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_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N Y O U R S E L V E S
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> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
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Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
http://www.acra.ca/between
number 353 date Apr 1st, 1999 1st Published in October 1995
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. Welcome to
Jess Rougeau email
and lives in Orleans, On.
Rene Lanthier retired Hydraulic Mtce. Foreman living in
Notre-Dame-de-l'Ile-Perrot, Qc.
email:
who lives in Surrey, BC.
Alberto Timpauer retired Cargo Agent lives in Surrey, BC.
email:
Harold Langlois retired captain lives in Barrie Ont.
Email:
David Allen retired Manager Support Services lives in Surrey, BC
email:
Stuart Hannam with email
Flight Crew Scheduler in Toronto living in Belleville, On.
Kalman Acs email is
lives in Montreal, Qc
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. Where are they now?
Subject: Looking for an old/former co-worker -
Does anyone know where Pat Campbell who use to work in Customer
Relations HQ in YUL is these days??
Lost contact when we both were early retired.
Stan Heller
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. Need to know!
Diane Carignan, Employee Communications, 'Horizon' YUL sends a warning -
Better safe than stranded:
High passenger loads on flights to our sun spots are chocker-block
full and creating a strong possibility of denied boardings for employees and
their travel partners. Employees are urged to purchase reduced-rate tickets
on other carriers before leaving their home base.
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. News from the districts.
Calgary Pionairs -
Just to update the netletter....the Calgary City Tour for April 8 has been
cancelled.
Many Thanks Adele
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island Pionairs -
On Thursday March 25th, the monthly luncheon of the Comox Valley Pionair
group took place at the Monte Christo on the River restaurant in
Courtenay. Emcee'd by Eric van den Hoff in the absence of Murray Phipps,
the 22 gathered enjoyed several hours chatting and getting up to speed
with each others happenings over lunch. Out of towner Terry Baker from
Ladysmith was welcomed. Eric mentioned that some people had received their
'Travel Booklet', and this document was eagerly awaited, and several
Pionairs were due to start their vacation in Barbados the next day.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan Pionairs newsletter Spring 1999 -
Spring luncheon -
Place: Viscount Gort Hotel, 1670 Portage Ave YWG
Merry Monarch Room
Date: April 15th
Time: Cash bar 11:45 followed by hot smorgasborg lunch at 13:00
Cost: C$11.00 pp includes tax & gratuity. Cheques 'Air Canada Pionairs'
to 591, Campbell St, Winnipeg, Mn, R3N 1C2. DEADLINE Apr 9th.
Stephanie Mandze - Director is at 489-3060.
Guest speaker - Sheldon Howe, Sales Manager Prairie Region.
Pionair curling: At the recent bonspiel held in Winnipeg, Peter Paley and
his group of Wayne Oliver, Gary Davies and Jack Podgurny were winners and
will represent the Pionairs at the System Bonspiel to be held in Halifax.
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. Chris Doutre spotted this in The Economist Magazine Online Business
This Week March 27th - April 2nd 1999
The European Commission decided to avoid a trade battle with America by
postponing legislation that would have banned aircraft fitted with
"HUSH KITS" from landing at European airports. The Europeans said the
kits didn't work; the Americans said the legislation discriminated
against American-made aircraft and threatened to ban (noisy) Concorde
in retaliation. But the postponement will last only until April 29th;
the wrangling continues.
Chris Doutre
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. Subject: Travel priviledges
We have three responses to the article by Larry Obrien. We will not be
printing anymore on this subject, but would refer anyone with comments or
suggestions to bring them up at the forthcoming Pionairs A.G.M. - eds.
From Peter Kralka
I do not support the proposal made by Larry O`Brien. Executive Class is Air
Canada`s premium service and passengers pay premium prices to enjoy it. I
think the O`Brien proposal would result in Executive Class being filled
most of the time with empty seats in economy class. If I paid the premium
price, such a change in company policy would annoy me no end. Eventually it
all becomes common knowledge.
We should remember several things;-
1. Pass travellers are assigned to Executive class when economy is full.
2. We are allowed to buy 80% positive space tickets in Executive class. If
one is sufficiently enamored with premium service this avenue is available.
However I would support a proposal that all active and retired Captains
have easy access to the jump seat on the flight deck. The pluses would be;-
1. It`s as far up front as one can get.
2. All flight deck occupants would have a common interest.
3. It`s not possible to get any further away from economy class.
4. The flight deck always gets to the destination first.
As I can not get to the AGM this year I hope someone will offer more than
one point of view for discussion!
Peter Kralka <
and from Matt Laubitz -
Since joining your happy bunch I have not contributed anything to
BETWEEN YOURSELVES. My outpouring today is triggered by Larry
O'Brien's letter to P. Garrett of which I approve wholeheartedly.
