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.

Airlines Cut Capacity to Save Money

Fewer flights and no relief for add-on fees in sight

Airlines are again under assault, this time from a stale, stagnant economy with fewer high-ticket business travelers in the air and rising fuel prices -- again. American, Continental, Delta and U.S. Airways have announced capacity cuts, route restructuring and/or layoffs. Attractive designed to lure leisure travelers in this cash-strapped uncertain time simply do not bring in the revenue that full-fare business travelers provide. Even Southwest is feeling the pinch. United isn't shaving capacity -- at least not right now -- but anything can happen. But with airlines still cash-strapped and chronically worried, don't expect carriers that charge for checked bags, food or drink to change those policies, and be prepared for hefty change fees too.

Mexico's Miseries Mean Bargains for Travelers

Travel deals to America's troubled neighbor to the south

Mexico has been having a bad run. First, the US and global economic woes caused many migrant workers to return to their country, cutting down the flow of US dollars that help so many families and communities. The border city of Juarez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso, has been the site of thousands of drug cartel-related murders, and more recently, a drug-related gun battle in the tourist mecca of Acapulco left 18 people dead. Swine flu was reportedly traced back to an American-owned pig farm in Mexico. Earthquakes rattled central Mexico, and a fire in a day care center in the border state of Sonora killed 44. Aviaseca, a discount airline, was grounded for three days until a court order permitted it to resume flying again. Even a press trip to Mexico didn't materialize due to "scheduling problems."

My inbox is filled every day with deals from everywhere from Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean shore to Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific. Jimm Budd, an American travel journalist who has lived in Mexico City for years and is the travel columnist for the Mexico City newspaper Reforma, reports that "although hotel associations have been urging their members not to launch a rate war, management at some resorts apparently feels it has no choice. Tariffs at the Hilton Los Cabos are down by 60% compared to what was charged last season, according to newspaper reports. Rates at the Royal in Playa del Carmen on the Maya Riviera are down 50% While the Gran Velas on the Nayarit Riviera is offering savings of 25%."

He cautions bargain hunters "invest some time in research. The Tourism Ministry has launched its own web page with numerous packages listed, but one newspaper reported better prices are available from ordinary tour operators. Critics also note that no intercity bus transportation is offered in the Ministry packages."

Newspaper headlines can scare people away from Mexico or anyplace else (a friend's daughter just returned, unscathed, from "war ravaged" Sir Lanka), but those Americans who venture southward will find a wonderful country, lively cities (Mazatlan, above right) scenic beauty, art, music, sport, terrific people -- and low prices.

Followup from Jimm Budd on June 16: "Battered first by the worldwide recession, then by reports of violence associated with the crackdown on narcotics smugglers and finally by the swine flu pandemic, Mexican hoteliers report business gradually is getting better. Hotel occupancy, which had fallen as low as ten or twenty percent, now is about fifty percent both in urban and seaside hotels. This should improve considerably next month, when schools go on vacation. Even so, much to the distress of innkeepers, the vacation season will be shorter this summer. Since classes in areas such as Mexico City were obliged cancelled for two weeks during the flu scare, an extra 14 days is being added to the school year."

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.

Governor Signs Colorado Ski License Plate Bill

Coloradans will drive to support and promote skiing and snowboarding

I posted previously about the creation of a snowsports-theme Colorado license plate. My first post was about the petition promoted by Colorado Ski Country USA and the second was about the passage of Senate Bill 161, creating the country's first plate with ski and snowboard figures on it. Earlier this week, Governor Bill Ritter signed the bill against the snow-covered slopes of Arapahoe Basin, the only Colorado ski area that has not yet lowered the curtain on the 2008-09 season. There is was in a gubernatorial suitcoat, surrounded by people whose attired was more "Denver" than "ski area."

"For decades now, people have wondered why Colorado doesn’t offer a ski license plate," Gov. Ritter said. "After all, Colorado is the ski and snowboard capital of the world. Colorado’s skiers and snowboarders are a unique part of our culture, and I am delighted to sign this bill into law."

Full details of when the new plate will be available are still to come, and my next post on the topic will be when I get mine.

Dreamliner Test Engine Blows Apart

Another nightmare for the Dreamliner, Boeing's latest airliner

The Boeing Company pushed delivery of its first 787 to the middle of the first quarter 2011. It seems that a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 test engine blew apart recently while being run on a ground-test stand at the engine plant in Derby, England, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. According to Bloomberg News, which has also been tracking the Dreamliner's chain of problems, Rolls-Royce spokesman Josh Rosenstock said that "limited debris [was] released into the test facility." which was then shut down for "minor repairs."

Neither Boeing nor Rolls appears to have sent out a press release or reached out to the media on this.Did they think no one would notice? Flight International, a weekly aviation trade publication in England, broke the story. Bottom line is that Boeing needs the engine for the aircraft's planned final test flight scheduled before year's end. No engine? No test flight -- and a further delivery delay.

"An uncontained failure in flight could potentially bring down an airplane," wrote LA Times reporter Dominic Gates, using almost military language. The first aircraft was originally supposed to be delivered in May 2008. Now, the final rest flight will mot likely be in February 2011. Bloomberg ticked off six delays, counting this, one on the delivery of the Dreamliner.The most recent mega-problem, before the engine issue, was "poor workmanship" the 787's horizontal tails built by Alenia of Italy that pushed delivery into early 2011. I'm not a buy-American fanatic, but perhaps outsourcing components of such a complicated aircraft to overseas "partners" wasn't such a great idea after all.

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.