Flying in the Near Future? Expect Delays

Aircraft reinspections continuing to cause flight cancellations

"You know what FAA stands for? Find Another Airline," Jay Leno quipped last night. His comedy writers must have been Los Angeles International Airport -- or some airport -- yesterday, when American Airlines canceled a thousand or so flights, a number that might be approached today.

I was at LAX myself, saved from the worst of the chaos because I was returning to Denver on United and because I shared a cab with my friend Laura Daily, a freelance travel journalist who specializes in consumer and service articles and who, in her own travels, has mastered the strategies and tactics for finding the quickest, the easiest, the least expensive, the most hassle-free -- and who should be writing a blog herself to share her secrets.

Laura had somehow found out that although we were heading for Terminal 7, the security lines were much shorter at Terminal 6. The two are connected and just a short walk apart. We breezed through security, but once inside, heard horror stories about the security line we didn't stand in. Her flight and mine were both full, and from other nearby gates, I heard United calling for volunteers to take a bump in exchange for a free roundtrip ticket for a future flight. United was carrying some American passengers, as well as ferrying their own and American crew.

The television news and newspapers across the land have reported on this latest cause for travel delays and frustrations. According to the New York Times:

"Air travelers, whose plans have already been disrupted by thousands of
canceled flights recently, may face continued chaos in coming weeks as the
Federal Aviation Administration and the airlines expand their scrutiny of
passenger planes.

"The groundings at airlines like American, Alaska, Delta and Southwest
resulted from a broader round of inspections, ordered by the F.A.A.,
to determine whether the airlines have complied with past directives to check
airplane structures, wires, electronics and other components.

"A second wave of audits began on March 30 and will continue through June
30. Laura J. Brown, a spokeswoman for the F.A.A., said it could not rule out
further groundings. 'We don’t know,” she said. “We find what we find.'

"That will do little to reassure travelers, who face difficulties
switching to other flights because planes are generally flying full on popular
routes.

"The agency turned up new problems Monday, when nine MD-80 jets operated by
American failed an F.A.A. check, prompting American to ground 300 planes.
American canceled more than 1,000 flights on Wednesday, on top of 430
cancellations on Tuesday, while its fleet of MD-80s was inspected.

"American Airlines canceled more than 900 flights Thursday to fix faulty
wiring in hundreds of jets, The Associated Press reported, and Daniel Garton, an
executive vice president of American, said that cancellations could extend into
Friday.

"Airports hit hardest by the canceled flights were Dallas-Fort Worth
International, O’Hare in Chicago and La Guardia."

There's no traveler on the planet who wouldn't rather be delayed than dead due to the crash of a plane that timely inspections and proper maintenance of critical systems could have prevented. Hopefully the wiring on the audio system of two of the three planes I flew on my latest Denver-Las Vegas-Los Angeles-Denver flight itinerary was no indication of the more important wires. On one flight, I got no audio at all. On another, the impossible-to-adjust volume of my seatmate's audio was so high that it blared through his headphone jack and could be heard across the aisle -- and his was the window seat.

The FAA's mandated inspections added to several bankrupt airlines (Aloha, ATA, SkyBus -- so far), high jet fuel prices, travelers' expectations of discount air fares that no longer come close to covering most airlines' operating costs and a deepening recession, do not bode well for air travel in the near future.

More on US and International Baggage Fees

A recent eFlyer newsletter published more on airline current baggage policies, which are now spreading from "pioneering" United and US Airways into the international arena. Here is what they found:

• Delta, which considers a bag of 50 pounds or more to be overweight (standard for US carriers), has raised its fee for overweight bags between 50 and 70 pounds from $50 to $80, and over 70 pounds charges "standard" extra-weight fees.
• Singapore Airways lowered its weight limits for flights to and from the US from 70 to 50 pounds in all classes of service, but the two-bag allowance, regardless of class, remains. Intra-Asia excess-weight charges vary by distance flown.
• China Airlines also lowered its for economy passengers to and from North America from 70 to 50 pounds. Front-cabin passengers still can check bags up 70 pounds each without incurring extra charges.
• Bahamasair lowered its international baggage allowance from 70 to 60 pounds and chargers $100 to $125 for additional bags.
• Malaysia Airlines now has a maximum weight per bag of 70 pounds, and passengers who are checking in heavier bags must must repack it into smaller, lighter bags but without penalty.
• Discount Jetstar Airways and Virgin Blue allow 44 free pounds and charge only $1 and $3 per extra pound.
• Discount Tiger Airways allows 33 just pounds of free baggage per passenger and charges $5 a pound thereafter.

