Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)

Sometimes we receive articles and information that just doesn't fit in our other areas. This is where it goes!

Brian Walsh refers to the information in NetLetter nr 1246 under Terry's Trivia -
I appreciated Paul Gauthier's excellent info on copying documentation for travel.
I'd like to add a few ideas. 

• I photocopied my passport's face page, then trimmed it, folded it in half and had it laminated. It fits perfectly into my back pocket and I can leave my passport safely locked up in my room safe.
• On the inside back cover of my actual passport, I have taped a list of my emergency contacts (phone numbers and relationships).
• In a cell phone address book, many people include a listing called: ICE. It is short for "In Case of Emergency." On that file, you can include a list of people to be called in an emergency. Many paramedics and hospital emergency personnel know about this.

On a related topic, many people are unaware of a non-profit organization (actually started in Canada) called IAMAT. Once you join (donate) you will have access to a list of their approved medical associates in over 90 countries. Check out www.IAMAT.org.
Cheers, Brian Walsh... presently on-the road in China 

The Travel Policies section in ETS has been transferred to the HRConnex, and updated.
Click on acaeronet
log on
click HRConnex
log on
click on "Policies & Information"
Item # 5 will have the travel information.
You will still use ETS web site to check space and book your travel. 

Skypark Toronto Airport Parking
February 8, 2013
Skypark offers Air Canada employees and retirees a special discount on daily and weekly parking rates upon presentation of AC ID. The discount is $1 off daily parking rates and $5 off weekly parking rates. The discount applies to Skypark's coupon rate of $9.95 per day with every 6th and 7th day free, to a monthly maximum of $79.60 plus tax. A 7 day parking coupon rate is $49.75 and a $5 discount would apply to this weekly parking rate, plus tax. 

Recently, Terry, your chief pilot, abandoned a trip due to a medical problem, as mentioned in NetLetter nr 1242. After receiving a complete refund through my insurance, We decided to try again.
Our trip started in Nanaimo for the flight to YVR. The DH-8 was full, in fact a call was made for a volunteer to delay their departure as the flight was oversold by one.

An offer of a guaranteed seat on the next departure included either a $200 certificate towards another flight or a $100.00 cash. While it was a temptation, my wife would not let me take up the offer. While wandering around YVR heading towards the international section, we were approached by a passenger, and we had visions of being accosted by a religious person, but no, he had spare vouchers for the Maple Leaf lounge, due to expire, and offered them to us - great, we spent a happy two hours eating, drinking and reading to while away the time until our flight was called.

Our flight was in the economy section of a B767-300 heading to HNL. The aircraft was probably one of the first B767-300's received as it had a very drab interior. There was no TV screens on the back of the seat in front, nor were they suspended over the aisles, but just a screen on the bulkhead in front of the cabin, which requires 20/20 vision and with no passenger sitting in the row ahead of you. The flight was about 2/3 full and very cold, several around us, including me, had to don a coat or sweater. There is no meal supplied except that which can be purchased from the "On-board cafe". We were under the impression that a 6 hour international flight would have served a meal - ah, gone are the good old days! BUT we did get two visits with the free Tea/Coffee/soft drinks trolley. That helped warm us up, but we missed the small packet of pretzels of yore. Incidentally, our traveling friends flew to HNL on Air Alaska and, although they had to purchase their food, with the free drinks they at least got a package of "Snack Mix".  

The hotel with the package was the Ala Moana, but not particularly friendly probably due to its size. But it was next to the largest outdoor mall, which was convenient as there is a huge food court inside. Transportation from the airport was with Roberts Hawaii and booked on line prior to leaving home. Cost us$13.00 pp one-way.  
Now that it costs $25.00 for each checked bag, the size and weight of the carry-on bag increases exponentially, and takes quite a bit of effort to stuff it into the overhead bins. As those metal size contraptions which were to be used to make sure carry on baggage fits, can be returned to the manufacture for a refund, would help the company's bottom line!
So, when budgeting for your trip, apart from the airfare, include the departure tax, nav fee, fuel tax, gst/hst/pst, on-board food, drinks, checked luggage. At this time, the bathrooms are free! (except on Ryanair).

The local buses are us$2.50 per trip, get a transfer for the return. Bus schedules are erratic due to budget cuts and there is no schedule issued. If your stay is lengthy, and you do not hire a car, then you can get a bus pass for unlimited travel.

Returning from HNL if you are able, get your boarding pass at your hotel or internet cafe as this will substantially cut the stress of waiting in a long line up to check-in at the airport, rather you can proceed directly to a check-in desk,  thus bypassing the long queue of those who do not have their boarding passes. The length of the queue is dependent upon the number of passengers for the flight, and took us an hour to get through as the hotel did not have a kiosk for boarding passes. We had coupons from the weekly "what's on" booklet and got our shuttle to the airport for us$6.95 p.p., with the coupon book at least 24 hours ahead. One of the coupons noted us$6.00 pp for airline employees, but we did not try that shuttle. A notice at the airport security states "Passengers 65 years and over need not remove their shoes or light jackets." 

The return trip, also on a B767-300, was a later version, as the TV's were suspended at intervals over the aisles and was warmer, probably due to the fact the flight was full, the service was just as sparse, but then it was an overnight flight. Passengers arriving at YVR from overseas, are probably aware that the design of the walkways had the airlines in mind, allowing the airline time for the baggage to arrive at the carousels in a timely manner, ready for the exhausted passengers, after their long route march, to collect their luggage.

The new method of using the kiosks to insert your passport and customs declaration certainly cuts down time. You place your passport into the lower opening and hold it down to be scanned, follow instructions on the small screen, then insert your completed customs form to the upper opening and collect the copy produced, then proceed to the baggage area. If you have a connection to make and have check luggage which was booked to your final destination, then, after collecting your luggage, proceed to the rear of carousels nr 25 to go through yet another security check before going to your next departure gate. It would cut down your time and effort if you collect your luggage from the far end of the carousels dispensing the luggage from your flight.

We made the flight back to the Island in good time, and joined just 11 other passengers. Oh the joys of air travel.  

Heard on the tower frequency at an airport that will remain undisclosed to protect the innocent:
Cessna 12345:
"Tower can you have regional jet ABC meet us on Unicom frequency for a personal message?"
Jet ABC:
"Tower, tell the Cessna we are a professional crew on a schedule and we don't have time for idle chit chat."
Cessna 12345:
"O.K. Tower, you may want to tell that professional crew they left the landing-gear lock pin in the nose gear. Have a nice day!"