Air Canada provides travel tips for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games

VANCOUVER , Feb. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - As Official Airline of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, Air Canada offers the following tips to help customers enjoy a smooth travel experience during the upcoming peak travel period February 9 to March 22, 2010 , particularly for travel to Vancouver , host city of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Getting to Vancouver: The busiest travel dates are February 5-12, 2010, with Air Canada carrying more than 82,000 passengers system wide each day, including up to 12,000 to Vancouver , per day.

Leaving Vancouver: Busiest travel dates are February 28-March 5. The peak departure day is March 1st , YVR's busiest day in history with close to 39,000 people departing Vancouver , almost 12,000 on Air Canada .

BE PREPARED!

    
    - Check flight status on-line
      ---------------------------

      Air Canada customers should check the status of departing and arriving
      flights before leaving for the airport by consulting the Air Canada
      website www.aircanada.com, using an internet-enabled mobile device at
      http://mobile.aircanada.com, or by calling the toll free Air Canada
      flight status line at 1-888-422-7533; TTY (Hearing Impaired):
      1-800-361-8071.

      Customers can also keep abreast of how weather or other circumstances
      may affect their flight by checking the Daily Operational Outlook in
      the Travel Updates section on the home page at www.aircanada.com.

    - Sign up for Flight Notification
      -------------------------------

      Air Canada customers can receive flight delay and cancellation
      information directly on their mobile devices or via e-mail. To register
      or for more information, simply visit:
     
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/traveller/mobile/notification_app.html

    - Download Air Canada's free BlackBerry App or iPhone App to manage your
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Air Canada travel experience from a single location.
      ----------------------------------------------------

      Air Canada iPhone App: Air Canada's free application specifically
      designed for Apple iPhone users makes travel easier than ever. Enhanced
      services like My Flights and My Messages will allow customers to manage
      their Air Canada travel experience from a single location. Check in for
      your flight, verify you Flight Status, sign up for real-time Flight
      Notification updates, or take advantage of one of the other available
      options - it's all covered with the Air Canada iPhone App. To download
      the app, simply log on to the App Store from your iPhone, or from
      iTunes on your Mac/PC.

      Air Canada BlackBerry App: Air Canada's BlackBerry app provides
      travellers with BlackBerry devices convenient and easy real-time access
      to a wide-range of flight information. This includes, among other
      things, retrieving electronic boarding passes, tracking flight
      information in real-time, receiving notification of itinerary changes
      and obtaining other details about Air Canada flights. Available free
      on-line from BlackBerry App World(TM) (www.blackberry.com/appworld) or
      on Air Canada's mobile site (http://mobile.aircanada.com), it enable
      users to: keep track of and update all of their Air Canada and Jazz
      flights from a single location; receive messages and link to their
      electronic boarding passes; access Air Canada Mobile check-in to select
      a seat and retrieve an electronic boarding pass; book flights using an
      Air Canada Flight Pass; rent a car or access other convenient travel
      links; and find and track any Air Canada or Jazz flight; subscribe to
      flight notification informing them of flight delays and more.

    - Baggage Information
      -------------------

      Air Canada recommends that customers pack valuables including
      medications, car keys, documentation required for travel, money, etc.
      in carry-on bags rather than in checked luggage.

      Ensure that external baggage name tags are secure. Air Canada also
      recommends that passengers place identification inside their bags. A
      baggage ID template is available at:
      www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/baggageid.html

    - Checked Baggage Policy
      ----------------------

      On all Air Canada flights to and from the U.S. and Europe, one free
      checked bag is permitted for travel to these destinations. With certain
      exceptions, a second bag fee applies as follows:

      - For flights to/from the U.S. (including Hawaii, excluding Puerto
        Rico): CAD/USD $30
      - For flights to/from Europe CAD/USD $50.

      For more details and exceptions for this policy please see
      www.aircanada.com

      On all other Air Canada fights, two free checked bags are permitted.

