, thought that non-English combination of letters and random umlaut conveyed Continental quality and tradition.

Lufthansa's new ad -- whether only online or also in the print media -- uses pseudo-German words to convey the same message. Just as well that we can enjoy such ersatz (real German for "substitute" or even "phony") Continentalism here, because the dollar is continuing to fall against other currencies, and at $1.48 dollars to the euro (yesterday's close), many American travelers won't be able to afford the real thing.

Wine Tasting Shop Possible at DIA

Back in September, I reported that Denver International Airport was looking at new, more upscale concessions. While the notion of yet more chains was dispiriting, the possibility of more (and better) options was encouraging. Little did I know that during that very month, San Francisco-based Taste Inc. opened its first Vino Volo Wine Room at an airport location. What a clever play on words that is. Vino volo is Italian for "wine flight," a tasting term that is also perfect for airport locations with good wine.

These cozy, comfortable facilities (right) are a combination of wine lounge and restaurant serving small plates, tasting bar and boutique wine retail area. World wines are available by the glass, in small-pour wine flights and by the bottle. All Vino Volo tasting rooms are in post-security areas. Currently, they can be found at Terminal A at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), Terminal A at Sacramento International Airport (SMF), the Central Terminal Marketplace at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Concourse C at Washington-Dulles Airport (IAD) and new American Airlines Terminal 8 at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). No less than the Wall Street Journal called it "a suave chain of wine bars with first-rate food."

The Denver Post reported today that the company and Denver International Airport are discussing opening one at DIA too. I certainly hope they come to an agreement. It's one kind of chain that I wouldn't mind at all, because while it can't make the flights any more comfortable, the wait will be more civilized.

On-Again, Off-Again Hawaii Superferry is On Again

After optimistic predictions and unexpected setbacks, the Hawaii Superferry will finally start Oahu-Maui service on December 1. The inaugural passenger fare is $29 one-way through December 20, 2007. From December 21 through March 12, 2008, it will rise to $39. These special inaugural fares are available only with an advance purchase basis. Reservations are required from www.HawaiiSuperferry.com or 877-HI-FERRY (877-443-3779).

Inaugural vehicle fares are $55 one-way for cars and $35 for motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. The fuel surcharge has been waived for these promotional fares. Automatic refunds will be issued to customers who previously purchased tickets at a higher fare for travel December 1, 2007 to March 12, 2008.

Hawaii Superferry initially is offering one daily roundtrip, leaving Honolulu at 6:30 a.m. and arriving in Kahului at 9:30 a.m.. and departing Kahului at 11:00 a.m. and arriving in Honolulu at 2:00 p.m. No date has yet been set for Kauai service.

Aspen Flights to Divert to Grand Junction?

A lifetime ago, before Vail-Eagle County Airport was expanded to handle commercial aviation (and probably before it even bore that name, Grand Junction's Walker Field was considered a reasonable air gateway to Aspen. It was closer than Denver via a drive without two high passes. In fact, some ski tour operators packaged Aspen land arrangements with Grand Junction flights.

At this writing, Colorado still hasn't experienced more than dustings of snow here and there (see my previous post), so a recent report in the Grand Junction Sentinel carries a bit of surrealism. But memories are sharp of the heavy blizzards that played havoc with traffic at Denver International Airport, where many/most passengers flying to Aspen transfer -- and small mountain airports like Aspen's carry their own weather vulnerabilities. Last winter, 335 Aspen flights were canceled, requiring alternate arrangements for some 15,000 passengers. (How those flying into Aspen might have been affected was not covered in the report, but then again, it's hard to feel sorry for people with their own LearJets who might be inconvenienced.)

Sentinal reporter Mike McKibbin wrote that "The two largest airlines at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport hope some planned schedule and operational changes, such as diverting more flights to Grand Junction when Aspen has heavy snow, will help them avoid problems encountered last winter.

"SkyWest, which operates United Express flights in Aspen, accounts for 75 percent of the Aspen airport’s commercial business, according to airport figures. SkyWest also operates Delta flights, while Mesa Airlines, US Airways and America West serve the airport, too.

"'Many of last winter’s canceled flights resulted from blizzards and inclement weather at other airports,' SkyWest spokeswoman Marissa Snow said. 'Blizzards that hit Denver immediately before and after Christmas led to the cancellation of several packed flights to Aspen,' she said."

Did you notice the quote about blizzards from some named Snow? About 30 daily commercial flights are scheduled for Aspen this winter, including SkyWest and Mesa Airlines commuters from Denver. Those are vulnerable to weather problems on the Front Range, though Denver International Airport itself has promised to improve its snow removal operations. Longer nonstops from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago and shorter ones from Phoenix and Salt Lake could also be affected in some situations.

Then, there were elevation issues impacting some Aspen Flights. McKibbin wrote, "Early-winter cancellations of SkyWest flights occurred last year when barometric pressure dropped lower than the level at which the CRJ-700 aircraft, which SkyWest uses in Aspen, was allowed to fly." Didn't SkyWest notice Aspen's elevation?, I wonder.

In any case, with new diversion plans in place and DIA ramping up its snow removal operations, a superstitious person might think that it won't snow at all. But I'm optimistic, not superstitious, so I'm hoping it will snow any day now.

