March 2008

Unlimited travel this spring for the price of a single ticket.

This spring, enjoy unlimited travel - three days a week - for the price of a single ticket with the Spring Getaway Pass.

Travel in the zone of your choice - solo or with a companion - on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, for a one-month or two-month period. Don't miss out on this exciting limited-time offer!

The Spring Getaway Pass allows you to choose from:

• Three travel zones:
  • Western: within Western Canada or between Western Canada and the Western U.S.
  • Eastern: within Eastern Canada or between Eastern Canada and the Eastern U.S.
  • North America: anywhere in Canada and between Canada and the U.S.
• Two travel periods:
  • One month: between April 1 and April 29, 2008
  • Two months: between April 1 and June 1, 2008
• Two options:
  • For One traveller
  • For Two travellers

This Flight Pass offers you complimentary advance online seat selection and up to 6,000 Bonus Aeroplan® Miles!

Choose the option that you prefer:

One month for one traveler

One month for two travellers

Two months for one traveller - Get an International Sample Pass!

Two months for two travellers - Get an International Sample Pass for two! Plus, with the purchase of the two-month option, you can get an International Sample Pass offering you a return trip to Paris, London or Shanghai this April for only $150!

Hurry! This spring offer ends on March 20, 2008.

Contact your Vision 2000 Travel Consultant for further details.

United Airlines has introduced a new checked bag policy for travellers purchasing non-refundable economy tickets. This new checked bag policy applies to travel beginning on May 5 within the US and to/from Canada, San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.  Effective May 5, customers who purchase non-refundable economy tickets and do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a service fee of US$25 For all customers, the cost to check up to four additional bags will be $100 per bag. Previous charges ranged from $85-$125 per bag. The cost to check items that require special handling because they are large, overweight or fragile will now be either $100 or $200, depending on the item.

United estimates the change will generate more than $100 million annually for the company in cost savings and new revenue. The service fee to check a second bag only applies to tickets purchased on or after Feb. 4. Customers may pay this service fee at an airport Easy Check-In kiosk with a credit card or at the check-in counter with a credit card, check or cash. (www.united.com/baggage)

TorontoAirport (YYZ) - US Airways Terminal Change as of 29MAR

February 22, 2008

Please note that:

US Airways' last day of operation out of YYZ Terminal 3 is Friday, March 28, 2008.

US Airways' first day of operation out of YYZ Terminal 1 is Saturday, March 29, 2008.  

With US Airways' move, all Star Alliance member carriers serving YYZ will be operating from Terminal 1.

Due to the terminals being quite some distance from each other, we want to prevent our customers showing up at Terminal 3 on March 29 and onwards, especially our customers originating out of YYZ.

Thank you and best regards,

US Airways 

Wi-Fi is now available on even the most remote beaches in South Asia, so why has it not made its way to US air carriers?

The answer: "it has."

Southwest and American, have announced onboard internet trials to start later this year.

 "This follows JetBlue's already-launched, though minimal, service, as well as previous announcements for trials from Alaska Airlines and Virgin America," said CNET News.com

Southwest said it would begin trials this summer with high-speed Internet service on four of its 737s. This summer, American will also launch onboard Internet service on its entire fleet of coast-to-coast 767s.

Virgin America plans on rolling out the service on all of its planes.

Apparently in a conservative mood, Alaska has said it would launch a trial on only one plane.

Some observers such as Henry Harteveldt, an industry analyst at Forrester Research, predicted all airlines will soon have wi-fi.

"It will probably be two years or so before we see the vast majority of aircraft in the US with this," Mr Harteveldt said. "But I do expect it will be on just about every airline."

A majority or 56% of business travelers do not feel the need or want to be connected at 30,000 feet, according to a recent Orbitz for Business Survey.

When asked if they would take less convenient or more costly flights in order to have Wi-Fi service, 56% of business travelers said it is not a necessity. Somewhat more than one third also say they would try to get a flight with Wi-Fi if it was available, but wouldn't be bothered if it weren't.

Extract from Report by David Wilkening

At 1,013 meters long, the Algarrobo swimming pool in Chili, with its 250 million litres of turquoise seawater, spread over eight hectares, stretched alongside the Pacific shore, is the largest in the world according to Guinness World Records.

Inaugurated in January, this giant swimming pool, looking like an artificial lagoon, is 100 meters away from the cold and agitated waters of the Pacific, separated only by a sandy beach. It sits in the heart of the seaside resort of Algarrobo, Chile's nautical capital of choice - 95 kilometres from the capital Santiago.