    - Carry-on Limits for Flights from Canada to the U.S.
      ---------------------------------------------------

      New security measures imposed by Canadian and U.S. government
      authorities on flights from Canada to the U.S. remain in effect until
      further notice. As a result of these rules there are strict limits in
      effect for carry-on articles allowed in the cabin and longer security
      screening times at airports.

      Transport Canada carry-on regulations for flights from Canada to the
      United States permits one carry-on bag on flights to the United States,
      in addition to limited personal items allowed in the cabin. Air Canada
      recommends that customers flying to the U.S. bring only limited baggage
      and respect the strict carry-on limits imposed by Canadian and U.S.
      authorities. For details on permitted carry-on items please consult the
      Canadian Air Transport Security website at: www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca.

    SAVE TIME!

    - Use Web check-in at www.aircanada.com or Mobile check-in on a mobile
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
      device 24 hours prior to departure
      ----------------------------------

      Web check-in: Air Canada customers can save time by checking in for
      their flight before leaving for the airport. Air Canada's web check-in
      service at www.aircanada.com is available 24 hours prior to departure
      time and offers customers many options including changing their seat
      assignment and selecting the number of checked-baggage, and pre-paying
      for excess baggage to obtain a discount.

      Mobile check-in using a mobile device:  Customers can check in with
      their mobile device and receive their boarding card electronically up
      to 24 hours before departure.

      Mobile check-in can be accessed through a mobile device browser at
      http://mobile.aircanada.com and clicking on the check-in option, or via
      Air Canada's free iPhone or BlackBerry applications. Once check-in is
      completed, passengers will receive an electronic boarding pass or
      check-in confirmation on their mobile device. To learn more go to:
      http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/traveller/mobile/mci.html

    - Obtain Electronic boarding passes (unless travelling to the U.S.)
      -----------------------------------------------------------------

      If eligible, customers can choose to receive an electronic version of
      the boarding pass on their mobile devices. This option is available for
      both mobile and web check-in. Electronic boarding passes may be sent
      via email or SMS. The Air Canada electronic boarding pass is a 2D
      barcode image that is sent to mobile devices and contains flight
      details. It can be used for domestic flights as well as international
      flights departing from Canada, but is not currently available for
      flights to and from the US. To learn more:
      http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/traveller/mobile/ebp.html

    - Recommended times to be at the airport for flight departures (excluding
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      March 1)
      --------

      Domestic flights - Check-in 60 minutes prior to flight, be at the gate
      20 minutes prior to flight.

      Transborder flights - Check-in 90 minutes prior to flight, be at the
      gate 20 minutes prior to flight.

      International flights - Check-in 120 minutes prior to flight, be at the
      gate 45 minutes prior to flight.

    - Use kiosks for self-tagging baggage
      -----------------------------------

      Customers departing Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Paris-Charles de
      Gaulle and London-Heathrow can save even more time at the airport by
      using Air Canada's quick and convenient self-tagging option available
      at Air Canada kiosks. The self-tagging option allows passengers to
      print and attach their own baggage tags and then simply deposit their
      bags at the designated counter.

    Flights departing Vancouver on March 1
    --------------------------------------
    

March 1 is expected to be the busiest day at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with up to 39,000 travellers departing. Make your departure as smooth as possible with the following 5-4-3-2-1 check-list recommended by the Vancouver Airport Authority http://www.yvr.ca/en/march1.aspx :

Up to 24 hours before departure, check in for your flight at online at www.aircanada.com or via mobile check-in using a smart phone at http://mobile.aircanada.com. Pay for any extra baggage now and obtain a discount.

    
    5 hours before departure, check your flight status at www.aircanada.com
    4 hours before departure, arrive at YVR.
    3 hours before departure, check-in your bags and be at Security.
    2 hours before departure, pick up souvenirs at Olympic Stores.
    1 hour before departure, be at your gate and relax.
    

Montréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 33 million customers annually. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance , providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network for Canadian domestic, transborder and international travel. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program.

For further information: Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), [phone]; Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), [phone]; Angela Mah (Vancouver), [phone]; www.aircanada.com