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Volume 6, Issue 36, September 10, 2008 |
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First the bad news: According to the Associated Press, Federal aviation officials are investigating 17 cases in which 11 air carriers did not comply with government safety directives. The cases were uncovered during a major effort by the Federal Aviation Administration to verify whether airlines follow the agency's safety orders as required. The first phase of the inquiry earlier this spring found seven instances in which four carriers had not complied with safety orders. FAA officials declined to identify the carriers and said they did not know if some of the new cases involve carriers already under investigation.
There is a silver lining in the busy skies, though: FAA administrator Robert Sturgell said that 98 percent of the 5,600 safety directives audited by the agency had been followed by the carriers. He said the relatively few cases in which safety directives weren't followed indicate there is a high level of safety in the U.S. air traffic system. And, he noted the U.S. hasn't experienced a major airline accident in more than two years. “These kinds of numbers are not an accident, it's not a miracle, it's not luck,” Sturgell said. “It's the result of an entire team effort — the government, the industry, Congress, everybody involved in the aviation system — producing the safety net we have today.” 
Continental Airlines is the latest carrier to institute a checked baggage fee. A surcharge of $15 per checked bag will go into effect Oct. 7, for tickets purchased on or after Sept. 5 for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada. The service fee does not apply to Elite customers, first- or business-class passengers, or full-fare economy (Y) class tickets. The airline will also cut mileage bonuses starting January 2009.
One small step for boarding passes, one giant step for air travelers. Air France is launching electronic boarding passes on mobile phones and the only paper document required to board is a personal ID. Check in online via the mobile Internet site http://mobile.airfrance.com, and a boarding pass with a secure barcode is sent directly to your cell phone. This paper-free boarding pass contains all the written information displayed on a conventional boarding pass (boarding time, boarding gate, departure time, seat number and travel class). You need only show your phone at security checkpoints and at the gate. Initially, this option is only available on Paris (CDG) to Amsterdam (AMS), in both directions, but hopefully will be offered on a flight near you in the not-far-off future.
Jet Airways will launch daily flights to Bangalore starting Oct. 31, from three North American gateways: New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), and Toronto (YYZ). Flights go through Jet Airway’s European hub in Brussels. “Our vision is to make reaching destinations in India as effortless as possible,” said Naresh Goyal, founder and chairman of Jet Airways. Through its codeshare agreements with American Airlines and Brussels Airlines, Jet Airways also offers easy connections to other US cities including: Washington, DC (DCA), Dallas (DFW), Boston (BOS), Baltimore (BWI), and Raleigh-Durham (RDU).
A rail link between Turkey and the six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council — which includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman — is currently being studied by regional engineers. If the project is approved, one of the trickiest parts will be determining the route of the railway. One option is to connect the GCC countries with Turkey directly through Iraq. However, with the current situation in that country being as volatile as it is, a more plausible option may be to go through Jordan and Syria. In either case, most of the railway is expected to run through Saudi Arabia, with the King Fahd Causeway being an integral part of either option.
Virgin America is launching a new non-stop route from New York (JFK) to Las Vegas (LAS) this month. The airline is celebrating with a Hollywood twist: "Entourage Class" on the new flights. Based on the popular HBO show, the custom Virgin America Airbus A320 will offer “A-List” Entourage-like perks to first-class passengers traveling in September including noise-canceling headphones, champagne, Godiva chocolates, Kiehl's travel kits, and "Entourage Air" blankets and eye masks.
Craft Dallas at W Hotel
2440 Victory Park Lane
Dallas, TX 75219
tel 214 397 4111
www.craftrestaurant.com
Craft is located a few steps off the hip modern lobby of the W Dallas Hotel where you can find dozens of pretty Texans milling around killing time before hitting the hotel’s trendy roof-top Ghostbar’s velvet rope line. Craft restaurant, however, offers an all-together different ambience, with blonde-wood floors, dark wood tables, a two-story glass and steel wine cabinet, and dozens of old-fashioned filament-style light bulbs hanging from the ceiling on long wires.