I am not sure who in Air Canada formulates the employee travel policies. Is
it Human Resources, the Pass Bureau or somebody else ? Based on all the
petty red tape that comes along with the rules and policies, I suspect it
is the Pass Bureau, a Dinosaur that relishes in for ever admonishing us
like kids, and threatening us to take away our travel 'privileges' unless we
strictly obey orders. My colleagues at American, United and Delta assure me
that it is not a 'privilege' but a 'god given right' of an employee or
retiree to be accommodated in the best available seat.
Many airlines have payable upgrade policies, not so much for their own
employees as for cons from other airlines. I take advantage from time to
time of the offer of LOT Polish Airlines where for US$30.00 short range
and US$ 50.00 long range you can upgrade to Business Class (space
permitting). You have to get a MCO for the right amount and at the time
of listing indicate your desire for an upgrade and provide the MCO's
number.
Unfortunately this offer nor any ZZ fare for that matter does apply on
the route YYZ-WAW-YYZ. When the two companies negotiated the employee
travel agreements it was not considered that LOT calls this flight a
'Scheduled Charter' (regardless of the fact that they have been folllowing
the same schedule for years) and it fell between the cracks.
I strongly support Larry's letter and am amazed and bewildered by Mr.
Garrett's reply that Air Canada will wait to see what experience Canadian
Airlines have with their program. I hope Air Canada does not intend to
follow Canadian Airlines in other endeavors, particularly not when it
comes to profitability.
Cheers Matt Laubitz
and finally from Murray Brooks -
I have been wondering if there has been any feedback from the remarks of
Larry O'Brien's letter as published in newletter #347.
It seems to me he is "hung up" on having to travel in economy class and
wants to throw out a perfectly good seating priority based primarily on
company seniority. In my over 50 yrs of using an employee/retiree pass to
travel on TCA/AirCanada, the opportunities to travel "up front" have been
reasonable. In any event, it is my understanding that Air Miles is impacting
on the opportunity for pass holders to use Executive Class inasmuch as
significant revenue Economy Class passengers are using their Air Miles at
the check-in counter, to upgrade from Economy to Executive Class with the
additional perk of utilizing the "Maple Leaf Lounge".
I can envision many problems associated with Mr O'Brien's selfserving
proposal.
Regards Murray Brooks
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. Diane Carignan, Employee Communications, 'Horizon' YUL sends us an update -
E-T call Ticketmaster:
Air Canada is the major corporate partner of the Air Canada Centre in Toronto,
but Air Canada does not own the Centre. Although our name is on the building,
we don't have unlimited access to tickets. From time to time, there may
be discount opportunities available to employees. In general, please call
Ticketmaster at (416) 872-5000 for information on upcoming events.
More awards:
On March 16, Air Canada received a Citation for our Air Canada Maple Leaf
Lounge in Halifax International Airport. The 1998 Lieutenant Governor's Design
Awards in Architecture recognises the creativity and talent of Nova Scotia's
architects. Designed to capture the unique spirit of the Maritime way of life,
the 500-sq. ft. rooftop lounge offers a magnificent view of the area and
showcases the work of local artists.
Glenn Sellors, Manager, Facility Projects, and Marian O'Connor, Manager,
Airport Products-Canada, accepted this honour in Halifax.
We thought the lounge was something special but it's nice to know others
think so, too.
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. Terry's travel tips.
The latest Air Canada timetable can be downloaded from
http://www.aircanada.ca effective Mar 24th until Oct 30/99 is 387k sized.
We have received several enquiries for accommodations in various parts of
the world. A reminder - don't forget to check the classified ads for
flats/condos to hire listed in the 'Horizons'. You may find your answer!
Going to Jordan:
Air Canada and Royal Jordanian Airlines extend their summer codeshare
agreement between Toronto/Montreal and Amman, Jordan via Heathrow from
March 28 to October 30.
Phoning home while out of the country.
BC Tel can supply a toll-free number for each country you visit which will
allow you to use Canada Direct service. Simply call the number and you
will be put through to an operator in Canada or, if you are calling from a
touch-tone phone, to an automatic dialing service and you will be billed
for the long distance charges back to the country or origin rather than from
Europe which may be cheaper.
To call within Europe you must buy a prepaid calling card. It is almost
impossible to find coin operated phone in Europe now due to damage by
petty thieves, but does require you to buy cards which are unusable from one
country to the next. This may change when the 'Euro' is fully in operation.
Any calls can be made from the main post offices and paid for by cash
after the call is terminated.
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Smilie.
'Yabba dabba doo ... Over!'
Airline pilot Wim de Nijs has been banned by the city of Groningen in
Hollard for over a year and was briefly jailed in the town. His offense?
Singing the theme to The Flintstones cartoon show over his aircraft radio,
jamming the frequency.
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. That's it for this time, please we need your input, send
comments and email addresses of any others who may be
interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry.
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