The bottom line, eFlyer notes, is, "The 50-pound limit that is becoming an international standard means you should take a good look at your luggage. If you’re bumping up against weight restrictions, a new generation of light but sturdy bags may give you more leeway. Also, remember that 'wheelie' bags tend to have heavy metal frameworks for their expanding handle; can you use a trolley instead? When packing more than one bag you intend to check, divide the heavy items equally among them to avoid incurring excess in any one bag.

Addendum - May 9, 2008

Exactly one month after I wrote this post, the New York Times tackled the topic of surcharges in a piece called "Air Travelers Need to Pack More Money." Meanwhile, American Airlines has also begun charging $25 for a second checked bag. As for surcharges, when my husband and booked our Denver-London tickets on the "bargain" United inaugural fare of $249 each way, surcharges added approximately $300 to each ticket. Internationally, United does include one main meal and one light meal on this long flight (plus one snack on the westbound trip) but charges $5 for a split of wine, which European carriers flying transatlantic routes do not do -- at least in my recent experience.

Molokai Ranch Closes -- Including Molokai Lodge

Elegant lodge and other ranch properties on Hawaii's most laid-back island to cease operations

Less than a year ago, we visited Molokai, home to roughly 7,500 people, and stayed at a lovely inn on Molokai Ranch, which sprawls across 60,000 acres (roughly one-third of the island). You can read my overview here. We saw plans by Molokai Properties Ltd., a subsidiary of Guoco Group, to set aside 50,000 acres in a conservation easement and develop 500 beachfront acres at La'au Point into a luxurious subdivision for up to 200 mansions -- hardly in keeping with Moloka'i's quiet, spiritual side but offering the promise of jobs to the island with Hawaii's highest unemployment rate.

Locals, with a personal interest in their island, of course also saw the plans, and even after some 150 public hearings, many didn't like what they saw as the ruination of their quiet, non-materialistic way of life. Others would have welcomed the expansive second homes as providing employment (many islanders currently commute to nearby Maui to work in tourism there).

Thinking about the McMansions, Prairie Palaces and gated communities in Colorado and elsewhere on the mainland, I felt sad that a developer was now eyeing lovely Moloka'i for an over-the-top subdivision. According to an Associated Press report, "Molokai Ranch submitted an environmental impact statement to the state Land Use Commission for approval in October. But commissioners said the study inadequately addressed water treatment, potential environmental hazards to Hawaiian monk seals and other issues. The ranch withdrew the study but had said it planned to prepare another one."

It appears that the company has changed its collective mind. The ranch owners recently announced the closing of the Molokai Lodge (room shown at right), Kaupoa Beach Village, the Kaluakoi Golf Course, the Maunaloa gas station, the Maunaloa Tri-Plex theater, the colony of casual, economical Tentalows near the beach and oddly, a cattle-rearing business -- and public access to private ranch property will now be denied. According to reports, the owning company, Guoco Leisure's Peter Nichols issued a statement saying that "unacceptable delays caused by continued opposition...means we are unable to fund continued normal company operations."

Tourism Blackmail

It seems as if this international, cross-border corporation is putting the screws on Moloka'i by shutting down the biggest enterprise on the island and directly cutting off some of the few employment opportunities that exist, and then via the ripple effect, hurting small business as well. I feel terribly sorry for the locals like the ebuillient Rudy Dela Cruz , who shepherded us around Moloka'i. Many people indeed have staked their dreams on the infusion of money that they foresaw for their island. Still, I don't get the warm fuzzies about GuocoLeisure, which was established in Hong Kong, is based in Singapore, was once called BIL International, is listed on the Hong Kong stock exhange but incorporated in Bermuda. "In pursuit of prime value" appears to be the company slogan.

