Ok, now that we have finalized the destination and timing, let's go over various transportation issues.
Trip : Aspen / Snowmass
Dates : Saturday, Jan 21 - Sunday Jan 29
There are 3 main ways to get to Aspen / Snowmass
1) Fly in to Denver and shuttle/rental car drive over. Denver is served by United mostly, and some other carriers. It is pretty easy to use Frequent Flyer miles to get into Denver. The drive to Aspen is 220 miles and about 4-5 hours. It requires going over the continental divide and is reputed to be a tough drive. Shuttles are $108, probably less for a big group. This is probably Bruha's best option if he can fly direct from Europe into Denver. Others may want to join him here and convoy over, possibly in a rental or shuttle.
2) Fly in to Eagle / Vail and shuttle/rental car drive over. This is well served by the non United group of carriers and is a 757 jet capable field. It is is mostly an all weather field, but not 100% all weather. Currently you can use American miles to get in there, but I'm not sure the status with other carriers. It gets pricey as the season goes on to fly here. The drive to Aspen is 150 miles and about 2 hours. It is reputed to be an easy valley drive. Shuttles are $53 or so. For those who can fly direct to Eagle (DFW, ORD, LGA, EWR, MPL, etc) this is a very good option. For certain structural reasons (DIA bond payments) this can be a good deal, if booked before snowfall. I am going to fly in to here on a direct flight from LGA, returning to EWR. I have not booked shuttles / rentals yet until we come to some kind of consensus decision on that.
3) Fly in to Sandy/Pitkin in Aspen (possibly by way of Denver) and taxi over. This is served by a few carriers, probably mostly United. This airport is a turboprop/puddle jumper airport and can have significant weather issues. I don't know the exact cancellation rate, but have heard numerous anecdotal accounts of reroutings. I do not know how easy/difficult it is to use miles to travel here, but would expect that it would be hard unless you were a United premium passenger or something. The drive into town or Snowmass is about 5 miles and is a quick taxi ride. For those on the West Coast, there may even be some direct flights into this airfield, which would be worth the effort. If one flew in here, just taxi over to whatever house we rent or someone will come by and pick you up (if possible).
Anyways, start thinking about those, and consider using miles if possible. Realize using miles will either require early planning or using up 50,000 or so.
Plant
Trip : Aspen / Snowmass
Dates : Saturday, Jan 21 - Sunday Jan 29
There are 3 main ways to get to Aspen / Snowmass
1) Fly in to Denver and shuttle/rental car drive over. Denver is served by United mostly, and some other carriers. It is pretty easy to use Frequent Flyer miles to get into Denver. The drive to Aspen is 220 miles and about 4-5 hours. It requires going over the continental divide and is reputed to be a tough drive. Shuttles are $108, probably less for a big group. This is probably Bruha's best option if he can fly direct from Europe into Denver. Others may want to join him here and convoy over, possibly in a rental or shuttle.
2) Fly in to Eagle / Vail and shuttle/rental car drive over. This is well served by the non United group of carriers and is a 757 jet capable field. It is is mostly an all weather field, but not 100% all weather. Currently you can use American miles to get in there, but I'm not sure the status with other carriers. It gets pricey as the season goes on to fly here. The drive to Aspen is 150 miles and about 2 hours. It is reputed to be an easy valley drive. Shuttles are $53 or so. For those who can fly direct to Eagle (DFW, ORD, LGA, EWR, MPL, etc) this is a very good option. For certain structural reasons (DIA bond payments) this can be a good deal, if booked before snowfall. I am going to fly in to here on a direct flight from LGA, returning to EWR. I have not booked shuttles / rentals yet until we come to some kind of consensus decision on that.
3) Fly in to Sandy/Pitkin in Aspen (possibly by way of Denver) and taxi over. This is served by a few carriers, probably mostly United. This airport is a turboprop/puddle jumper airport and can have significant weather issues. I don't know the exact cancellation rate, but have heard numerous anecdotal accounts of reroutings. I do not know how easy/difficult it is to use miles to travel here, but would expect that it would be hard unless you were a United premium passenger or something. The drive into town or Snowmass is about 5 miles and is a quick taxi ride. For those on the West Coast, there may even be some direct flights into this airfield, which would be worth the effort. If one flew in here, just taxi over to whatever house we rent or someone will come by and pick you up (if possible).
Anyways, start thinking about those, and consider using miles if possible. Realize using miles will either require early planning or using up 50,000 or so.
Plant
PS: I would be more leary of flying Delta than I was before....to wit:
NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A decision by pilots of Atlanta-based Delta AirLines to strike, if a bankruptcy court abrogates their contract, could kill thecarrier, the carrier says.A bankruptcy court was set to rule Wednesday on Delta's request to end itspilots' contract and impose $325 million in concessions on the 6,000 pilots,TheStreet.com reported Tuesday.The company's characterization of a potential pilots strike as "murder-suicide"came after the Air Line Pilots Association raised the prospect of a strike --if the court rejects their contract.The nation's third-largest carrier filed for bankruptcy in September, after the ALPA gave management about $1 billion in concessions.
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