May 2010

The following is an excerpt from an Appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on Aviation Safety and Security

I also want to comment on the American Secure Flight Program. As a U.S. government program, this is outside our jurisdiction.  However we have looked carefully at this program, including the Privacy Impact Assessment prepared by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), because it will, when fully implemented, have an impact on Canadian travellers.  

From a Canadian perspective, the most controversial aspect of Secure flight is that it will apply to flights to and from Canada that fly through American airspace.  This means, for example, that American authorities will have the ability to prevent someone in Canada from boarding a flight to Mexico. 

We are not questioning the American government’s authority to implement such a program – international law is clear that a State’s sovereignty extends to its airspace, but we do need to understand how it may affect Canadian travellers.

I would like to highlight some of the significant aspects of the program:

• Air carriers will be required to provide DHS not only with basic identifying information – name, date of birth and gender – but also, “if available”, additional information such as passport information and itinerary information; since this information will always be available for international flights from Canada flying over the U.S. airspace, that full information will always be provided;
• Although the DHS PIA is somewhat unclear on this, our understanding is that information collected can be disclosed and used for purposes other than aviation security, such as law enforcement and immigration purposes;
• DHS will retain this information for as long as seven days after the journey has been completed even for individuals who are not a match; for seven years for potential matches and 99 years for confirmed matches;
• A redress mechanism exists to resolve false positives but will take 50 to 60 days on average, thus, in effect, cancelling travel plans.        

One important difference between Secure Flight and the Canadian program is that the responsibility for checking passengers against the no-fly list will shift from airlines, as is the case now, to DHS. This brings both privacy safeguards and privacy risks: it is intended to lead to greater accuracy and therefore fewer false positives – for example, a similar name but the wrong person – and it eliminates the concerns that air carriers will misuse or inappropriately disclose the list. As I mentioned earlier, this was a concern we raised in our audit of the PPP.

On the other hand, this means that DHS will collect personal information of Canadian travellers, This is not without risk.

We understand that the Canadian Government attempted to have Canadian overflights exempted from Secure Flight.  Unfortunately, the Government was unsuccessful except for flights between two Canadian cities. We also understand that the Government of Canada, by way of a Diplomatic Note, stated that protection of the privacy of Canadians “was of critical concern” in relation to Secure Flight. We urge the Canadian Government to continue to negotiate with American authorities to minimize the impact of Secure Flight, and take the following measures:

• Negotiate the collection of minimal personal information, strictly as necessary to ensure proper identification of individuals and avoid false positives;
• Question the retention periods of seven days for no match and seven years for potential matches to fulfill the commitment from the U.S. to collect personal information only as necessary for airline security.
• Negotiate robust and accessible redress mechanisms for Canadians to minimize the impact of an erroneous match;
• Implement measures to support Canadians availing themselves of the DHS redress mechanism.
• Inform Canadians of the exact scope of personal information that will be collected by DHS on them under Secure Flight.
• Clarify Canadian law on the conditions for disclosure of personal information by airlines to DHS to ensure public debate and legal certainty. 

By Tim Castle, Reuters

The first of four five-day walkouts had been due to begin on Tuesday but was suspended after the court decision on Monday. BA lawyers argued that Unite had broken the law on a technicality over the way it conducted the strike ballot.

Tony Woodley, joint head of the union, said the judge's ruling was "unbelievable". He said BA won its injunction because the union failed to tell a small number of its 11,000 members there had been 11 spoilt ballot papers in an overwhelming vote to authorise the strikes.

"It does bring into question whether we have a right to strike in this country," he told BBC television.
"The dispute with British Airways will go on. We intend to appeal, hopefully in the High Court at lunchtime today."

BA wound down its long-haul schedules out of Britain in anticipation of a strike and said it would not be able to restore a full service at London's main airport, Heathrow, until Saturday.

The union and BA have been locked in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions stemming from the airline's plans to save 62.5 million pounds ($91 million) a year to counter falling demand, volatile fuel prices and greater competition.

Unite said the dispute with the airline was near a resolution. But it said sticking points remained over around 50 staff it said had been unfairly disciplined and over the restoration of travel perks to workers who had taken part in earlier strikes.

Woodley said BA chief executive Willie Walsh was being "incredibly petty and vindictive" by removing travel concessions from staff.

Walsh, in an article in the Times newspaper, said militant cabin crew were planning a long "guerilla campaign" to undermine the airline. "The obstacle to the resolution of this dispute is the refusal of this small group of ... hardliners to accept that the world has changed," he said.

United Airlines and Continental Airlines announced their intentions to merge, in a $3.17 billion stock deal, to create the world's largest airline. United Airlines will buy Continental's stock, and Continental shareholders will receive 1.05 shares of United's stock for each share owned in Continental.

The combined company will operate under the United Airlines name but under the Continental logo design and aircraft colors. The merged airline is expected to operate under a single operating certificate by 2012 and is expected to serve more than 144 million passengers per year and fly to 370 destinations in 59 countries.

Transat Holidays is featuring a special promotion in conjunction with Walt Disney World Resort for a free Disney Dining Plan when purchasing a Magic Your Way package vacation – a savings of up to $742 per week for a family of four.

Disney vacationers that purchase a Transat Holidays’ Disney Value Resort Magic Your Way package will receive a free Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan. Value Resorts applicable to the offer include Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s All-Star Resorts. The value added Quick-Service Dining Plan includes two Quick-Service meals and two snacks, plus one refillable resort mug per guest per night at participating locations. Those who purchase a Transat Holidays Disney Moderate or Disney Deluxe Resort Magic Your Way package will receive a free Disney Dining Plan which includes one Table Service meal, one Quick-Service meal and one snack per guest per night at more than 100 locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort hotels and theme parks.