"The Group's principal activities are operating the 'Thistle' chain of hotels in the United Kingdom and developing land and properties on Fijian and Hawaiian islands for residential and tourism purposes. These properties include the Molokai Properties and the Denarau Properties. The Group operates in Australasia, Asia, the United States of America, and United Kingdom," according to an online profile. In the six months that ended on December 31, 2007, the company reported HK$1,021,000,000 in earnings, up 36 percent from the previous year. That doesn't give much credibility to Nichols's contention that they can't afford to keep Molokai Ranch going unless they are allowed to create an exclusive, expensive subdivision.

"Molokai, Hawaii's sleepiest major island, is getting sleepier," wrote Jane Engle in the Los Angeles Times. That, depending on which position one agrees with, is either good news or bad news. But in either case, it was big news on this small island.

My Death Valley Travels -- and Airlines' Death Rattles

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, but I've been traveling.

I was in Death Valley National Park for several days, staying at the historic Furnace Creek Inn, which will have Internet access next season (this inn closes during the summer) but does not at this time. I'll post a longer report about Death Valley's history and natural wonders when I can.

But meanwhile, as a teaser, I'll just note that the park is phenomenal and fascinating: famous as the continent's hottest, driest, lowest-elevation place, but its 3 million acres also include stark desertscape of salt flats, mineral deposits, sand dunes and multicolored rock layers, surrounded by mountains some of which still are capped with the last of winter's snow. This has been a good -- not a great, but a good -- wildflower year, and I caught just the tail end. The beautiful flower here is called the Desert Five-Spot, which looks a bit like a lavender Japanese lantern whose rounded petals surround five bright red spots in the center.


Another Airline Bites the Dust

While I've been unconnected to the on-line world, big news in travel is the continuing (and worsening) litany of airline woes. Two scheduled and one charter carrier recently folded. Late last week, Columbus, OH-based SkyBus went under. Aloha Airlines, which declared bankruptcy some 10 days ago was 61 years old. SkyBus, a discount carrier with 11 destinations and big dreams, had not yet celebrated its first anniversary. Delta, United, American and others have announced various cost-saving measures. Just when the leaner and meaner aviation industry had returned to profitability, literally and figuratively sky-high jet-fuel costs have killed off some carriers and weakened others. Major media will continue to report on rumored or planned airline mergers or deaths of the biggies, but in this blog, I am concerned with the impact on travelers.

Travel Insurance Tips

I received the following message from QuoteWright, and online travel insurance provider. These tips are worth paying attention to when you plan your next travels:

In the past several days 3 airlines have suddenly ceased
business. Travelers can use travel insurance to help protect
themselves but there are a few things they should know before buying:

1. Buy travel insurance from an independent source rather than from the travel provider. Travel Insurance policies offered by tour operators, cruise lines, or airlines either don’t cover their own financial default or they exclude the financial default of the company from whom you purchase your coverage.
2. Check the insurance plan to see if they have a list of airlines or travel companies that they either will or will not cover. One company, Access America, provides a list of companies they will cover while two other companies, Travel Guard and Travelex, provide a list of companies they will not cover.
3. Buy travel insurance very soon after they make a deposit. Default protection is only available if you purchase your travel insurance within 10 to 21 days of your initial deposit. The time period varies with each company and plan so our advice is to do it within 10 days to ensure that you have the maximum flexibility.
4. Review the coverage carefully. Some plans will have a “waiting period” after the coverage is purchased before the default coverage goes into effect. In some cases this is 14 days after you buy the insurance. Another reason to buy coverage early.
5. Buy your trip or airline ticket through a travel agent. Some insurance plans exclude coverage if you have purchase your trip directly with the travel company. Most travel insurance plans will not, however, to have the maximum flexibility you should purchase your trip through a travel agent, whether locally or online, rather than buying direct.
6. Always use a credit card for the payment of your ticket or trip. In the event of a default you might be able to dispute your charge and have the credit card company remove it from your billing. This is fine if it happens prior to your trip but doesn’t help much if you are traveling at the time of the default. If that happens other airlines might offer you an alternative flight on a standby basis but it can still result in delays and additional expenses that would be covered by many travel insurance policies.

