December 2011

On November 29, 2011, AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle, and certain of our U.S.-based subsidiaries (including American and American Eagle) filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. We took this action in order to achieve a cost and debt structure that is industry competitive and thereby assure our long-term viability and ability to continue delivering a world-class travel experience for customers.

American Airlines and American Eagle are operating normal flight schedules, and our reservations, customer service, AAdvantage program, Admirals Clubs and all other operations are conducting business as usual. Likewise, throughout the Chapter 11 process, we will continue to:

• Provide safe and reliable service;
• Fly normal schedules;
• Honor reservations, tickets, Gift Cards and vouchers, and make exchanges and refunds as usual;
• Fully maintain our AAdvantage frequent - flyer and other customer service programs, and ensure all AAdvantage miles and elites status earned by members remain secure and intact;
• Provide Admirals Club access and similar amenities to members and eligible customers;
• Remain an integral member of the oneworld alliance, of which American is a founding member, and continue our codeshare partnerships;
• Provide employee wages, healthcare coverage, vacation, and other benefits, without interruption;
• Pay suppliers for goods and services received during the reorganization process.

These filings have no direct legal impact on American's operations outside the United States.

American is committed to continuing to provide our customers with the excellent service and safe, reliable travel experience they expect from us.

WestJet announced it has successfully bid for eight slot pairs at New York's LaGuardia airport. A slot pair is defined as one arriving flight and one departing flight.

The auction, held by the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), provided select airlines in Canada and the United States the unique opportunity to bid on two slot packages for LaGuardia airport and one for Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport.

"We are very pleased with our successful bid," said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. "Our growth plans, in which increased business travel in the East figures prominently, includes New York City, Canada's largest international business market and we look forward to providing our guests with frequent, year-round service to the core of the Big Apple.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," continued Gregg Saretsky. "LaGuardia airport is slot controlled and therefore, access is otherwise strictly limited. Our ability to now serve New York demonstrates we are focused on delivering on our business traveller strategy."

WestJet will be working over the next several days to finalize the transaction according to FAA requirements while working to secure U.S. customs pre-clearance from Canada. Details on schedule information will be announced at a later date.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. announced that it had received Federal Aviation Administration approval for a single operating certificate, marking another significant achievement in the integration of United Airlines (UA) and Continental Airlines (CO).This regulatory milestone, while significant from an operational policies and procedures perspective, does not change how customers interact with the airline.

Customers of United and Continental will continue to shop for flights, obtain seat assignments and check flight status on each carrier’s respective website until the company migrates to a single passenger service system in the first quarter of next year.

At that point, from a customer's perspective, the two carriers will function as one airline. “I would like to thank the teams at United, Continental, the FAA, the Department of Transportation and the many regulatory authorities around the globe who put tremendous time and effort into our achieving a single operating certificate,” said United’s president and chief executive officer, Jeff Smisek.

“While we have much work ahead of us as we integrate these two great carriers, this is a significant milestone.”The two carriers went through a rigorous 18-month process of aligning operating policies and procedures to obtain a single operating certificate from the FAA.

A team of more than 500 employees from both carriers worked together to evaluate closely each pre-integration program, process and operating specification from both airlines to determine the best choice for the new United.

The team streamlined more than 440 operational manuals, programs and procedures down to approximately 260 manuals for the new United – a process that involved roughly 2,000 changes. Effective Wednesday, air traffic control communications will refer to all United and Continental flights as ‘United’.  United and Continental announced their merger in May 2010 and closed the transaction on October 1 of that year.

The Holiday travel season is often when airports are at their busiest. So we'd like to offer a few holiday travel tips to help get you on your way.

Plan ahead:

• Try to arrive at the airport at least one extra hour ahead of normal check-in and boarding times to avoid problems associated with holiday congestion.
• Read our travel advisories for the most up-to-date information on possible flight disruptions.
• Check the status of departing and arriving flights online, with your mobile device, or by calling the toll free Air Canada flight status line at 1-888-422-7533; TTY (Hearing Impaired): 1-800-361-8071.
• Register with aircanada.com's mobile notification services: your flight schedules, cancellations, delays and details will be sent directly to your mobile device or e-mail, all in real time.
• Make sure you have all the travel documents you and your family need for your trip.
• Purchase added peace of mind with 'On My Way', a comprehensive travel assistance service for flight delays or travel disruptions beyond the airline's control.

Your flight has been delayed or cancelled?
If Air Canada advises you that your flight has been cancelled, or if severe weather conditions are expected to bring about a flight delay or cancellation, you may be able to access our Delayed and Cancelled Flight Service to make alternate arrangements using your booking reference number and passenger name.

You're travelling to, from or via the U.S.?
The U.S. Secure Flight Program requires that travellers provide additional Secure Flight information at least 72 hours before their flight or at time of booking. Learn more about how you can provide this information.

Check in early

• Check in online or on your mobile device at any time within 24 hours of departure.
• Get your boarding pass sent electronically to your mobile device, or print it from home or at one of our self-service check-in kiosks at the airport.
• You have bags to check?

