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Issue 62:
September 2007 |
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No business, except
maybe politics, is as
two-faced as travel
There's one set of rules
for us, the customers.
And there's another set
for them, the airlines,
car rental companies,
hotels and travel
agencies.
But it's worse than
that. See, the travel
industry isn't just
getting away with its
duplicitous behaviour.
The real crime is, we're
letting it happen. We
shouldn't, but then
again, most travelers
aren't fully aware of
the industry's most
maddening double
standards.
Here are 3 of the
worst:
Double
standard No. 1:
If an airline cancels a
flight, it owes you
nothing. If you miss a
flight, you lose
everything.
Double standard No. 2:
If you reserve a hotel
room, you have to
"guarantee" it with a
credit card. If the
hotel sells too many
rooms, it doesn't have
to guarantee you
anything
Double standard No. 3:
If a rental agency runs
out of cars, you have to
wait and you don't get
compensated for your
time. If you bring back
one of its cars late, it
charges you its highest
hourly rate. |
A Reminder
to our clients . . .
The Canadian Air
Transport Security Authority is renewing an
appeal to air travellers a year after Canada
adopted restrictions on liquids, gels and
aerosols. In spite of the year-old regulations,
numerous air travellers continue to arrive at
the pre-board screening checkpoint with
over-sized quantities of bottled water, perfume,
shampoo, hair gel, and other toiletries. "It
takes just a minute quantity of liquid
explosives to destroy an aircraft and disrupt
the aviation system. This is why the regulations
were put into place," said Jacques Duchesneau,
CATSA president and chief executive officer. "We
urge travellers to be vigilant and make a
conscious effort to ensure that threats are kept
off passenger planes."
Across the
country, screening officers intercept over
850,000 liquids, gels and aerosols every week.
Over 90,000 liquids, gels and aerosols are
intercepted daily at Pearson International
Airport
alone. The
staggering amount translates into delays at the
security screening checkpoint as passengers have
to unpack and dispose of the items.
The restrictions on liquids, gels and aerosols
were put in place in August 2006 following the
failed bombing attempts at Heathrow airport in
London, England. Twenty four people were
arrested in a plot to detonate liquid explosives
on passenger aircraft.
For carry-on
items, liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed
in containers with a maximum capacity of 100mL
(3.4 ounces). These containers must be placed in
a clear, re-sealable plastic bag with a capacity
of no more than one litre.
One bag per
passenger is permitted.
www.catsa.gc.ca |
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SAIL AWAY
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Carnival expands ‘On
Deck for the Cure’
initiative
Following
a highly successful
pilot program aboard the
Valor and Fascination,
Carnival Cruise Lines
will expand its
involvement with the “On
Deck for the Cure”
breast cancer
fundraising initiative,
adding one-kilometre
walks and other
activities to the
majority of its fleet.
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“On Deck for the Cure”
has a goal of generating
US$1 million toward
breast cancer research,
education, screening and
treatment. Carnival’s
expansion of the program
will encompass 14 ships
and will include all
vessels operating
cruises of seven days or
longer, including Alaska
and Europe sailings, as
well as four and
five-day voyages aboard
the Carnival Elation
from San Diego.
Guests
participating in
Carnival’s “On Deck for
the Cure” activities are
encouraged to make a
minimum US$10 donation
and partake in a one-kilometre
walk around the ships’
jogging tracks while
wearing their
custom-designed T-shirts
and wristbands, included
with each donation.
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A GROWING
DEMAND -
Cruise
lines anticipate more demand
for 80,000 new berths; 30
more ships to be built by
end of 2011
Cruise lines
and their passengers spent
US$17.6 billion in the
United States in 2006, and
New York and Hawaii were
among the fastest-growing
embarkation points for
cruise travellers.
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Direct spending related to
the cruise industry
increased 9% in 2006 - down
slightly from 10% growth the
year before according to a
report from the Cruise Lines
International Association.