These are all ways that a consumer can minimize their risks. You can never
eliminate all risks but you can take prudent measures to minimize them before
you travel.”

Two More Airlines Grounded

One charter and one more scheduled airline join Aloha on the grounded list

I'm uncofmortably seated on the floor of the B Concourse at Denver International Airport, grateful that there's now free WiFi here but wishing there were more electrical outlets so that I wouldn't be leaning against a round stainless-steel pillar next to a trash can to post this. I am also grateful that I am not flying ATA. My E-mail inbox contained a message with an Elliott.org with the following news:

"First it was Aloha Airlines. Then it was charter carrier Champion Air.
Today it’s ATA. Within a week, three airlines have been grounded, leaving
thousands of passengers stranded.
What now?"

Read Elliott's precautions (e.g., do an airline "health check" before booking, always pay for your ticket by credit car) and possible remedies (e.g., the refund rules) if you are flying soon. It would be nice not to need this advice, but unfortunately, the airline industry is so fragile these days that one never knows.

La Posada de Albuquerque to Be Reborn as Andaluz

New name for total makeover of historic downtown hotel

Just a few days ago, in a post about Historic Hotels of the Rockies, I postulated that La Posada de Albquerque could qualify for membership when its renovation/restoration is complete. Now comes the word that the historic La Posada de Albuquerque will not reopen this spring under that name after all, but is now scheduled to open "later this year" as the Hotel Andaluz. The new name for the old hotel is, of course, derived from the Spanish region of Andalucía, which inspired the motif for the hotel's original designed for Conrad Hilton by Anton F. Korn in the 1930’s. The hotel's logo, an adaptation of a classic Andalucían tile, represents four interlocking A’s.

“We selected Andaluz as the new name of this legendary property because it honors Albuquerque’s rich Spanish heritage and reflects the hotel’s architectural and interior design,” said Yancy Sturgeon, general manager of Andaluz. “The entire property will have a Mediterranean style and vibe, and we believe that the name Andaluz embodies this essence.”

The hotel, which opened in 1939 as the Hilton Hotel, was the first hotel in the state constructed by New Mexico native. Conrad Hilton. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2005, Gary Goodman of Historic Hotels, LLC purchased it and got the $30 million makeover moving. The décor incorporates Moroccan and Spanish colonial influence, and its restaurant will service Mediterranean cuisine. Additional features are a mezzanine-level cultural center honoring New Mexico’s museums, cultural institutions, performing arts groups, and other culturally significant organizations, a rooftop lounge and a lobby bar featuring live weekly entertainment.

The Andaluz is at 125 Second Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. I'll post a phone number and a website when I find out abount them.

RIP, David Parrish

Gifted student with a bright travel photojournalist future gunned down in Mexico

Have you ever heard of David Parrish? Neither had I -- until his mugging/murder in Puerto Vallarta made headlines in the Boulder Camera. That's because Parrish, 21, was a graduate of Boulder High School and a geography major at the University of Colorado, where his mother, Janet Graaff, teaches engineering. Mother and son, who were spring breaking in the popular coastal tourist resort, were mugged after visiting an ATM. According to reports, the assailants tried to grab Graaff's purse. Parrish tried to stop them and was shot in the stomach. He died later in a hospital. The two assailants were caught and jailed, but at least one of them escaped. A Mexican judge, his secretary and two jail employees are suspected accomplices in the jailbreak.

The reason you might have heard of Parrish in the years to come, had he lived, was through his evocative words and images. He was "passionate about photography, geography and mending cultures friends say," wrote Camera staff writer Vanessa Miller in a front page feature honoring his short life. The piece also related last year's spring semester, which he spent in Morocco, living in a village and documenting his experiences with remarkable clarity for one so young. You can read the "Remembering David Parish" story here and see three of his images and read the captions from his Morocco experience here.

The wider world never got to see what this promising talent might have produced. Beyond that, an upright son and a fine young man gone because of the actions of two thugs and a gun. Tragic indeed.