1 JUST received a bulletin from Air Canada containing in-
formation about a new policy being introduced by the
airline. I think it’s one of the most thoughtful gestures ever
made by an airline and should earn them a great deal of

respect.

Called their ‘‘compassicnate
travel policy’, it translates to this:
Should a traveller have to travel on
short notice due to a death in the
immediate family he normally
must pay full cconomy fare. Now,
by producing a death certificate
within 90 days, Air Canada will
refund the difference between the

full fare paid and the lowest. dis-'

count air fare available at the time
of the flight.

Naturally, this: “policy. i
‘immediate family:

Currently, Air Canada's _ dis-
-count: fares ‘(with the ‘usual’ pre-

booking egu ator) are. the ‘refund

"to 'since’ Pve had it
Christmas, 1 suspect she’d like it

ee eae should .anyone you

now be in this position, be sure to’

ake them aware of this policy.

the: “week: during m my. recent flight

“fon Cathay Pacific. cane “As you

For that reason, the sound-track *

7 you’ can pick’ up 6n'the headphones:
“has both a Chinese and‘a Japanese:
‘music! ‘channel (as well-as the regu- ~

‘Jar pop, country and classical).-"":. -

*d love.to know who translated
the: Chinese. titles into ‘English for
‘the music. directory. Here:are a

~. couple.of the translations: A. Vain..

-For Whom; Love. Blockage; ‘Mis-
"sion Vulture and White Hair Song.

: These coupled with Burning Lips
‘and Long: Way.. Without’ Friends -
. ‘should’ keep™ al “Chinése-speaking
y “passengers ‘elued- *toe “their seats in”

our. friends Rick “and

Last fall,

Helen Wait were taking a combin-
ed business and pleasure trip to
Europe. Their employces came up
with one of the most unusual ‘bon
voyage’ gifts I’ve seen. The cost
was next to nothing, but the
thought that went into it is worth
passing along.

They purchased a small,
plastic-covered_notedook, the size
that fits casily into a pocket or
purse (7°'x4’"),

They divided the notebook into
four-page sections, one for each
day of. the travellers’ time away.
The instructions were: ‘‘Read only
one day at a time, don’t flip
ahead” and ‘Use pages in between
to keep a journal.’*

Each day included a page or two

” with surprise messages and joke

gifts. For. example, Day Three
happened to be ‘‘Winsday"’ and
the surprise. was two scratch-and-
win tickets: (alas, losing). There

were ‘cartoons, & a set of first-aid in-
structions, ‘tin’ case of ship sink- .

‘age’, ete. -
A photo of the entire staff ap-

peared on Day Seven, with the .
caption, ‘Forget what we look like

yet?’’

Another day had a. package of |

address labels, one for each of the

‘staff, with . instructions-: to gluc:
‘them to Postcards. ‘and mail ita
-- mediately, : :

. Many ‘of the. pages were office

estricted: to: bereavements” in. “the related and ‘‘inside"’ jokes, but the

same idea could be easily adapted
for any traveller, -- |.

Helen kept: the journal ’ pages
filled and so the little book has
become a precious keepsake. And,
from before

back!

‘“¥ heard some interesting feed-

.. 3; back .:to my. recent’,column~ on _
-airline.in-flight meals. One reader _

complained, “Who, gives'a damn
about: fancy cuisine. with’ unpro-

“* nounceable names? Everything hot
“has to’be reheated before’ serving.

Why'can’t the airlines smarten up

“and .provide. food, that. re-heats
well?!”

: He. went on to recommend that
the airliries serve basic foods such

_as: lasagne, macaroni and cheese,
:stew and other casseroles that-are
-even better when re-heated.

He criticized stale. rolls, . “gum-
my, gooey”’ desserts’ and ‘praised
airlines: that served fresh fruit

‘salads and cheeses instead.

_As_an international sales rep he

gave’ me. a rundown on his 12-_
‘month’ flight schedule, and’ I was
‘impressed with the amount of time -
“he spent in the air and the number

of ‘different. airlines: he used. His
final grumble was aimed at airline
coffee, ‘‘How can you expect them
to concoct . 1a decent ° meal. when

they can‘t even brew a cup of cof-
fece?’’ The only airline, in his
estimation, that could “pass’’ for
coffee making was Cathay Pacific
and that was just ‘‘drinkable”’.

seo

Another reader phoned in a pet
tip that I'l pass along.

She recommended attaching one
of those unbreakable water con-
tainers such as you find in rodent
cages to the inside of a pet's travel
cage. The water seeps out of the
spout when the pet licks it and may
save a cat or;sinall dog consider-
able discomfort if there's a flight
delay. :

35 - Sunday, February 21, 1988 —- North Shore News

If you are planning to visit
Trinidad or Tobago this winter,
you'll be happy to know that the
islands have lifted their passport
requirements for Canadians who
visit for two months or less. Two
pieces of identification are re-
quired and they suggest a birth
certificate and some sort of photo
I.D. such as a driver's licence.

eee

Canadian Airlines has just an-
nounced that they are beginning to
fly into Frankfurt, as of April 4. if
you decide to fly this new route, be
aware that there are both non-stop
flights as well as one through both
Calgary and Edmonton. Book ear-
ly and grab those non-stop seats!

Includes 3 days
2 nights

| Breakfast ¢ Dinner « High Tea for 2
1 Harbour Luncheon Cruise for 2
$242.00 or Deluxe $336.00

Double occupancy -
Avail. to April 15, 1988

Enjoy lunch aboard
our own 41 ft.
Custom Yacht,
MLV. Mesouda

Oak Bay Veach Hotel

—77— Victorias only seaside ketel ———

1175 Beach Drive - Victoria
To reserve, call collect 598-4556

223 ROYAL VIKING MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE

Ht

g

Ww

Some, Rhy,
_ ostet aa. tet Tes
a) Utena icy, ck Tan, Sab Som ioctaral russ

ary 23rd 5-7 pm.
Pease kt ws lnow

Syne ae coming.

° BC. Rail 5 ‘offering the lowest possible fares to passengers
travelling Coach or. Cariboo Class betveen North
Vancouver and 100 Mile House or further.

“All you do is book and pay for your round-trip at least

“48 hours in advance of departure, and you can take
advantage of these outstanding fares.

"Prices effective January 8 to March 31.
‘Cancellation penalty and restrictions apply. —
Return Coach fares are as follows: ;

100 Mile House — Seniors: $31.50 Adults: $48.50

. 7 Williams Lake — Seniors: $38.00 Adults: $56.50

: Quesnel _~

Seniors: $43.00 Adults: $65.00

: Prince George -~ Seniors: $52. 00 Adults: $78.50

"For more information and reservations, call the BC
“Rail Passenger Station in North Vancouver, 984-5246.
_ We're located at the foot of Pemberton Avenue,
- where there's plenty of free parking.

This. is the cwise
you have been waiting fa.

Two glorious weeks on a luxury linet,
visiting some of the most’interesting

places in the world.
Ues, and J am going too.
: Why don't you call me:
J ‘Ul tell you mote about it,

Sally

PRIME TRAVEL.
SERVICE LID.

PRINCE GEORGE
“SENIORS: $52.00
ADIATS: $78.50

“A WILLIAMS Laie
SENIORS: $38. 00°
~ ADULTS: $3650 fe

(~-) 100 MILE HOUSE
"SENIORS: $31.50,
~ ADULTS: $48.50 °