Use our quick and convenient self-tagging option to print and attach your own baggage tags, then deposit your bags at the designated airport counter. The self-tagging option is available in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow.

Pack smartly

• Review your checked and carry-on baggage allowances, then take a few minutes to read the special restrictions that apply to liquids, gels and aerosols. And remember to always pack medication and valuables in carry-on baggage.
• Remember to leave gifts unwrapped. In the event that security or customs agents need to inspect the contents of your baggage, all the items in your possession should be unwrapped and easy to access.
• Download and print our Baggage ID card and place one inside each of your bags for easy identification.

You're planning outdoor winter activities?
Our sports equipment page will tell you everything you need to know about packing skis, snowboards, skates and much more.

Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, on Friday announced proposed new regulations to enhance the safety of Canadian aviation.

They would require private and commercial airplanes with six or more passenger seats to be equipped with an alert system known as the ‘terrain awareness and warning system’ (TAWS).

“Our government will continue strengthening aviation safety for Canadians,” said Minister Lebel.

“Using TAWS will significantly reduce the risk of airplane crashes with land, water or obstacles.” TAWS provides acoustic and visual alerts to flight crews when the path of their aircraft is predicted to collide with terrain, water or obstacles — a situation that can occur when visibility is low or the weather is poor.

This gives the flight crew sufficient time to take evasive action.
These types of accidents often happen when pilots are unaware of the danger until it is too late.

The risk is even greater for small aircraft that fly further into remote wilderness or mountainous areas but are not currently required to have the same proximity warning equipment as large airliners.

The proposed regulations comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization's standards and help harmonize Canadian regulations more closely with those of other aviation authorities, including those in the United States and European Union.

Canada's Transportation Safety Board also recommends the wider use of TAWS to help pilots assess their proximity to terrain.

Transport Canada is committed to the continuous improvement of aviation safety.

These proposed amendments will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 3.

Stakeholders will have a 75-day consultation period to comment on the proposed regulations before they are finalized and published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Incentive Gifts
Our popular Gift Certificate Program is one of the best ways for companies to reward their employees, business associates for their excellent performance and service. A “Gift of Travel” is a unique way to promote leisure and relaxation for those individuals that work hardest to make your business successful. This positive experience will be one that the recipients will remember for years to come.

Vision 2000 Travel Group has highly trained and experienced travel advisors specializing in individual custom travel planning . In addition, our advisors provide service for Gift Certificate recipients, to help provide the best travel experience possible. Our advisors will always provide a “high – end” level of service when planning reward vacations.

All “Gift of Travel” Certificates purchased will be held in a designated trust fund and have no expiration date. Each certificate holder will be assigned an account administrator who will receive regular reports on fund usage and balances. The recipients may be charged booking fees if requesting air only, or if their desired vacation requires extensive agent service and planning.


Additional services include:

• Access to some of the most experienced travel advisors  in the industry
• Vision 2000 Travel Group works with preferred travel partners who have a reputation for product service and quality including Air Canada Vacations, Four Seasons Hotels, Oceania Cruises,
• Travel fund administration and reporting
• Administration of Gift Certificates included tracking and security
• Gift Certificate customization for specific incentive themes

All the information we need when ordering:

• Dollar amount of certificate
• Recipient’s name
• Any special restrictions or instructions not specified in “standard” certificate
• Form of payment (an additional admistration fee will be added to credit card purchases)
• If invoice is needed, any special cost allocation code instructions
• Requested method of delivery – electronic or paper, and routing
• Any special design requests (fee may apply for small orders)

The Elysian Hotel Chicago, which recently earned the coveted distinction of being the #1 hotel in the United States according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler, has been acquired by a joint venture between Hilton Worldwide, the parent company of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts;  an Equity Group Investments affiliate; and Elysian principals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The hotel’s new ownership plans to rebrand the hotel Waldorf Astoria Chicago on February 1st, 2012. The Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand, which draws its inspiration from the legendary Waldorf=Astoria New York, is known for delivering highly personalized service and is one of the world’s fastest growing luxury hospitality brands. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts plans to use the strength of its worldwide presence to capitalize on the tremendous operational and financial success the Elysian has enjoyed since opening in late 2009.

“We’re taking the best of the Elysian and bringing it into the world-class network of Waldorf Astoria,” said John T.A. Vanderslice, global head of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands for Hilton Worldwide.  “The Elysian’s well deserved reputation for anticipatory service and attention to detail, as well as its stunning design and outstanding amenities, reflect the discerning needs of today’s luxury guest, and are hallmarks of the Waldorf Astoria brand.”