The al a carte Craft menu is divided into three categories: “meat” (roasted, braised, charcuterie), “fish & shellfish” (raw/marinated, roasted, braised), and “salads.” There are expensive, high-quality steaks; uncommon dishes such as quail, rabbit, and buffalo tenderloin; an extensive wine cellar; and a crowd that includes out-of-town conventioneers, Dallas couples celebrating anniversary and birthday dinners, serious corporate suits, and camera-toting tourists.
The menu has so many inviting sounding items it was difficult to choose, but one of the best parts of Craft is that you can order half-portions of everything except the main courses. Thus, I ordered a half-portion of the fresh heirloom tomato salad as well as a half-dozen delicious Canadian Malpeque oysters. Next, I sampled diver scallops that tasted like they had just come off the boat, complemented by half-portions of baby carrots and a chanterelle risotto. All the food at Craft comes unadorned — no gimmicky garnishes or vertical compositions — and lightly seasoned with olive oil, salt or pepper. Dishes are simple and fresh showcasing the top-notch ingredients the restaurant prides itself on.
I had fun with the desserts, ordering half-portions of the Texas peach buckle and almond ice cream, the “freckle-faced” nectarine, a few figs, and the Tiltan goat cheese from Kfar Yechezkel in Israel.
The sharply dressed wait staff was friendly and efficient and each course appeared promptly, possibly because I arrived just ahead of the big Thursday night dinner crowd. Reservations are necessary at all times.
The Craft concept — which includes restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, and Connecticut — is the brainchild of celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio, a judge on the “Top Chef” TV show. His chef de cuisine does an admirable job managing the kitchen here, and the restaurant was quite comfortable for a long dinner (despite the piped-in music). If you’re not quite ready to call it a night, the W Hotel’s open-air, 33-story rooftop Ghostbar offers a late night social scene, and a stunning view of Dallas.
Score: ••••• Ron Bernthal
American Airlines has partnered with the American Red Cross to bring aid to this season’s hurricane victims. The campaign gives AAdvantage members an opportunity to donate money to the American Red Cross’ “Hurricanes of 2008 Relief Fund” in exchange for AAdvantage miles. Through Sept. 30, AAdvantage members will receive a one-time award of 250 bonus AAdvantage miles for a $50 donation or 500 bonus miles for a $100 donation.
EL AL, Israel’s national airline, is offering fall and winter savings on Platinum Business Class companion fares for nonstop flights to destinations throughout Israel from New York (JFK and EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX). Special Platinum Business Class fares are also available on EL AL/American Airlines codeshare flights originating in Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington, DC (DCA). Companion fares are discounted nearly 30 percent when purchased with this promotion and are available for travel from Oct. 26, 2008 thru March 31, 2009 (except Dec. 17-24, 2008).
Cathay Pacific’s “Deal of the Month” for September provides special fares to select cities in Mainland China. Starting at just $1,046 roundtrip, flights can originate in Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK) or San Francisco (SFO) to Beijing (PEK) and cities throughout China. The September Deal of the Month from Cathay Pacific is available for outbound travel from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30 with a maximum stay of 30 days.
bmi, London Heathrow’s second largest airline, is offering a sale on flights from the U.S. gateways of Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington, D.C. (IAD), to cities in Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, Asia and Middle East. This offer includes sale prices for both business and economy fares and runs through Sept. 30 for travel through March 31. The sale highlights the newly expanded route system by bmi through its codeshare agreements with United Airlines, US Airways and Air New Zealand.
The Crane Resort & Residences in Barbados has announced a special fall rate on bookings in the month of September. From Aug. 22 to Sept. 22, all rooms are discounted 30 percent and also include free daily breakfast. This special is valid on a minimum three-night stay for travel up to Dec. 20.
