 |
 |
| Vol. 5 | Issue 16 | April 17, 2007 |    |
See Galapagos While You Can
The Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin’s inspiration and one of the most
famous ecology-tourism sites, may soon be closed to tourism — or at least,
much more highly restricted. The president of Ecuador last week declared the islands — home to dozens
of endangered species — “in a state of emergency” and signed
a decree declaring an environmental and social crisis.
The announcement coincided with a visit by representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Last month a UNESCO official at the organization’s Galapagos research station warned of threats to the “fragile and delicate” ecology of the island group.
A big part of the problem is the 20,000 people who now live on the islands, primarily either fishermen or tourism workers. The rapid population increase, and the introduction of non-native species of flora and fauna, are threatening the entire ecosystem, ecologists say.
The most likely immediate restrictions will be to any new tourist operations,
with cutbacks in existing tourism — in order to decrease the number of
personnel required to service visitors — on the horizon. 
To Cell or Not to Cell
Earlier this month, the FCC put on hold any decision that would allow mobile
phone usage aboard aircraft, basing its determination on feedback from airlines
and air travelers but ultimately on inadequate information as to how such usage
would impact land-based telecommunications. Two new surveys show that travelers
don’t yet want cell phones on airplanes anyway. A Barclaycard Business
survey of more than 4,000 U.K. business travelers said that 59 percent are
against the idea — with women the most against it (62 percent). Social-networking
site TravellersConnected.com polled 1,300 regular international travelers,
of whom 78 percent were opposed to the prospect.
A Celebration of Pie
Ah, apple pie, the all-American food. If you’re a serious pie fan — or
happen to be in the Orlando area next weekend — don’t miss The
Great American Pie Festival in the town of Celebration, Fla. Events
on April 21 and 22 include a Never-Ending Pie Buffet, children’s pie-making,
pie-eating contests, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment. If you
are particularly proud of your professional pie-making skills, you can even
enter to compete for the $5,000 Best In Show prize.
Silly Airline News
Three announcements by or about airlines this month had people checking
the datelines to make sure they weren’t being taken in by an April Fool’s
spoof. But nope, they’re all real. In an announcement met by widespread
ridicule, the London-based Institute for Public Policy Research said that because
airlines contribute to global warming (less than 2 percent of global greenhouse
gases, by most other accounts), cigarette-type warnings saying “Flying
Causes Climate Change” should be posted in all travel ads, at airports
and maybe even on airplanes. Then there’s the new budget airline
due to start flying next month in the United States, Skybus. Its planes will
be sponsored by Nationwide Mutual Insurance, in a big way — logos and
slogans on the fuselage, tray tables, overhead bins, restroom doors and refreshment
carts. Our favorite “you’ve gotta be pulling my leg” airline
trivia of the month: A new low-cost carrier due to start flying in Wales late
this year will be called Flyforbeans.
Buy a Hotter Hotspot
If you’re tired of bouncing around from hotspot to WiFi hotspot in Europe,
entering new logins and encountering email limitations as you go, a new service
will, for a fee, provide seamless connectivity. Similar to those services that
provide special SIM cards for your cell phone that allow you to use it over
multiple networks, Trustive.com
has a variety of plans that give you access to more than 20,000 European hotspots
over 60 networks. Instead of a SIM card, you download HotSpotter software to
your laptop or PDA. There are pre-paid programs, starting at $40 for 275 minutes,
and monthly subscriptions starting at $20 for 150 minutes. There are also business
plans where a company’s travelers can pool minutes, starting at $135
a month for 1,050 minutes and five users.
First-Classier Air France
Air France has just added a new service in Paris (CDG) for its L’Espace
Premiere (first-class) passengers. Departing passengers at Charles deGaulle
will now be met by 100 specially trained ground staff, shown to an exclusive
check-in lounge, be transferred by car to the aircraft, and get personal introductions
to the flight crew.
Fly One, Thank the Other
US Airways, first class Los Angeles-Philadelphia
www.usairways.com
I arrived at LAX in plenty of time to go to the USAirways Club, check my emails and make a few calls. Thirty minutes before the scheduled departure, I made my way to the gate and boarded without incident. An attendant took my coat, and while no early drink was offered, a bottle of water was already at each first-class seat.
Once in the air, I got right to work on my laptop. I accepted a beverage, the movie came on, and I selected my meal — a rolled lasagna with shrimp and cheese. It was palatable. So far, so good, but our luck was about to change.