Its turquoise waters, every bit worthy of the Caribbean Sea, show the reflection of the overlooking ten building residential complex, surrounded by green palm trees.

Exclusive to the residents of the complex, and capable of accommodating 1,000 families and their guests, the swimming pool is so big that you can kayak and windsurf on it, and also enjoy a peaceful swim, in temperatures milder than those of the Pacific, which are always less than 10 ° in that area.

The creation of this azure haven was made possible by "Crystal Lagoons", a technological innovation in biochemistry. The process, which allows the cleansing of an unlimited amount of water, is the result of ten years of research by the Chilean scientist Fernando Fischman.

"Water is taken from the ocean subsoil, at about three meters below the sand, where filtering occurs, processing some 800,000 litres of water daily," explained to AFP the administrator of residential complex, Sigfrido Grimau

In 2009, works will start for another mega-lagoon of 12.5 hectares, in another Chilean seaside resort, which will snatch away from Algarrobo the title of the world's largest pool.

Similar projects are under way around the world, including in Argentina, Dubai, Egypt and Greece.

Virgin Atlantic completed a test flight using biofuel composed of babassu oil and coconut oil.

The Boeing 747-400 flew from Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

The aircraft reached an altitude of 25,000 ft - which was the planned highest altitude it would reach using the renewable fuel.

The oils used can both be found in everyday cosmetic products, such as lip balm and shaving cream, and do not compete with staple food sources, according to the airline.

The babassu nuts and coconuts were harvested from existing, mature plantations.

No modifications were made to either the aircraft or its engines to enable the flight to take place, Virgin said.

The airline's president Sir Richard Branson heralded the flight as a 'biofuel breakthrough for the whole of the aviation industry.'

He said: "Virgin Atlantic, and its partners, are proving that you can find an alternative to traditional jet fuel and fly a plane on new technology, such as sustainable biofuel."

"This pioneering flight will enable those of us who are serious about reducing our carbon emissions to go on developing the fuels of the future, fuels which will power our aircraft in the years ahead through sustainable next-generation oils, such as algae."

Choice Hotels is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its rewards program, Choice Privileges, with an easy-to-earn rewards offer for guests. Through April 17, guests have an opportunity to earn up to triple points, up to 30 points for every dollar spent at participating Comfort, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn and Clarion hotels in Canada, the US, Mexico and the Caribbean. Guests can earn up to 15 points per dollar spent at Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn hotels in Canada and the US. Complete promotional details can be found at www.choicehotels.ca.

When Celebrity Solstice launches in December, guests will find that the grass is really greener on a Celebrity Cruises incentive trip.  The ship will present an industry first on the top deck of the ship: real, growing grass set in an innovative new country club environment known as 'The Lawn Club'.  The half-acre Lawn Club on Celebrity Solstice will invite guests to enjoy bocce ball and croquet, practice their putting, picnic with a basket of wine and cheese, or simply feel the grass between their toes, while sailing the oceans of the world. 

The area also will feature the Hot Glass Show, another first in the industry, developed in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass. The show takes place next to The Patio on the Lawn, the Lawn Club Shop, and the Sunset Bar. "We want our guests to experience the unexpected, like the thrill of sinking a putt on a freshly manicured lawn in the middle of the ocean," said Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises.  "The experiences on and around the lawn exemplify what we aim to achieve: to recognize, celebrate and indulge our guests in style."

Facts about The Lawn Club on Celebrity Solstice:

• Over three times larger than New York's Rockefeller Center ice skating rink
• 1.7 times larger than an Olympic-size swimming pool
• The equivalent of 8.2 tennis courts

The area also features the Sunset Bar -- the ideal sail-away setting on any ship, enhanced on Celebrity Solstice by the natural grass in The Lawn Club. Located at Celebrity Solstice's highest point aft, the Sunset Bar provides breathtaking views in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Lawn Club consists of an expansive area of beautifully manicured grass on the top deck, providing and ambiance equivalent to a casual country club.  It's the ideal place to relax, stretch out, practice your putt, play a little bocce or just enjoy the contrasting views of soft, green grass and sparking, blue sea.  It's more than sublime, it's unprecedented!

Torremolinos Beach Club, Costa Del Sol, Spain

Fabulous beach resort!   

All inclusive Seaside Package: flights, accommodation, meals and transfers

Departure from Toronto (YYZ):

June 18th, 2008 for one week

$1649 (including our Vision 2000 rebate of 50$ per person) + $230.50 taxes 

Based on double occupancy.

Departure from Montreal (YUL):

May 1st, 2008 for one week

$1499 (including taxes $247, and our Vision 2000 rebate of 50$ per person)

Based on double occupancy