Airlines
Air Canada Makes The Change
As predicted , Air Canada has adjusted its first checked bag policy for North American travel to align it with prevailing North American industry practices. The carrier's fee for a first checked bag on U.S. transborder routes, in place since 2011, remains unchanged. Beginning today (Sept. 18, 2014), customers purchasing Air Canada's lowest Economy Class Tango fare for travel on or after Nov. 2, 2014 on domestic flights within Canada and to and from the Caribbean and Mexico will now be charged $25 for a first checked bag, in line with the baggage allowance policies of other North...
Germanwings, Amadeus Team Up
Beginning Sept. 23, 2014, Germanwings’ complete range of fares and ancillaries will be available to Amadeus subscribers. Previously, the Lufthansa subsidiary sold a limited range of its fares via Amadeus’ travel agency partners, using full e-ticketing. On Sept. 23 an industry-first implementation will turn Germanwings into the first airline in the world to offer both full and light ticketing options to travel sellers. Light ticketing is Amadeus’ unique system enhancement that enables agents to book low-cost & hybrid carriers with the same booking processused for full-service...
Sunwing To The Rescue
Sunwing Airlines has sent its first international rescue flights to repatriate over 350 Canadians stranded in Los Cabos, Mexico following Category 3 Tropical Storm Odile The first flight arrived at Los Cabos International Airport on Sept. 17, 2014, bringing much needed food, water and medical supplies. The plane was the first repatriation service to land at the airport following its closure since Sunday when category 3, tropical storm Odile blasted the Mexican Baja California peninsula with gusts of wind of up to 125mph and over six hours of heavy rain. In the afternoon, the plane...
AC rouge Heads To Osaka
Air Canada rouge will expand its international network in 2015, launching non-stop flights between Vancouver and Osaka, Japan. Beginning May 1, 2015, rouge will operate up to 5 flights a week to Osaka's Kansai International Airport using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft that will feature both economy and premium service cabins. Ben Smith, president, passenger airlines for Air Canada, said: "We expect this new seasonal service to be particularly popular with vacation travellers from Osaka seeking the renowned scenic beauty, outdoor activities and culture of Vancouver and B.C., as well as...
Sunshine Flights From Sunwing
Sunwing is launching direct, non-stop flights from Ottawa to St. Petersburg/Clearwater beginning Dec. 18, 2014. The weekly service offers Thursday departures aboard a Boeing 737-800 aircraft that will accommodate 189 passengers. With the addition of the new service, Ottawa becomes the third Canadian city to benefit from a direct, non-stop service to the region after Toronto and Halifax. Noah Lagos, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport director commented: “We are excited to add another international destination with Sunwing Airlines and make it easier for Canadians from Ottawa to...
The World Is Yours
Qatar Airways is offering Canadian customers savings to global destinations during its latest three-day “The World is Yours” sale. The five-star airline is cutting fares from Montreal to destinations within Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East by as much as $635 on the price of a roundtrip ticket. A travel window of Sept. 21 through June 15 will enable customers to book their travel months in advance and take advantage of cooler, drier temperatures and thinner crowds in those regions. The sale ends at midnight (ET) on Sept. 17. To make a booking online, those...
No Plane, No Plane
Air France reports that it expects to operate 40% of its flights today (Tues. Sept. 16, 2014) due to the fact that an estimated 60% of its pilots are planning to strike. The carrier said that it is updating its flight schedule 24 hours in advance. And it is asking its customers to check that their flight is operating before going to the airport. The airline also noted that its 7,000 employees are doing all they can to assist customers, but recommended that customers with a flight reservation between Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 either postpone their trip or change their ticket at no extra...
WestJet Introduces New Baggage Fee
WestJet is now charging a $25 fee for a first checked bag on Econo fares for travel within Canada and between Canada and the U.S. The new fee applies to bookings made as of Sept. 15 onward, for travel on or after Oct. 29, 2014. Passengers flying to any of WestJet's international destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe may continue to check a first bag at no charge. The carrier indicated that the change, which applies to Econo fares only, is expected to affect approximately one in five WestJet guests. Passenger selecting a Flex fare will receive one...