Industry news, reports, advisories

* Second "Free" Bag Allowance Canada/USA to India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar
Effective immediately the fee for a second piece of checked baggage in Economy Class will be removed for a limited sales period as follows:
 sales period: to Oct. 31/12
 travel period: no restrictions
allowance: second piece in Economy Class = free
start of journey: Canada (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines only)  // USA (LH, OS, SN, LX only)
 origin: Canada: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal
India: BLR, BOM, CCU, DEL, MAA, PNQ (no feeder/de-feeder with other airlines in India)
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar
via point: travel must be via point in Europe

 

* TURKISH AIRLINES; summer schedule from/to TORONTO has been changed.

TK018  (Mar 25 - Oct 27,2012) Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun     Toronto (23:55) - Istanbul (16:45)

TK017  (Mar 25 - Oct 27,2012) Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun     Istanbul (13:15) - Toronto (17:25)

 

* TURKISH AIRLINES now connects passengers from/to "Vancouver", "Calgary", "Edmonton", "Montreal" and "Ottawa"  to/from Toronto-Istanbul non-stop flights, with Air Canada (only 1 piece luggage allowance on Air Canada flights).

 

* AIR TRANSAT, the Canadian airline will fly you to 33 European destinations this year, including Istanbul again between May 13 - October 22, 2012 , with every Sunday departure from Toronto and Monday return from Istanbul. Flight will stop in Montreal on both ways for Montreal passengers.

Departure (Toronto) at 15:45 than (Montreal) at 18:00, Arrival (Istanbul) at 10:15. And departure (Istanbul) at 13:20 , arrival (Montreal) at 16:55 and than (Toronto) at 19:15.

 

* TURKISH AIRLINES (Toronto flights) : weekly frequency will be increased from 3 (Monday, Thursday and Saturday) to 4 flights (with an additional flight on Sunday) for Istanbul – Toronto - Istanbul, as of March  25, 2012.


 * TURKISH AIRLINES new "complementary hotel accommodation program", as of Feb 3rd, 2012; for international transit passengers :
- Economy and Comfort class passengers for more than 10 hrs. connection time,
- Business class passengers for more than 7 hrs. connection time.

* MALEV, the state-owned Hungarian airline ceased flying on friday (Feb 3rd, 12) after the government withdrew financing, becoming the second victim of European austerity measures in a week after the collapse of Spanair SA.

* NEW routes for Ankara and Izmir passengers : Frankfurt - Ankara- Frankfurt operated by Lufthansa, will be starting on March 25, 12.
  Izmir - Frankfurt - Izmir operated by Turkish Airlines, scheduled for Jun 11 - Sep 20,2012. 

* Please note that effective January 1st, 2012, the Quebec Sales Tax (QST) rate will increase from 8.5% to 9.5%. Application of the new QST rate to passenger transportation services comes into effect with tickets issued on or after 01 January 2012.

*  TRAVEL REPORT- Syria Last Updated: February 1, 2012 9:33 EST    
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to Syria due to the deteriorating security situation. Canadians in Syria should leave now by commercial means while these are still available.
 http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=283000

*  May 01,2010 : visitors entering CUBA are required to buy HEALTH INSURANCE. Since May 1, 2010, travellers must present proof of health insurance in order to enter the country. Upon arrival, travellers may be required to present an insurance policy, insurance certificate, or medical assistance card valid for the period of their stay in Cuba. Those who do not have proof of insurance coverage may be required to obtain health insurance from a Cuban insurance company when they arrive.

 * BAGGAGE FEE UPDATE : Air Canada is revising its checked baggage policy for tickets issued on/after
September 7, 2011, for travel on/after October 11, 2011 for clients with an Economy Class ticket as follows:
- For travel between Canada and the United States, a first bag fee of $25 CAD/USD applies;
- For travel between Canada/USA and Africa, the Middle East and Russia/Asia** and Australia/South America***, a second bag fee of $70 CAD/USD applies.
The second baggage fees already in place for Economy Class travel to/from the Canada, USA, the Caribbean, Europe and India will remain unchanged:
- Within Canada, to/from Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean: $20 CAD/USD
- To/from USA including Hawaii: $35 CAD/USD
- To/from Europe/India: $70 CAD/USD

* SECURE FLIGHT PROGRAM : USA flights require additional personal information; under the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airlines are required to provide the "full name, date of birth, gender" information at least 72 hours prior to departure;  for all passengers traveling to, from, or via the United States. 
US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), at www.tsa.gov/secureflight
* TRAVEL ADVISORY – U.S. SECURITY MEASURES due to enhanced government security measures passengers travelling to the U.S. should arrive early at airports to allow extra time to clear security screening.