The report showed that 12
million passengers took
cruise vacations worldwide
in 2006. Seven ships were
added last year, and about
30 more are slated to be
built by the end of 2011 as
cruise lines anticipate
there will be enough demand
to fill some 80,000 new
berths. |
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INN THE NEWS
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Embassy
Suites Hotels announced
a nationwide search for
the next best "Do Not
Disturb" door hanger
designs to be used in
all of its nearly 190
all-suite hotels. For
the next two months a
panel of Embassy Suites
judges will choose the
cleverest design
submitted and pick five
winners who will receive
stays at select Embassy
Suites Hotels. |
PLANE TALK
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WestJet moving
to Terminal 2 at LAX
WestJet will be moving its operations at Los Angeles
International Airport from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2,
effective Sept. 4. According to officials, Terminal
2 offers more amenities such as additional shopping
and restaurant choices for passengers.
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WestJet aims for 50% share
of Canadian market by 2013
WestJet President and CEO Sean Durfy said that
based on the current growth strategy, it could
control as much as half of the domestic Canadian
market by 2013. The carrier currently holds about a
35% share compared to Air Canada's 65%. WestJet
expects a share in the range of 40%-50% within five
years. In addition, it hopes to double its share of
the transborder market by 2013 to 15% by expanding
to US business destinations. It also plans to boost
its share of the Canada-to-Mexico/Caribbean market
from 1% currently to 10%-20%.
Dragonair to join
oneworld
Hong Kong-based Dragonair will join oneworld on Nov.
1. Dragonair serves more destinations in Mainland
China than any other airline not based there, with
some 400 flights a week. Twelve of these
destinations will be new to the oneworld network.
With the addition of Dragonair, oneworld will serve
a total of 22 destinations in Mainland China.
Elsewhere, Dragonair will add Kota Kinabalu
(Malaysia), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Phuket
(Thailand) to the alliance map. By adding Phnom
Penh, oneworld will connect with one new country –
Cambodia.
New Check-in Deadline
with AIR CANADA for the USA
Due to increased security measures and US
pre-clearance formalities at most Canadian airports,
effective September 4th, 2007, the check-in cut off
time between Canada and the USA will increase from
45 to 60 minutes prior to departure. This will
ensure adequate time for passenger processing at the
airport. |
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Family fun in
Costa Rica
Martour has a
Dec. 29 to Jan. 9, 2008 family
package to Costa Rica that
includes airfare from Toronto,
transfers, three nights in
Arenal, four at the Borinquen
Mountain Resort and four at the
Casa Conde del Mar beach resort
in Guanacaste.
The package costs
$2,880. Children pay only the
airfare and taxes. Available in
Costa Rica now is the Costa Rica
Freedom Pass, which features
seven night’s accommodation and
a four-by-four vehicle. Farther
south, Martour has a package for
those wanting to attend Carnaval
in Rio, new tours to Ecuador and
four- and seven-night Galapagos
cruises. Pre- and post-tours are
available for those going on
cruises in Latin America.
Sunquest’s
‘Kids Free’ promotion now
available at Christmas, New
Year’s
Effective
immediately on all bookings made
by Sept. 10, Sunquest’s popular
“Kids Fly Free” promotion is
available for selected hotels at
Christmas and New Year’s. Valid
for travel from Dec. 20
to Jan. 2, 2008, one
child per two paying adults
flies free (taxes and transfers
extra) from gateways across
Canada to over 45 resorts in
Mexico, the Caribbean and
Central America. Available
across Canada, departures for
this promotion vary by
destination and gateway and are
based on seven-night durations
only (unless specified
otherwise). Some conditions
apply. |
In
honour of the conch
- Residents and visitors alike are
getting set to honour the conch as
the Turks and Caicos Islands
celebrate the islands’ culinary
specialty at the Fourth Annual Turks
& Caicos Conch Festival, Nov. 23-25
on Providenciales. Highlights
include a competition featuring the
best of Caribbean food and music.
“The Conch Festival is a
much-anticipated event that allows
Turks and Caicos to showcase conch
as a fundamental element of
Caribbean culture through the
innovative dishes created by our
world-class chefs.
The three-day celebration
will include the “conch-etition,” a
cocktail challenge, a conch blowing
contest, a conch treasure hunt, live
music and native boat races. Turks
and Caicos is home to the world’s
only conch farm, Caicos Conch Farm.
*Some
restrictions may apply.
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