Columnist Muriel Stevens: Airing out some flying complaints

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002 | 8:20 a.m.

It will come as no surprise to anyone who has traveled by air since Sept. 11 that it's not easy. My travel friend and I debated whether to drive to our destination, the St. Regis resort at Dana Point, Calif. But predicted bad weather made flying a better bet.

We were advised early on that flying on the weekend before a holiday made it necessary to get to the airport three hours before departure. A second call to the airline said two hours would be soon enough. We decided to cut the difference in half. Checking in at the curb was a cinch. No lines, no hassle.

I had followed the suggestions: no carry-on bags and no metal implements (not even jewelry). All I took on board was my purse. It was large enough to carry what I needed for a one-hour flight. After a long uneventful wait our plane was called. Just minutes away from going onboard I was pulled out of line for a random search by a male yahoo who patted me down in such a familiar way that I was infuriated. There was no female attendant, just this outrageous person.

I've no quarrel with security measures, although I'm not convinced that it does any good with such rookie security people (more on this at a later date). Fortunately, the flight was short and our arrival at John Wayne Airport was smooth. We made our way to the rental cars and after playing Goldilocks with three cars -- one was too small, one had a broken seat belt and one had a seat that couldn't be adjusted -- we found one that was just right and were on our way to the St. Regis.

Happy times at St. Regis: The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort opened at the end of August. It barely had time for a shakedown when the travel bubble burst on Sept. 11. It is a credit to the resort that not one staff member was laid off. A well-trained staff is the key to a luxury hotel. I can't comment on most of the services, only those I experienced. I'm not a golfer, as are many of the guests, so my friend and I left each morning after breakfast to pursue other interests.

What I can tell you is that the rooms are wonderful. On clear mornings we had a view of the ocean, the golf course and the luxe swimming pool area. Our bathroom was almost as large as the bedroom. It had a separate shower stall, a steeping tub and a gorgeous sink and vanity with extravagant appointments. We were on the Astor Club level, a keyed floor with additional amenities. Had we chosen to have breakfast in our room or anything else, it would have been delivered by a member of the staff.

It was the Astor Club staff that made our stay such a delightful one. Breakfast, snacks, light lunch, afternoon tea and cocktail fare were offered throughout the day. Depending on the time of day, we enjoyed the service proffered by Michael, Mary Jo, Edward, Geoff, Fabritzio or Jeffrey. Chief of Security Elvis Walker formerly owned a security firm in Las Vegas. We swapped stories if he was on the Astor floor when we returned after an evening out.

After a week at the posh resort we were properly spoiled and thoroughly enjoyed the pampering. During this final shakedown period the St. Regis is offering excellent winter rates. Check the Internet or call (949) 234-3200.