STARTING Monday January 16, WestJet (WS) will be increasing its pre-reserved seat fees for regular and exit-row seats on all flights.
Seat fees will continue to be charged based on flight distance.

WestJet are currently loading the information into their system. Should there be a discrepancy between the price indicated on the seat and the final cost, the final cost quoted is correct.

New pricing:

One (1) hour or less per segment:

•    Regular seat - Current fee $3; New fee $5
•    Exit-row seat – Current fee $5; New fee $10

One (1) to two and half (2.5) hours per segment:

•    Regular seat – Current fee $7; New fee $10
•    Exit-row seat – Current fee $10; New fee $15

Over two and half (2.5) hours per segment:

•    Regular seat – Current fee $10; New fee $15
•    Exit-row seat – Current fee $15; New fee $30

WestJet will continue to offer seat selection at no cost starting 24 hours before scheduled time of departure.

 

REVISED Baggage Fees

Effective December 15, excess baggage fees will be revised as follows:
• Sun Destinations C$15 per kg  (Without Kiloflex)  C$10 per kg (With Kiloflex)
•Europe Destinations C$20 per kg (Without Kiloflex)   C$13 per kg (With Kiloflex)

Special Equipment

Effective December 15, a fixed charge of C$100 per flight segment will apply to the transportation of surfboards.

Animal Transportation

Cats and dogs are the only animals accepted for carriage in the cargo hold.  Effective April 1, 2012, animal transportation fees will be revised as follows:
•    Sun Destinations C$150 per flight segment
•    Europe Destinations C$275 per flight segment

Online Check-in
Effective December 15, 2011, online check-in will be available from Montego Bay and Cancun.  Passengers are able to check-in online at http://www.airtransat.ca between 24 and two hours prior to the departure of their flights.  Luggage can then be deposited at the airport’s baggage drop-off counter.
This service is already available for Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Punta Cana and Rome departures.

NEW seating category

EFFECTIVE December 15, a new seating category will be introduced “Two-By-Two Seats Over The Wing (A330-300) or Standard Seat With A View (A330-200 – 300)”.

The cost for these seats via seat selection are:

•    Sun Destinations and Florida – C$20
•    Europe excluding United Kingdom – C$25
•    United Kingdom - C$25

The cost for these seats via Options Plus are:

• Sun Destinations and Florida – C$89 (roundtrip) – C$49.50 per segment
• Europe excluding United Kingdom – C$109 (roundtrip) – C$64.50 per segment
• United Kingdom - C$109 (roundtrip) – C$64.50 per segment

Also effective December 15, some rates for existing seating categories will change go to http://www.airtransat.ca to view these changes.

Visit www.airtransat.ca for more information.

FOREIGN Affairs and International Trade Canada strongly advises that children who are travelling abroad should carry a consent letter proving that they have permission to travel from every person with the legal right to make major decisions on their behalf, if that person is not accompanying the children on their trip.  For example, children travelling alone, with groups or with only one custodial parent should travel with a consent letter. The purpose of a consent letter is to facilitate the travel of Canadian children while preventing their wrongful removal to foreign countries.

Foreign Affairs have created an interactive form that can be completed in order to generate a consent letter that fits the specific needs and situation of a travelling child:

•  Consent letter for children travelling abroad (interactive .pdf form)

Information inputted into the form cannot be saved and is not recorded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

Other formats of a sample consent letter can be click here.

A consent letter should be obtained from each person or organization with:
•    custodial rights;
•    guardianship rights; or
•    parental authority (in Quebec only)

Since every situation is unique, Foreign Affairs recommend that travellers should go to a lawyer for advice on what their child will require, particularly if their parenting arrangement has special terms governing international travel.

For more information on children travelling abroad click here.

It is tough to be a woman traveling alone. Not only do you have to deal with the usual hassle that a tourist has to face, like getting around the place, getting over the language barrier and all that, but women traveling are also vulnerable to being on the receiving end of unwanted attention, especially if she is traveling alone. This is particularly true in countries where women do not enjoy as much freedom as women in, say, the Canada do.

Safety is a special concern for a woman traveling alone. A lot of enterprising people find a woman traveling alone to be an easy target for whatever heinous heist they may have in mind, so it is very important for her to take care of herself.

The first thing that a woman traveling alone should do is to secure her lodgings. As much as possible, her lodgings should be something she should not cut corners with. She should check in a reputable place and make sure that her room is not on the first floor, where many people come and go all too easily.

Another precaution that a woman traveling alone ought to take is to keep her room number to herself. Keeping her hotel room door locked at all times is also logical. She should never let anyone inside her hotel room without first identifying who that person is. When she is ordering room service, she should ask room service to call her when the waiter is coming up to her room with her order. While the waiter is laying out her food on the table, she should stay by the door.

Whenever she eats at one of the restaurants at the hotel she is staying in, a woman traveling alone should sign her bills with her initials instead of her full name. After signing these bills, she should give them directly to the server and should take care that no one else sees them. Whenever a stranger approaches her, she should feel free to say that she is busy and does not feel up to entertaining casual conversation with people she does not know. But if she feels inclined to it, she should be careful of the things she says to the person she is talking to. Never at any time should she reveal her itinerary for her trip. Also, a little white lie can also keep her safe.

If she is going out, a woman traveling alone should leave a note at the reception, notifying the hotel of her destination and the time she left. She should also check in regularly with someone at home. When she is going about the hotel, she should steer clear of the stairs and instead use the elevator; in this case, safety comes first before burning calories. Upon returning to the hotel after going out, she should not hesitate to ask the concierge to escort her to her room if she thinks she is being followed or spied upon.

