Airlines
Air Canada, WestJet Increasing Checked Baggage Fees
Air Canada and WestJet have announced plans to raise checked baggage fees. Both airlines are raising the fee for the first checked bag to $30 from $25. They will also raise the price of checking a second bag to $50 from $30. The moves are reportedly being made to offset rising fuel costs. The fee increases in both cases apply to the lowest fare...
Special Needs, Special Care
Assisting travellers with special needs is a business imperative whose time has come, particularly given the demographics of an aging but still active boomer generation. And IATA has developed a learning module to allow travel agents and their suppliers to serve customers with physical disabilities and mobility issues as well as those with hidden special needs such as sleep apnea and autism, Quebec editor, Mike Dunbar reports in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. “The topic of special needs travel is becoming more serious as IATA is coordinating the creation of a...
WestJet Introduces AI Chatbot, Juliet
WestJet is offering its guests more convenience with the launch of the first ever artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot from a Canadian airline. The chatbot, named Juliet, is available in English and French through Facebook Messenger and enables travellers to easily manage many aspects of their trip including destination inspiration and discovery, flight booking and day-of travel information. To chat with Juliet, visit: https://www.messenger.com/t/westjet. “Juliet is the first of many ways WestJet will be raising the bar using digital to improve the guest experience, and...
Emirates Keeping Young Flyers Entertained
Emirates is introducing new toys from the Emirates Fly with Me collection and Lonely Planet Kids activity kit bags for children travelling in all classes. The new range of toys will come in the top four favourite characters, as voted by customers and fans in a social media competition held last year. Of the 17 characters Emirates introduced on board in the last three years, the top four characters chosen for the new products are Lewis the Lion, Peek U the Panda, Ernie the Penguin, and Savanna the Elephant. The new collection will be on board all flights and across all classes from...
Something In The Air
Baxter Media hosted its annual luncheon for airline managers at Toronto's tony Boulevard Club. Good food, good conversation and updates from officials from IATA, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and the Board of Airline Representatives in Canada (BAR Canada – www.barcanada.org) were all part of the program on a bright and sunny afternoon. Close to 40 airline types were on hand to hear the GTAA's Julien Carron provide an update on what's going on with the GTAA, including the fact that Toronto Pearson will hit the 50 million passenger mark in 2018 – marking the 9th year of...
WestJet Maintains Edmonton-Vegas Service
WestJet is advising travel agents that it will maintain non-stop service between Edmonton and Las Vegas with four weekly flights starting Oct. 11. Flights will operate Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. “We heard directly from many guests that being able to fly non-stop from Edmonton to Las Vegas on WestJet was a priority,” said Brian Znotins, WestJet vice-president, Network Planning and Alliances. “We have made this a reality so our guests can continue to book WestJet, WestJet Vacation packages as well as earn and use WestJet Rewards dollars, the WestJet RBC MasterCard...
AC Consortium Reaches Aeroplan Deal
Air Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Visa Canada Corporation and Aimia Inc. have entered into an agreement in principle for the acquisition of Aimia's Aeroplan loyalty business. In announcing the agreement on behalf of the consortium, Calin Rovinescu, president and CEO of Air Canada, said, “We are pleased to see that an agreement in principle has been reached as Aeroplan members can continue to earn and redeem with confidence. This transaction, if completed, should produce the best outcome for all stakeholders, including Aeroplan Members, as it...
Flair Adds New US Routes
Low fare carrier Flair Airlines has introduced new non-stop flights to six popular US destinations this winter. The new routes include Orlando, Tampa Bay and Miami, as well as Palm Springs, Las Vegas and Phoenix. “The majority of our new services concentrate on Edmonton and Winnipeg,” said David Tait, Flair's executive chairman. “Having brought low fare service to 10 Canadian cities this summer, we are now taking the show on the road and heading south to some of the most popular winter getaway spots.” For the winter schedule, Flair has also announced increased domestic...