Rocky Mountain Lounge Update

I had the pleasure of communicating with the Servisair Lounge Supervisor at YYC and she was kind enough to provide further news on this lounge after I asked if any airlines had contracted the lounge. Well as of yet no airlines have contracted the relatively new lounge in the YYC Transborder area but American Express Platinum card holders (Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum, Amex Corporate Platinum, Holt Renfrew Platinum, Aeroplan Plus Platinum and the Centrium Card) have access as do A-Circle, and Airport Angel members.

The pricing for the lounge has changed, probably to reflect the new rules of not allowing passengers through US Customs until 2 hours prior to their flight. The new rates are as follows: before 09:30 $20.00 / person and after 09:30 $25.00 / person

Continental expands Air Canada codesharing out of YYC

Continental has expanded their codesharing with Air Canada by adding their flight numbers to Air Canada flights between YYC and Castlegar, Ft. McMurray, Kamloops, Lethbridge and Seattle.

Source: Airline Route Updates

Security Update for U.S. Bound Passengers

From Transport Canada:
"Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird today announced that airline passengers who are travelling to the United States are now permitted to bring one carry-on bag with some small exceptions. This new measure replaces the temporary restriction on carry-on bags introduced as a result of the December 25, 2009 security incident on Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit."

and from YYC.com
"U.S. bound passengers are now permitted to bring ONE carry-on items on board aircraft. Transport Canada now permits one small carry-on bag for airline passengers who are travelling to the United States. This carry-on bag must not exceed a size of 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (9 in x 16 in x 22 in), which is equivalent to the size of a small gym bag. The carry-on bag must fit into an airport’s carry-on baggage sizer."

The details go further to say that you can have the one carry on and a small personal item like a purse or laptop. Air Canada has a good chart describing these new allowances.

KLM back to 5 flights per week for summer 2010

According to KLM's online schedule, the Calgary to Amsterdam flight will return to five flights per week for the summer season versus the current four for winter. The additional flight on Thursdays will begin the first week of May and is currently showing that it will stay on into the Winter season for 2010/11. That of course can change as official Winter 2010/11 schedules have not been released.

Three U.S. Majors raise luggage fees....again!

Continental, Delta and United have all followed US Airways lead and raised their checked luggage fees once again. This is at least the second time in the past twelve months that they have done this. As U.S. airlines continue to struggle financially they are finding that ancillary revenue streams such as checked luggage fees are lucrative and what help them keep afloat. The question is how much and how far are the airlines willing to push the customers to pay for these services that used to be free in the past and are still free on some airlines like Southwest and WestJet. Of course the airlines charging the fees hope that the customers become accustomed to the fees and in some ways many have, they want to travel, they need to travel and although they are not happy about it they pay the fees so that they can conduct their business or go on that much needed vacation.

By the way, the latest round of increases see the CO, DL and UA fee go to $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second. Discounts are available for those who prepay online. Elite Members of each airlines frequent flyer programs continue to be exempt from the checked luggage fees.

United's flight changes for Summer 2010 means less capacity out of Calgary

According to Airline Route Updates, United is making the following changes to their Calgary flights for Summer 2010:

Chicago will be served twice daily with CRJ-700's and once daily with an A319. Summer 09 was 4 times daily with CRJ-700, which leads to a slight decrease in overall capacity (-7 seats per day)

Denver will be once daily A319, three daily CRJ-200 and once daily CRJ-700. Summer 09 was a mix of three daily 737 or A319/20 and two daily CRJ, a larger sized decrease (approx -100 seats per day)

San Francisco will go to three daily CRJ-700 flights from four in Summer 09. This is a decrease of 66 seats per day.

Calgary - Newark for $158++ ($265-270 all in)

An amazing fare from Calgary to Newark, only $79 each way. However it is limited to flights during the week of May 2-7. The total all in price comes in at $265 on AC or $270 on DL. A good fare for a mileage run as same day return is available for Air Canada routings through Toronto that take the Red Eye out of YYC. See the link below to FlyerTalk for other routings that can earn more miles and segments.

Book online at Aircanada.com or at Delta.com

Thanks to Keithguy on FlyerTalk for the find

ANA to codeshare on Air Canada's Calgary-Tokyo Service

ANA (All Nippon Airways) will be adding their flight codes to Air Canada's 3x weekly Calgary-Tokyo service beginning on Mar 28, 10. ANA's flight numbers will be NH6817 (YYC-NRT) and NH6816 (NRT-YYC)

Source: Airline Route Updates

Air Canada Transborder Changes for Summer 2010

The folllowing changes are being made for several Air Canada Transborder flights out of Calgary

- Las Vegas is being downgauged to an E190 from A319 last summer
- Newark is being upgauged to A319 from E190 last summer
- Phoenix will now be served year round with summer 2010 flights operating on Saturdays and Sundays
- San Diego is being downgauged from mainline E190 to AC Jazz CRJ700

Thanks again to Airline Route Updates

Air Canada and WestJet offering great fares with latest seat sale

I believe WestJet started this great seat sale and Air Canada has matched. There are some great fares to be had out of Calgary if you book by Jan 7 for travel on certain days until the end of May

Sample fares from Calgary (One Way, taxes and fee extra)
Interior BC/Saskatchewan $50
Vancouver/Victoria/Winnipeg $75
Montreal/Toronto $100
California/Las Vegas/Phoenix $100 (some dates even come in lower then this)
Hawaii $250

Book online at Air Canada or WestJet

Save 10% on Air Canada flights to Europe and Israel

Here is this months Visa Perks offer for Air Canada

Save 10% on our flights to Europe and Israel

Travel from January 11 to March 30, 2010 and enjoy extra savings on flights from Canada to Paris, London, Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva, Zurich and Tel Aviv ! To get your exclusive discount, simply enter this promotion code when booking and pay with your VISA card: NXTEKDV1

Offer ends January 31, 2010.

Full details at AirCanada.com

Air France now codesharing on KLM flights from Calgary

Air France is now officially codesharing on KLM's flights between Calgary and Amsterdam. The flight numbers are as follows:

ROUTE	AF Codeshare	KL Operating
Amsterdam – Calgary	AF8376	KL677
Calgary – Amsterdam	AF8375	KL678

Source: Airline Route Update