Most of all, a woman traveling alone should wear sedate outfits and do her best to blend in. She should leave her provocative clothes at home, and she should not stash her cash and valuables in one place alone.

These safety precautions may seem paranoid, but it is better to be safe than sorry. A woman should have fun and peace of mind during her trip, even when she is traveling alone. 


How to Pack Smart

Have you ever been amazed by all those travelers who seem to be able to pack their barest necessities into one teeny, tiny carry-on bag? It’s a pretty spectacular feat, especially if you’re the kind of traveler who prefers to keep most of her belongings close and needs a lot of things to keep herself functioning properly during a flight.

Airlines usually permit one carry-on bag with a certain weight limit and with a certain size requirement as well. You wouldn’t want to exceed these limits, so remember to pack smart. You don’t need to pack so many things in your carry-on if you’re just traveling for a couple of hours, but for long-haul trips and international flights, it’s always smart to have what you need within easy reach.

Personal hygiene products should be at the top of your list. Things like your toothbrush, toothpaste, and a facial cleanser will help you stay fresh throughout your trip. Just make sure the amounts are well within the allowable limit. Consider bringing some medication and some things from your first-aid kit too.

If you have some things that would kill you if you lose them, it’s best to put them in your carry-on as well. That way, they’re kept safe and there’s practically no risk of losing them in transit.

Just in case your luggage doesn’t make it right away, you should have a change of clothes ready in your carry-on. This will tide you over until your luggage arrives.

You can also keep yourself entertained during your flight by bringing an MP3 player with you, a book, a magazine, or anything that can keep you occupied if you have a hard time falling asleep on airplanes.

Pack all these in a sturdy and secure bag that will hold everything neatly and you’re all set!

•  Go to an online forecast site and check the weather for your destination.
• Visualize each day of your vacation. Pick an outfit for each day and lay it on the bed or floor so you can see what you have.
• Keep and carry a packing list, and check it every time you change locations. Nothing is worse than realizing you’ve left your cell phone or inhaler at home or at a hotel.
• Always bring something for the unexpected, such as a sweatshirt or heavy socks.
• Pick shoes that will go with any outfit. No more than two pairs of shoes is a good rule.
• Women: Do not bring more make-up than you need or more than will fit in your makeup bag. Bring a purse that goes with all your outfits. Keep accessories and toiletries to a minimum (remember most hotels have shampoo). Always bring a few pads/tampons. 
• When packing your suitcase, put the first day’s outfit on top and the last day’s outfit on the bottom. Another option is to make one pile for pants and one for shirts (again, pack them in the order you will be wearing them).
• Put toiletries in an outside pocket or make sure they’re in a waterproof bag.
• Remember to pack toilet paper or baby wipes if you will be camping or staying in rustic accommodation.
• If you bring electronics, make sure they are charged and BRING THE CHARGER. This is important for people with cell phones, iPods, DVD players, etc.
• Remember to bring headphones. There’s nothing worse than being on a long ride and realizing you’re not equipped to listen to music or watch movies.

If you are vacationing outside of Canada, make sure your passport is current and you have your tickets, documents and identification with you when you arrive at the airport. Many countries will not permit entry if your passport will expire several months beyond your date of arrival, so make sure you obtain a new passport before leaving home if there is any possibility that your passport will expire while you travel. Also, don't forget that, as of January 23, 2007, Canadians need a passport when entering the United States.

Don't leave your province or territory of residence without medical insurance, as you may not have as much coverage as you think. Medical treatment can be very expensive - even if you are travelling within Canada - and your government health insurance plan usually covers only a limited part of these costs. Be sure to carry proof of travel insurance with you, along with the travel insurance company's name and phone number. Leave a copy of this information at home with family or friends, as well.

Click here for details.

Travel arrangements are often non-refundable, so don't risk losing your entire travel investment should something unexpected happen. Purchasing cancellation and interruption insurance can help protect your investment in case you have to cancel your trip, come home early, or stay longer at your destination.

Increased security at airports has led to longer waiting times for travellers. Go early to give yourself plenty of time to make your flight. Don't leave your luggage unattended in public areas and don't accept packages from strangers.

Keep credit cards, travellers' cheques, passports and other identification in different places (eg. on your person, in your carry on, in your purse). Make two copies of the identification page of your passport. Carry one copy with you, separate from your passport, and leave one with family or friends at home. You can also e-mail yourself this information so that if you do lose your documents you can log into your e-mail and get the relevant information.

Use pockets or purses only for items you will need frequently. Otherwise, use a money belt or take advantage of hotel safety deposit boxes to store important documents and additional cash, so if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, you won't be left without identification or money. If you lose your passport, immediately call the nearest embassy or consulate and contact the local authorities.

Make sure you're up to date on all your immunizations. Contact your doctor or a travel medicine clinic well in advance of your trip to see if you need any specific medication or immunizations. View Health Canada's list of travel clinics across Canada.

Check to see if any travel advisories or warnings have been issued for your destination. This information can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at 1-800-267-8376 or visit their website.

Eat fruits and vegetables that have been freshly peeled or cooked and other foods that have been well cooked. Drink bottled beverages, or hot beverages such as coffee or tea, and avoid ice that isn't made with purified water. Don't underestimate the importance of good personal hygiene. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

Tell your neighbours you're going on vacation. It helps if they can pick up your mail, park a car in your driveway and even shovel snow. Just don't forget to return the favour when it's time for their vacation!

• Planning Tips for Family Adventure
• Travel Tips for Women Travelling Alone
• Green Travel Tips

Below is one of our favourite recipes from Club Med.

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