The captain announced that flights attendants should be seated and discontinue service. Naturally I thought we were entering a bit of turbulence; the aircraft was bouncing around a bit. But within a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom to explain that an indicator light had come on showing a problem with one of the engines, so they had to shut it down. With typical pilot calm, he said, “The plane is more than capable of flying with one engine, but we will be making an emergency landing in Albuquerque for safety reasons. It will be a normal landing, but you will see fire trucks on the tarmac; this is just a precaution.”
In all my years of flying, this was a first for me. I’ve had aborted takeoffs and landings, but never an engine problem or shutdown. The approach was a little rough, but otherwise uneventful, and the crew and pilots could not have been more professional and in control, making all the passengers feel at ease.
Unfortunately, these good feelings about US Airways’ professionalism were quickly dissipated by the staff at the Albuquerque airport (ABQ). The line for rebooking was long, and the agents were having trouble re-routing a single passenger; they all looked confused. In the two hours I waited on line — simultaneously calling the airline’s reservations number on my cell, and never getting past “hold” — nothing, not one displaced passenger, was processed. And needless to say, no special accommodations were made for those of us who had been traveling in first class.
Then appeared our savior: a Southwest Airlines agent, Damian Clark. US Airways announced that passengers without checked baggage could transfer to Southwest’s Albuquerque-Las Vegas (LAS)-Philadelphia (PHL) flight leaving in 20 minutes. Surprisingly, only about 10 people, including me, jumped at the opportunity.
Clark took us to his counter, where he smoothly booked us all on the flight, giving us all boarding cards for ABQ-LAS and LAS-PHL. His demeanor—competent and calm—was a far cry from the “dazed and confused” persona over at US Airways.
The connection time between flights in Las Vegas was supposed to be 20 minutes, but we were a little late leaving Albuquerque so it wound up being more like 10 minutes. Other passengers readily made way for me — “been there, done that,” grinned one guy. My fellow passengers and I all made the connection and were on our way. All the while I was thinking about the rest of my hapless fellow travelers from Los Angeles, probably still standing in the Albuquerque queue. It was also a great reminder of why it’s so much better to travel only with hand luggage.
US Airways customer “service” isn’t done with me yet, either. Since I didn’t get to fly first class for most of my route, I’ve been calling to get credit. I’m still being bounced from department to department to department…Stay tuned.
Score: ••••• Francis
X. Gallagher
Fare Sale Down Under
Qantas is holding a sale
on travel to Australia between May 7 and 29 from 16 U.S. cities
to four Australia destinations. Round-trip fares start at $898 between Los
Angeles (LAX) and either Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL) or Brisbane (BNE) and
max out at $1,298 for East Coast departures; travel to Cairns is higher. For
travel until May 6, add $150 to any fare; additional stopovers in Australia
are available starting at $150. Tickets must be purchased by April 30.
Win a Trip to Israel
Continental Airlines now has a sweepstakes running
online with the prize a trip for two to Israel, including airfare and four
nights’ hotel in Tel Aviv. You must enter by April 30. The winner, to
be announced mid-May, will have a year to take the trip.
Art in Bloom in Boston
Boston’s Museum
of Fine Arts is holding
its annual Art in Bloom exhibition this month, and the Hilton
Boston Back Bay is chipping in with a weekend package for art and
flower lovers. Available April 21-24, the package includes deluxe accommodations
and two VIP tickets to the exhibition for $329 a night double occupancy. Art
in Bloom is an exhibition of selected floral art, grand floral arrangements
created especially for the event, and an interpretation in flowers of objects
in the museum’s collection.
Curacao for Mothers and Others
Wondering what to get Mom for Mother’s Day (May 13)? Hotels across Curacao
are tailoring special package deals for women this spring and summer. The Avila
Hotel offers a Bachelorette and Girls Getaway from April 16-Sept.
15 that includes a deluxe room, normally $330 single/$340 double, for $200/$210.
The Sunset
Waters Beach Resort has
a seven-night Adventure Package available May 1-July 31 for $1,250 double,
including seven nights’ lodging, all meals, all beverages (including
alcohol), airport and local transfers, a scuba diving lesson, a guided kayak
trip, a guided hike and a snorkeling tour.
Vancouver Intro Deal
A brand-new waterfront boutique hotel on Vancouver Island, The
Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa, opens on May 1 and is offering introductory
rates through June 24. The property, in Sidney-by-the-Sea not far from the
Victoria International Airport (YYJ), has 55 guestrooms and six suites, two
restaurants, a spa and fitness center, and specialty services that include
a “marine concierge” for information about nearby parks and preserves,
and a “book butler” to bring you reading materials and a cup of
tea. During the introductory period, nightly rates will start at $95 (C$109).