|
About us!
Since October 1995, Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker have been issuing an email newsletter for those ex Air Canada types who have provided us with their email addresses. The Newsletter was created by Vesta, who gave the name 'NetLetter' and added 'Between Ourselves' - a TCA periodical with which you are probably familiar with from the 50's and 60's. It was then changed to "Between Yourselves" to avoid confusion when "Horizons" resurrected the name. Then finally simplified to just "The NetLetter".
We believe that our NetLetter, which originates from Vancouver Island, was the FIRST to use this medium to disperse information for retirees of Air Canada.
The NetLetter contains airline related information such as anecdotes or stories supplied by some of the recipients, Internet tips, travel news, cheap... excuse me, "inexpensive" accommodations, tours, interline travel, and, in some small way, we help keep our Air Canada family together and in touch.
Our 'NetLetter' is NOT sponsored by any Pionair group, nor are we seeking any financial support, only the Internet email addresses of those who would like to receive our 'NetLetter'. Please forward this to other retirees who can then subscribe right from the forwarded link at the bottom of this email.
|
Please visit our Sponsors
|
|
Dear NetLetter,
We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2704 retirees when counting our email distribution and those that print the NetLetter and give them out to their friends.
To get in touch with either the Editor/Pilot or Co- Pilot our email address is still This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To make changes to your e-mail address or to unsubscribe, please see the links at the bottom of the page for "Update Profile/Email address" and SafeUnsubscribe. This is now automated so that you can remove yourself from the list or change your email address (or name) without our assistance. We will still do this manually if you have any difficulties.
Many of our members are having difficulty finding these links. You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page, the link in similar to the following image. (The image below doesn't work but your links at the bottom will).
Thank you
Alan Rust - ACFamily Administrator
|
|
|
|
|
Need to know...
|
|
 Travelling to Australia? Be sure to have your visa. Before heading for many international destinations, it's wise to first verify if you need a visa in order to enter the country. One such destination is Australia.
While applications to obtain an Australian Visa are usually available on the Employee Travel Website at http://travel.aircanada.ca, due to a technical issue, this function is temporarily unavailable and we are unable to process requests for an Australian Travel Visa. In the interim, anyone who intends to travel to Australia is asked to click on "Proceed without sending the request" at the bottom of the Australian Visa Request screen when booking or registering for their flight. To obtain an Australian Visa prior to your trip, please contact the Employee Call Centre at 1- 800-413-1113.
Travelling to the U.S.? The United States Transportation Security Administration made some changes to its prohibited items list last month.
Scissors with a cutting edge of four inches or less and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers smaller than seven inches are now permitted on board aircraft departing American airports. However, these items are still prohibited on aircraft departing Canadian airports, including flights to the U.S. For further information on prohibited items in Canada, please refer to www.tc.gc.ca or www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca.
|
|
|
|
|
Air Canada News
|
|
 Service to China continues to expand - Toronto-Shanghai non-stop flights announced. On January 9th., 2006 , we announced our introduction of non-stop service between Toronto and Shangha with three times per week service effective June 16. With the launch of this new route, Air Canada will be the only carrier offering non-stop service between the largest commercial cities of Canada and China. The new route will be operated using A340-300 aircraft and will save travellers more than three hours in each direction compared to the Vancouver routing.
Non-stop service between Montreal and Denver announced. Beginning June 16, 2006, we will launch year-round daily non-stop service between Montreal and Denver, creating an important and strategic link between our Montreal hub and our Star Alliance partner, United Airlines' Denver hub. With the launch of this route, we will become the only airline offering direct service between Montreal and Denver, cutting two hours from the travel time.
This new non-stop service will use our spacious 93- seat Embraer E190 Jet, offering customers a choice of Executive Class and Hospitality service, and featuring our new personal entertainment system.
Air Canada's first Embraer 190 enters service. On December 21st., Fin 302 entered active service as it departed on its inaugural flight from Ottawa to Orlando. With the arrival of E190s in our fleet, Air Canada has become the first North American airline to operate two Embraer E-Jet models - the E175 and E190.
As additional E190s join the fleet, they will be used primarily in key Canada-U.S. transborder markets, including: Toronto-Boston, Toronto-Newark, Toronto-LaGuardia, Calgary-New York (JFK), Ottawa- Fort Lauderdale, Ottawa-Orlando and Montreal- Denver, as well as such domestic routes as: Toronto-Kelowna, Toronto-St. John's, NFLD, Montreal-Edmonton and Montreal-Calgary. The E175 currently operates: Toronto-Washington, D.C. (Reagan National Airport), Toronto-Atlanta, Toronto- Boston, Toronto-Newark, Montreal-LaGuardia and Montreal-Chicago.
|
|
|
|
|
Found on the Internet
|
|
So, just how infuriating can it be to sit in an idling airliner for seven hours while the pilot waits for a break in the weather? According to Reuters, infuriating enough that six German passengers aboard the British Airways flight have filed "false imprisonment" charges against the pilot of the plane, who was trying to get from Berlin to London. Heavy snow prevented the plane from taking off and the pilot elected to wait out the storm. His patience was apparently much greater than that of some of his passengers. After more than three hours, one passenger called a police emergency line on his cellphone, saying he felt like he was being "held hostage."
