Sunday. September 9, 1990 - North Shore News - 39 TRAVEL New business flight really means business IT USED to be there were just two classes o: travel: first and with children. The problem was that business travellers didn’t want vo sit with the children, and not alt of them could afford first class And in the halcyon dass (for some) of heavy discounting they were often paying substantially mors tor their seats than leisure travellers. So the airlines createu business David Wishart wee Sy TRAVEL TIPS class, an idea that has (aken off in a big way. Most European and Asian carriers have it. and so do Air Canada and Canadian Airlines. Canadian, however, hus gone a step further and dropped first class on North American and European routes in favor of an [st VENTURE TAVEL 1 DAY MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE SPECIAL I from CON S9GO" ppvabi} inclusive of airfare ‘ Sail ine VIKING SERENADE | (formally the Stardancer} to PUERTO VALLARTA, MAZATLAN & and CABO SAN LUCAS The Sailing dates tor this special are Oct. 13/20/27, Nov. 03/0N7/24 ; and Dec. 01/08, 1990. XZ NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE. The Pleasure Ships Turn Your CARIBBEAN CRUISE INTO A ROMAN HOLIDAY Introducing the NORWAY'S § ROMAN SPA, the only full service § European spa at sea. 4 Eight massage rooms. Acquacise | f pool. Jacuzzi. Saunas. Steam Rooms. Showers. And state-ofthe- § Nari exercise equipment. . 5 You not only get a complete spa } vacation, you get an incomparable § B 7 DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISE § experience to ST. RAAARTEN, ST. & JOHN, ST. THOMAS AND NCLs PLEASURE ISLAND. f from CDN $1365” pp/dbif inclusive of aitiare Fiva distinctive spa packages are available at an extra cost. Guaranteed Single Shares available. : 110 East 14th St. (at Lonsdate) North Vancouver 986-1377| enhanced business class. Canadian still offers first class on services to South America, the Orient and the South Pacific, in- cluding its Boving 747-400 which starts service late December on the Vancouver-Honolulu run. & key factor was the arrival of new equipment, the Boeing 7647- 300ER. Canadian was the first carrier to fly this delightful airplane between Canada and Europe. It was considered ideal for the enhanced business class, allowing for seating of 2-2-2 abreast. In other words, every seat a window or aiste. The business class cabin is large and roomy. Pitch, the distance between the seats, is generous. Most other airlines have pitches ranging from 38 to 42 inches. Ca- nadian decided on a 45-inch pitch. The overnight non-stop from Vancouver to London was an op- portunity to try out the new business class. ‘Juice sr water?"’ offered the flight attendant before take-off. That was a surprise right away. What, no champagne? Apparently not, and that's the way the passengers like it these day's. We left seven minutes late, not bad for a capacity, international flight, and while taxiing there was a moment to reflect on the Cana- dian employee who intercepted passengers immediately after check-in with a duty-free brochure and the statement: ‘‘It’s cheaper on board than at the duty-free shop and we deliver it to your seat.”’ ({t was and they did.) This airfine obviously meitnt business. After take-off, trolleys came around with newspapers, headsets, toilet kits and a wine list offering three whites, three reds — and champagne. Drinks were served, hot towels, and then dinner. There was a choice of three main courses — steak, duck or seafood — and the meal came on a tray. with a flower, and was served on Royal Doulton china. Royal Doulton wis a Wardair trademark, and for the record, the senior vice-president: of customer services, which inchides inflight, happens to be an ex-Wardair man. Cheese and biscuits. with port, followed, after which the dessert trolley was rolled out, and then coffee, chocolate cherries and li- queurs. it was a meal for all waistlines, tasty rather than heavy, and nicely spaced to allow passengers to make the most of what is for many the highlight of their flight. Afterwards, @ movie was shown, but many passengers settl ed down for the night. Here was a chance to see what the seat could do: it is certainly wide enough, the leg room would please a basket- ball team. the reclining angle is generous, but the footrest was disappointing. However, Canadian is apparently aware of the short- comings of the clectronically- operated device and is apparently about to install a new one. Breakfast was served before landing, and we touched down at Gatwick one minute early. Canadian business class passen- BCAA Travel presents PRINCESS CRUISES = We cordially invite you to attend our GALA CRUISE NIGHT for BCAA Special Group Departure to Hawaii and French Polynesia aboard the LOVE BOAT WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 1990 at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Park Royal Hotel 540 Clyde Ave., West Vancouver, B.C. RSVP: 922-3361 Tickets: $5.00 BCAA Travel GS 908 Park Royal Mal West Vancouver, B.C. 922-3361 gers ure offgred a complimentary limousine service into London. Mind you, it's hard to imagine a better service than British Rail’s Gatwick Express, which leaves every [5 minutes from the airport and takes 30 minutes to travel to London’s Victoria Station. At Victoria there is an underground stadon serving all) the London mainline railway stations. The 222-seat Boeing 767 offers 2-3-2 seating in economy class, with 87 per cent of afl seats win- dow or aisle. The new terminal in Toronto, meanwhile, has been delayed in Surprise! Monday Sept. 17 Riviera Tuesday Sept. 18 Singapore Wednesday Holland America Line with Glynis Boulton — Christmas, Caribbean & South Pacific Crystal Cruises with Kathy Dunbar — Panama, Trans-Atlantic & Mediterranean SPECIAL ROSEWAY PRICES CRUISE CREDITS & OTHER PRIZES Your chance to meet informally with official cruise line staff. 5:00-8:00 p.m. each day, at our office SPECIAL DEALS PANAMA CANAL 9 days, Golden Odyssey between Curacao & Acapulco from 1 45 Cdn. Jan. 24, Feb. 3, 25, March 7 Sept. 19 Thursday Sept. 20 WIN HAWAII 8 days, Crown Odyssey between San Diego & Honolulu, from $2095 Cdn., Jan 21, 29, Feb. 6, 14 MEXICAN RIVIERA 9 days, Crown Odyssey, Los Angeles return, from $4495 U.S. Jan. 3 & 12 Inctudes FREE AIR & other amenities, extensions & deviations available. Port charges extra. Cruise Week Featuring A LINE A NIGHT Royal Caribbean Cruise Line with Lorie Irvine — Caribbean & Mexican Princess Cruises with Geraldine Durrant — Christmas & Hong Kong- 926-4344 106-Kapilano 100 Tower, South Park Roya! (ground floor of black office tower) construction and will now open in January. Canadian wil! be the prime tenant in terminal three, or Trillium Terminal, which will have a hoiel and a shopping mall an- chored by a branch of Harrods. And a story from the cockpit: Have you heard about the new airplane that is completely com- puter-controlled? It doesn’t cven need a pilot, but regulations insist that some crew has to be there. So what they’ve done is assign- ed a man and a dog to every air- craft. The man is there to feed the dog, and the dog is there to bite him if he tries to touch anything. Don’? trust your dreams to just anyone. Let the expert, fina with 41 years on-board experience, at cruisesiiipcenters. Plan that perfect cruise for you! As Canada's leading Cruise Specialists, we can ensure you a time to remember instead of one you'd rather forget. 1823 Capilano Rd., N.Van. 985-7447 (Ship)