Sketchy Start to the North American Ski Season

For skiers and snowboarders, the ideal winter would be one with cold weather for snowmaking through all of November, with real snow starting to fall on top of that just before Thanksgiving and enough natural snow all season long for wonderful spring conditions -- in New England and elsewhere in the Northeast and Quebec, the upper Midwest, the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada and other West Coast ranges and the Alps. There's hardly ever a winter like that. This year, Thanksgiving is on the 22nd, which is as early as it can possibly be, eliminating up to a week of wiggle room for snowmaking or real snow.

Last winter, snow in the Alps was frighteningly sparse, as it was in much of North America;'s snowbelt -- the Rockies being a notable exception. Things have flipped this year. The snow gods have smiled on the Alps so far this season. It is somewhat surprising that the low-elevation Kitzbühel Alpen group of mountains has enough natural snow to open at least 30 cable cars and lifts this weekend (groomer at work, right, in a photo taken on November 15). In fact, the Resterhöhe near Kitzbühel launched the season on November 2, which is very early indeed.


This year, with the exception of trails with ribbons of machine-made snow, much of the US West is still bare, and many resorts have postponed their opening dates. In Colorado, Eldora, Steamboat and Vail won't be open until December. Taos, NM, has pushed the season start back to mid-December. Even Grand Targhee, WY, has pushed back its season start date. In Utah, only Solitude is operating with two out of 64 runs open. Snowbasin intends to open for Thanksgiving and Sundance on December 7. No other resort has committed to an opening date. Colorado areas report how many lifts and what percentage of green circle, blue square and black diamond terrain is open rather than the number of runs. Among them, the seven areas within two hours of metro Denver plus Wolf Creek are running a total of 18 lifts among them.

In Vermont, Killington, Mount Snow and Okemo are open with four lifts each running. In New Hampshire, Bretton Woods was the first to open, and Attitash and Waterville Valley are cranking up this weekend.

Three notable North American exceptions are Whistler, BC; Banff/Lake Louise, AL, and Alyeska, near Anchorage. Whistler is opening on November 17 with two gondolas and three upper-mountain chairs and cautions about early-season conditions. Adjacent Blackcomb (some owner, joint lift ticket) opens November 22. Of thre three Banff/Lake Louise ski areas, Sunshine is the "most open," with the eight-passenger access gondola, five chairlifts, two moving carpets and 50 runs. Alyeska has logged 130 inches of since since November 1. Currently, the upper mountain boasts 84 inches of snowpack, midway has 48 inches and the base 22 inches. This winter could be on pace to break last year's all-time record over 28 inches of snow in December alone and 668 inches for the season, making Alyeska Resort one of the few with over 600 inches of annual snow.

Looks Like Curtains for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises

My report last summer on the problems that appeared to be sinking Windjammer Barefoot Cruises resulted in more Comments over a longer period than any other post in the history of this blog. Now, according to a report issued by CruiseMates.com's E-newsletter, the lid is on the coffin. All that remains is for it to be nailed shut (My words, not CruiseMates'.) I'm not a cruise authority, but I've been red-flagging this failing company -- gently and diplomatically, I hope, because I love those tall ships -- for months. I had hoped to be proved wrong, but it appears that I was right in my cautions.

CruiseMates' E-newsletter came to the point today and also promises a fuller report on its website:

"Two weeks ago, I was fooled by an interview I conducted with a representative from Windjammer cruises, Susan Burke The fact is, I asked her pointed questions about the company's assets, liabilies and plans the company had to find financial footing to keep it afloat. In the end, it turned out that she was misrepresenting the facts to me, if not outright 'lying.' In my book, the omission of critical information is just as egregious as giving someone misinformation.

"It turns out that the company is as close to bankruptcy as I have ever seen a company, and all indications are it is just a matter of time before that is a reality. The odd thing is that they refuse to admit it. Frankly, I have seen Windjammer say one thing and then turn around and do the opposite so many times now that I personally don't believe anything they have to say anymore."

More Airport Security Lapses

Maybe I'm just dense, but I can't figure out why we all have to go through such TSA-mandated security procedures at airports when government investigators managed to pass through screening at 19 unnamed airports with bomb-making components, according to a CNN report, which noted that "Investigators with bomb-making components in their luggage and on their person were able to pass through security checkpoints at 19 U.S. airports without detection, according to the Government Accountability Office."

According to CNN, GAO officials are expected to testify tomorrow before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "The investigators reported that most of the time security officers followed Transportation Security Administration policies and procedures, but investigators were able to take advantage of 'weaknesses in TSA procedures and other vulnerabilities,'" according to the CNN report continued, without detailing those weaknesses -- of course, in the name of security.

So there we hapless travelers are -- at various times forced to surrender such dangerous objects as nail clippers and lip gloss, put most toiletries in our checked bags, put small quantities in a one-quart zip-lock plastic bag (no smaller or larger than one quart), remove our belts, empty our pockets, take laptops from bags and shuffle, shoeless, through metal detectors. For what? The procedures have taken much of the joy out of traveling -- and it doesn't appear that travelers are any the safer for it.

Thanksgiving weekend is coming up. Tens of millions of passengers will be enduring the TSA game at airports all over the country. I'm glad I'm roasting a turkey here!