* An Enhanced Driver's Licence (EDL) is a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document denoting identity and citizenship that can be used to as a passport alternative at Canada-U.S. land and water border crossings. A valid passport is still required to enter the United States by air.
http://www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_residents/index.htm

***

* EXPECTANT MOTHERS with complication-free pregnancies can fly up to the 28th week of their pregnancy without a doctor's report. Pregnant women "expecting one baby" can fly with a doctor's report that states that they are fit to fly by air carriage between 28-36 weeks. After that, they are no longer fit to fly even with medical clearance.

* In most cases for the transatlantic travel; the FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCES will be differentiated according to the service class flown, with variations in the number of free bags allowed and the permitted weight of each bag. Please note the maximum dimensions per bag of 158 cm (width + height + depth). Children aged two years and over are entitled to the same free baggage allowance as adults. Child safety seats can be carried free of charge provided that the model is approved and the child is travelling on a child’s fare and in a booked seat. For child seats that are not approved the usual free baggage allowance and excess baggage charges apply. The free baggage allowance for Infant (children under two years of age) is one piece of baggage weighing up to 23 kg and one folding pushchair.

A piece of hand luggage may not be larger than 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm and may not weigh more than 8 kg. In addition to your hand baggage and technical appliances you may take the following items into the cabin: a handbag, wrist bag or small bag (or small laptop bag) and their content , a coat, shawl or blanket , a small camera or a pair of binoculars , an appropriate amount of reading material for the journey , a infant carrier and baby food for the flight, crutches or other orthopedic aids you are depending on.

There is no additional allowance for sporting equipment, but it can be carried free of charge as part of your free checked baggage allowance. If the total number of bags is more than your free checked allowance, you will need to pay extra bag charges.

If your baggage exceeds this free allowance (in number, size, and/or weight), additional checked baggage charges will apply. Passengers who purchase travel on a code share flight or a flight with another airline may be subject to the baggage policy and other rules of the airline operating the first flight in their itinerary.
 For transactions conducted outside Canada, additional checked baggage fees may be charged in the local currency of the country in which the transaction occurs.
* If you like to take your PETS along on your flight, please notify carrier when you make your booking but at the latest 24 hours before the departure date. There are restrictions on the quantity and species of pets on the flights. For these reasons, a reservation is required for the carriage of such pets in the cabin. You may take a dog or cat into the cabin, if the weight of the animal (including transport container) does not exceed six to eight kilograms. The animal has to be kept in a box measuring not more than 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. You may use your own transport box if it has the necessary measurement and is watertight and bite proof.
Animals that cannot be transported inside the cabin will be transported by carrier in appropriate containers in an air-conditioned area of the cargo hold. You may use your own transport container for your animal if it complies with the relevant IATA (International Air Transport Association) regulations. The container must in any case be large enough to ensure that the animal can stand up and has sufficient space to move. Furthermore, containers shall be equipped with a water dish (empty). Animals are not included in the baggage allowance, and are counted as excess baggage. Please also ensure that you arrive at the airport with your animal in plenty of time before departure.

* Children travelling outside of Canada "with one parent" may require legal documentation proving the other parent or guardian’s consent that the child may leave the country. Consult the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at 1-800-267-8376 to determine if such documentation is necessary
 http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/consent-letter_lettre-consentement-eng
* Feb 17, 2005 (denied-boarding compensation system): If your flight is cancelled or is subject to a long delay, or if you are denied boarding on a flight for which you hold a valid reservation, you are entitled to certain rights in accordance with the EU Regulation 261/2004, which entered into force on 17.02.2005. The airline which carries out the irregular flight is responsible for granting you these rights.
 http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/protection_of_consumers/l24173_en.htm

* Canadian law permits dual or multiple citizenships. You can be a citizen of another country and still be recognized as Canadian. There are both advantages and disadvantages to dual citizenship (or dual nationality), and you may not be fully aware of the privileges, obligations, and potential problems that come with it. The Government of Canada has developed a booklet to provide you with important information on dual citizenship.
 http://www.voyage.gc.ca/publications/dual-citizenship_double-citoyennete-eng.asp
* Registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad (ROCA): This service is provided so that the department can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home.
www.voyage.gc.ca/faq/roca-eng.asp
 www.travel.gc.ca/register

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS  It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Entry may be refused even travel documents are complete.

SAFETY AND SECURITY The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of the Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.

TRAVEL HEALTH Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage.

LAWS AND CUSTOMS  You are subject to local laws when you are out of Canada. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons in most countries. An agreement of both Canadian and foreign authorities required, for a Canadian imprisoned in a foreign country to request a transfer to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. " Innocent until proven guilty " is not a universal principle !

resource : Travel Reports/Advisories, Foreign Affairs & Int'l Trade Canada  (http://www.voyage.gc.ca)

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