Job Discussion Forums

[J.]

Just a heads up for those going to buy tickets from "discounters" like No O*e and A'C*oss. I was able to book directly with Air Canada for about 20, 000 yen cheaper than they would offer me. (Osaka to Vancouver). Also they said that I had "just missed" the deadline in one case, which was 28 days previous to flying, though when I got off the phone I realized I hadn't. And the other one wanted to add 20,000 in extra fees on top of a ticket that was already 20, 000-30, 000 higher because I was staying a few days longer than 10. Funnily enough, when I looked at the Air Canada website there were no such restrictions. So I just want to warn you that these agencies can be very inflexible, have sometimes strange rules which they have made up themselves and which are not always airline rules, and are trying for a money grab on almost every booking. Be warned.

The only caveat is that Air Canada won't mail your ticket outside of North America, so you may have to have it forwarded by someone or find a Travel Agency where you can pick it up. For tickets for flights within Canada, strangely enough, they will email an e-ticket. They need to fix this, I think and make e-tickets available for all flights.

[Brooks]

good to know.
I take that flight.

Today or recently Air Canada had a problem and the plane had to return to Osaka since there was a problem with the air conditioning.
The plane had been bound for Vancouver.
That is worrisome since there was that flight in Greece where they had a similar problem, which caused people to stop breathing.

[J.]

Jeesh, that makes me _really_ look forward to my vacation. Hope they get that fixed; I prefer to return alive, if it doesn't cost extra. Maybe there's a discount if you don't select "air"?!? :/

I'll look for the story in the news. Thanks.

[Sweetsee]

I'll be in Vancouver for 2 nights at the end of the month. Can anyone recommend things to see or do?


Cheers,
s

[Gordon]

[Sweetsee]

Thanks Gordon.

I'll check the hockey schedule, won't be there that night.

[Revenant]

For flights etc always shop around. Some agencies get better dealds sometimes they don't. It's not limited to Japan though.

When flying once from the US to Japan one way, most agencies wouldn't sell me a one way ticket. And i I pushed wanting to know the price they would state an extremely high price to justify the round trip cost.

However I checked with a Japanese Tour operator/Travel agency and got a very cheap oneway ticket.

The travel industry has no set rules they follow. Thus you have to research or just take what you get otherwise.

[David W]

[J.]

My favourite things in Vancouver are The Museum of Anthropology's amazing collection of totems and First Nations sculpture and art and the The Vancouver Art Gallery's collection of Emily Carr paintings, which I think are masterpieces.

Also on Granville Island they have a very funny comedy show presented by the Vancouver Theatresports League at The New Revue Stage. Ticketmaster.ca (604-280-4444) Saw it twice; very enjoyable. Or you could spend some time browsing in one of the mega-size Shopper's Drug marts for all the hair and skin stuff you can't get here, at half the price. They even have Post Offices so you can mail post cards.

Downtown near the ferry they have an amazing health food Supermarket called Organic Choices, I think. This has wonderful stuff and the apples are soooo goood.

Have fun. :)

[Sweetsee]

Thanks J, will do.
My favorite thing I saw there last year, and had I not stopped to speak to a homeless person I never would have discovered it, was the giant pendulum in an art gallery downtown. It's next to the oldest church.

Enjoy,
s