Located in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, just steps off of Magnificent Mile, the Elysian comprises a hotel, 51 luxury private residences, restaurants, a spa and event and meeting rooms. The building, which was designed by renowned architect Lucien Lagrange, features a richly detailed exterior and European courtyard reminiscent of the grand hotels of the 1920’s, while the interiors embrace a sophisticated, urban sensibility. The hotel features 188 spacious guestrooms and suites boasting elegantly modern furnishings, fireplaces and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs. The Elysian is also home to two distinct culinary experiences - Balsan, a contemporary bistro showcasing refined, yet rustic fare, and RIA a two-Michelin-star restaurant offering modern, seasonally driven French cuisine.  Bernard’s, the hotel’s bar, is reminiscent of a plush private club.  The Elysian Spa & Health Club, which spans more than 14,000 square feet, offers a wide-ranging menu of personalized services as well as a nail spa, barber suite, relaxation areas and a fitness facility, as well as a mosaic-tiled lap pool, whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms. The compilation is an amenity-rich environment for the most discerning of guests.

Equity Group Investments made its investment through the Zell Credit Opportunities Fund, which was established to focus on the recapitalization of over-leveraged assets and companies, and to invest opportunistically in loans and credit securities in both the real estate and corporate arenas.

Robert Webster led the team at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels that represented Elysian’s original ownership in the transaction

Just Announced - book during Holland America's Sail & Save Sale to receive Free upgrades, up to 50% savings AND MORE!

Available Now — For a limited time:

• Receive free upgrades to ocean-view and verandah staterooms*
• Free or reduced cruise fares for 3rd and 4th guests*
• Reduced airfare on select sailings*
• Exceptional Savings on Collectors' Voyages*

These destinations on sale now!

Alaska Cruises with fares starting at $629*
Alaska CruiseTours with fares starting at $1,029*
Panama Canal with fares starting at $1,099*
Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific with fares starting at $1,329*
Caribbean with fares starting at $469*
Europe with fares starting at $829*

PLUS

• Asia & Pacific
• Bermuda
• Canada & New England
• Hawaii & Tahiti
• Holiday Sailings
• Mexico
• South America

*Fuel supplement has been suspended. Holland America Line reserves the right to reinstate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to CAD 10.80 per person per day should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $70US per barrel. Please consult our website for current information. Fares are based on Promo(s) FL, FN, RH, RT, RZ. Featured fares are per person based on double occupancy, cruise or cruisetour only. Fares are in Canadian dollars.   All savings amounts are included in fares shown. Government Fees & Taxes are additional and range from CAD 55.89 to CAD 769. Subject to availability. Free upgrade offer is from interior to ocean-view stateroom or ocean-view to verandah stateroom categories only, subject to availability, and valid on select sailings and in select categories only. Third/fourth offer based on sharing with 1st and 2nd guests and on select sailings, based on Promo Z3. Government fees and taxes are applicable to all 3rd/4th offers. For more information about our stateroom categories and suite descriptions, and to view deck plans, please refer to www.hollandamerica.com or the appropriate Holland America brochure. Offers are capacity controlled, and may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Restrictions may apply. Please refer to the appropriate Holland America brochure for full terms and conditions. Ships' Registry: The Netherlands.

Receive a complimentary night when you book with Vision 2000 Cruises & Vacations and stay at one of these stunning Rosewood Hotels or Resorts.

Whether located in the heart of one of the world’s great cities or in the splendid isolation of a tropical isle, each luxury hotel and resort is designed to enhance every aspect of a your experience, by reflecting the location’s culture, history and geography.

Rosewood believes that true world-class status is only achieved when a hotel or resort combines the traditions of its host community with exceptional service, a luxury product and incredible attention to detail. This distinction has elevated the Rosewood Collection into the upper echelon of luxury vacation destinations for sophisticated travelers around the globe.

CARRIBEAN / ATLANTIC

Rosewood Little Dix Bay | Virgin Gorda, B.V.I
Stay 4 nights - Receive 5th night Free
Stay 5 nights - Receive nights 6 & 7 Free (when you stay in a Villa)
Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort | St. John, U.S.V.I
Stay 4 nights - Receive 5th night Free
Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort | Antigua
Stay 6 nights - Receive 7th night Free
Rosewood Tucker's Point | Bermuda
Stay 3 nights - Receive 4th night Free

MEXICO

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort | Los Cabos
Stay 3 nights - Receive 4th night Free
Rosewood Mayakoba | Riviera Maya
Stay 3 nights - Receive 4th night Free
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende | San Miguel de Allende
Stay 3 nights - Receive 4th night Free

UNITED STATES/CANADA

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel | New York
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek | Dallas
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free
Rosewood Crescent Hotel | Dallas
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free
The Mansion on Peachtree, A Rosewood Hotel | Atlanta
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi | Santa Fe
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free
Rosewood Sand Hill | Menlo Park, California
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free
CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort | San Martin, California
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free
Stay 3 nights - Receive nights 4 & 5 free
Stay 4 nights - Receive nights 5 - 7 free
Rosewood Hotel Georgia | Vancouver
Stay 2 nights - Receive 3rd night Free

 
Valid for travel January 2-May 31 2012.  Offers vary by room category and are subject to availability and blackout dates.  Excludes tax, resort fees and inclusive food & beverage elements.  Not combinable with other offers nor applicable on group bookings.  Stay must be consecutive-night stay and complimentary night is applicable only on that stay.  Minimum stays apply.