Strangely enough, though, no complaint from a planeload of New Year's revelers who were stranded in Bali for three days. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Skywest flight left Port Hedland on New Year's Eve and was supposed to return later that night. But a faulty warning light grounded the unidentified aircraft and distance (and likely the holidays) complicated what should have been a simple repair. The passengers were finally flown back to Perth by another airline on Jan. 3. As expected, the European Court of Justice followed last September's opinion of the advocate general and upheld the European Commission's regulation concerning common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding, long delay or flight cancellation. The regulation came into force on Feb. 17, 2005, and provides for compensation of ?250 ($302.73) for denied boarding on flights of under 1,500 km., ?400 for flights of between 1,500 and 3,500 km. and ?600 for flights of more than 3,500 km. Meals, hotel rooms and other compensation are required for certain delays. IATA and the European Low Fares Airline Assn. had challenged the regulations in the UK High Court, which referred the case to the ECJ in Luxembourg. That court concluded they "are compatible with the Montreal Convention 1 and do not infringe the principle of proportionality."
IATA condemned what it called "an absurd ruling" and DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said, "It is a sad day for Europe, for consumers, for international law and for the airline industry." The association estimates that total cost to the industry could top ?600 million per year.
|
|
|
|
|
Reader Feedback
|
|
Help wanted for "BILL MASON" This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We intend to travel to London /Manchester / Ireland and Wales in Mar 2006 and will be looking for inexpensive lodgings. Any leads would be appreciated.
Sheila Moscoe tells us about her recent travels -
Hola everyone!
Well, here I am in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This is a wonderful area of Mexico (no hurricanes) with the lovely Banderas Bay surrounding all the hotels and Old Town and Romantica Zone. So much has changed here, but the best news is "you can drink the water". Remember the old Montezuma's Revenge days? Not anymore!
My friend Shirley and I came down here for a 2 week holiday to relax in the sunshine and take life easy. I brought lots of magazines to read and I'm now up to date on what's been happening at home!
Anyhow, we're staying in a great property Villa del Palmar which we found on the internet. We have a bright, cheerful, clean large studio, with a balcony facing the main pool and waterfall. And having breakfast in the morning sun on the balcony is the only way to start the day.
When we arrived, we found out that this is a time share resort, so needless to say, our first day here was viewing some suites at their new resort in Neuvo Vallarta. We managed to escape with our money and credit cards still in our pockets! And we had a free buffet breakfast, and received 500 pesos credit (about $50USD) to use on tours, restaurants, etc.
So, we used the credit last night to attend a wonderful evening performance "Rhythms of the Night" which was held about an hour's sunset cruise from here. We landed in Las Caletas, just like a jungle from one of John Huston's movies with torch lights and candles and a wonderful dinner and spectacular show of Aztec and Mayan dancers and music. Most of the people attending were from one of the cruise ships in port and we had a blast with the boat crew sailing there and back.
One day, we took the local bus to visit some AC gals, but the driver didn't tell us when to get off, so we ended up much further away in La Cruz where Shirley and I stumbled along and found a Sunday afternoon watering hole with "old" singers from way back who were enjoying jamming together. The owner of the restaurant/bar was from Toronto and attended the same public school as I did when we arrived from Kirkland Lake. A small world!
An American fella sat with us and he then drove us to Bucerias to see the AC gals, and fortunately they were home. Had a great visit with them and then we got a lift back to our hotel. It's nice to see how other areas are developing, far from the hotel zone.
Food is tasty and cheap! So are the drinks!
We love it so much that we have decided to stay on until the 22nd. November. Then, we'll face the cold temps back home.
Sheila Moscoe - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
|
|
|
|
|
Nanaimo Coffee Klatch
|
|
Nanaimo Coffee Klatch was held on Wednesday Jan 11th. The following attended;
Cec & Arlene McCulloch(AC), Hans & Edie Blouwer(AC, Pat & Art McCarville(CP), Bryan & Carol Humphrey(AC) and Terry Baker(AC)
Next meeting planned for Feb 8th, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
Terry's Travel Tips
|
|
Duty Free shop at gate 21 in San Fransico Airport gives 10% discount to Airline staff on production of your ID card.
Big Save stores (groceries) in Kaua'i give a 10% discount for seniors.
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsors
|
|
The mailing and formating of the NetLetter for HTML format is provided compliments of the ACFamily Network and Nerds On Site. Content is researched and submitted by Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker. Thank you for letting us into your homes!
Important reminder, for all new articles, submissions and or comments for the "The Netletter" please send to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. please add to your Address Books.
This e-mail address has been set up so that both of us (exclusively) will get an automatic copy and so we can keep up with the continuity of news for the NetLetter.
|
|
Please support the ACFamily Network |
|
|
NetLetter Archives
|
|
The archives of the NetLetter are kept on the ACFamily Network Forums area. They are in plain text format so you can print them from there if desired. If you are not a member of the ACFamily Network yet, we encourage you to join us there. Non members can Register here. (It's Free!)
|
|
NetLetter Archives Link |
|
|