The offer is applicable to bookings made by Aug. 14 for travel Aug. 15 to Oct. 2.

Receive up to 2 for 1 Savings on select 2010 Avalon European River Cruises.  BOOK by May 31, 2010

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Call for departures and pricing

Choose the desired departure week, and Club Med will select the surprise destination. Offer from $1,399/person*, with flight from Montreal.

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*For new bookings made as of May 10, 2010. Offer applies to adults 18 years old and older.  Day of reference is Saturday.  Departure days could be Saturday, the preceding Friday or the following Sunday of your chosen date.  Maximum of 4 persons per booking. Price is per person, for 7 nights in double occupancy in a minimum category room, flight included from Montreal. One week packages only. Travelers will be advised of the destination, true date of departure and flight details 72h before the departure. In the case of a last minute reservation (the point of reference being within 4 days of the validated reservation), details will be communicated to travelers 24h to 48h before departure.  Not combinable with any other offer and applicable only to resorts and weeks mentioned above.  Services such as spa, scuba, etc. (when available), are extra. Space is limited; this offer may expire or change at any time without notice and is subject to availability at time of reservation. Not applicable to group bookings. Club Med membership fee of 60$ per adult is extra. Other restrictions may apply, including brochure terms and cancellation/change fees. Valid in Canada only. Quebec permit.

Think like a Boy Scout and be prepared

By Travel-Wise


The list of dos and don'ts concerning air travel and airports is an epic tome these days - and it gets longer with each incident. If you're a frequent flier, do yourself a favor and keep abreast of the myriad changes that airport authorities, airlines, police and security have implemented.

To illustrate the point, we've put together a catch-all list.


Do's

• Pack with security screening in mind. While most regulations claim nail files are acceptable, it's not worth getting into an argument over and missing your flight. If in doubt, leave it out.
• Leave early for the airport - some airlines suggest being at the airport three hours before a flight. It's your responsibility if you miss your flight - and your expense.
• Take airport security seriously and heed the directions of screeners, airport officials and airline employees. Joking will likely land you in trouble - or cause you to miss your flight.
• Put your valuables in your hand luggage before the screening point.
• In-flight food is rarely free - and almost never nutritious - so bring your own healthy snacks. Also, it's a good idea to bring your own pillow, diversions and reading material.
• Take advantage of speedy check-in services like online, curbside or self-service options.
• Everyone tries to buy colorful luggage, but the best identifier is an ID tag and a bright ribbon that makes it stand out.
• Request a bulkhead or an exit-row seat. These offer plenty of hard-to-get legroom.
• Make your airline aware of any special needs (e.g., wheelchairs) you have so that they can accommodate them with ease.
• Get travel (medical) insurance if you are flying out of the country - you never know when you'll need it.

Don'ts

• Don't ever make jokes about bombs. Airport security will put a halt to your plans quickly for overt remarks.
• Don't put locks on your checked luggage. Handlers will cut them off if your bags are flagged for a search.
• Don't drink a lot of coffee or alcohol before a flight. It'll dehydrate you, and airline officials might not let you on the flight if you're drunk.
• Don't leave your luggage alone at any time. Airport security considers all unattended bags a threat.
• Don't wear restrictive clothing. Seats on modern aircraft are cramped, so those tight jeans will only feel tighter three hours into a long flight.
• Don't refuse screening or a limited physical search. Security will not let you proceed if you do.
• Don't forget to bring your documentation to the airport, especially a passport if you are flying internationally.

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CBC News

Canadians travelling to Cuba will be required to present proof of health insurance to enter the country as of May 1st, 2010.

To meet the requirement, travellers should have travel insurance that covers medical expenses, the Cuban government said.

"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," Foreign Affairs says in its travel report for the country.

"Those who do not have proof of insurance coverage may be required to obtain health insurance from a Cuban insurance company when they arrive."

Provincial health insurance plans do not provide direct coverage for out-of-country emergency medical services.
Supplemental health insurance urged

Provincial plans may cover only part of the costs and will not pay the bill up front as Cuba requires, Foreign Affairs noted.

"It is therefore recommended that travellers purchase supplemental health insurance," the department said.

Canadians visitors carrying only provincial government health insurance cards will have to pay Cuban hospitals, doctors or other providers in full at the time of treatment and then seek reimbursement from their provincial plans, which normally cover only a fraction of the charges.

Some private insurers also require the traveller to pay costs up front and be reimbursed later, Foreign Affairs noted.

All health insurance policies will be recognized except those issued by U.S. insurance companies, which cannot provide coverage in Cuba.

Provincial health plans also strongly urge residents to purchase supplemental travel insurance for any trips they make out of the country. Provincial plans also do not cover the cost of ground ambulance in Cuba or repatriation back to Canada on commercial airlines or air ambulance.

"People do need to have supplementary insurance, either purchasing coverage through their employer or employer benefit plan or on a credit card," Martha Turnbull, president of the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA), said in an interview.

The association also encouraged Canadians to get a letter from their insurance company or employer stating they do have coverage.

Turnbull suggested Canadians also consider insuring their travel arrangements since getting home early from Cuba or cancelling a trip can be expensive.

As of May 1, 2010, a valid Canadian passport will be required to travel to Bermuda. For children two years of age or younger, a valid Canadian passport will be required as of June 1, 2010.

Proof of a valid return or onward ticket is required.

Since January 23, 2007, all Canadian citizens transiting the United States when travelling to and from Bermuda by air must comply with entry requirements to the U.S. For more detailed information, please see the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Web site.