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This, the fifth in a series, appeared in the "Horizons" magazine issue dated April 1996. Life as a Con by Annette Malvar Zurich and gambling, I know, you probably can't see the connection, but let me explain. It's said that the "true" gambler knows he's going to eventually lose his money. Why play then? Because it's the actual act of playing that's enticing. Such is my relationship with Zurich. I know I'm never going to get out of that city on my first attempt, but it's the actual act of trying (preferably on an AC flight), which entices me. And, like a 'true gambler', I'm often forced to leave my hard-earned money behind in the process. I've been left in Zurich for number of reasons, none of which had anything to do with a full flight. Twice I've arrived at the airport only to find out the flight had been cancelled. Once I arrived late at the airport because of a snowstorm. And six times, I've been stranded for weight and balance reasons. With that illustrious track record, I've also managed to develop a few survival skills which I will share with you. Zurich is expensive. So of course, there's a distinct lack of 'no-tell' motels in and around the airport. I've spent evenings phoning around for hotels that offered an airline discount only to get a 10 percent off the regular 'penthouse' rate. Yeah right! Once I stayed in the Movenpick hotel. Considering the cost of their meals, I was surprised to get a rate that was within my VISA limit, Who knew we were getting a deal because of renovations and would have to listen to a jackhammer all night (or was that my travel partner snoring?). Finding affordable restaurants is also a challenge in Zurich. It seems we're always hungriest when my travel buddies and I don't have a cent left. We once had to return duty-free items when we didn't get a flight just to have a little cash for McDonald's. Another time, our famous 'SWISS' chocolate ended up being our meal. In conclusion, bring lots of money if you're to going to Zurich and if I'm on a street corner begging, please be generous. |
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David Harwood has sent us some photos of posters which his father had collected. The New York poster has TCA and AC along the bottom, but the colour had either faded, or it was just a different finish. |
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Eric Watt visited the Pima Air and Space Museum and sends this information gleaned from the guidebook available at the museum -
This is the 40th Viscount built, the first in North America registered CF-TGI by Trans-Canada Air Lines. At 9 a.m. on April 18, 1955 it became the first turbine powered aircraft to fly a commercial revenue service in both Canada and the US, departing Toronto for New York with 40 passengers. It flew with Trans-Canada Air Lines until 1963 when it was transferred to TransAir in Canada. In 1973 it was sold to a private individual and was sold in 1980 to the Northwest Travel Club and given the present registration of N22SN. That didn’t last long and it was sold to Tucson based Viscount Air Services, providing charter and corporate transportation to many groups including rock and roll bands. In 1991 it was donated to Pima Air and Space Museum where it remains to this very day. |
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Air Canada Salutes the Contributions and Achievements of its Women Employees on International Women’s Day 2021. 2021 Winners of the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship As part of Air Canada's efforts to promote non-traditional aviation careers to the next generation of women, it established the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship in honour of the airline's trailblazing first female pilot. The scholarship recognizes high-potential women studying in aviation and aerospace, and is open to young women pursuing non-traditional aviation careers such as commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers who may not have the financial means to do so. This year's winners are: Kahina Gagnon, Urooj Ali, Winnie Ho and Caitlyn Lam. Click the image below to view comments from the recipients (bilingual). |
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After reading NetLetter #1458, Grace von Moltyn shares her thoughts - I truly enjoy reading all the information that comes in from each NetLetter. On this one, it was interesting to read about Norm Foster & all his fascinating details of his time with Air Canada. Each of us has a story to tell. Thanks for keeping all us retirees up to date of what has happened and is happening still. Grace von Moltyn |
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Graeme Shelford shares this memory with us - The cartoon with the caption “I found it” in Netletter #1459 reminded me of my experience flying Air Canada to Barbados in 1967. My parents were living in Grenada and I flew down on a Montreal-Barbados excursion fare to visit them. While there, I got a telegram from my boss asking me to check up on a project in Florida on my return. Back in Barbados, I approached the Air Canada office to get my ticket changed to include a stopover in Miami. After a long time consulting numerous books the size of a telephone directory and making a few phone calls, the passenger agent finally told me it would be cheaper to fly back to Montreal and book a flight to Miami from there. Dejected, I turned to leave and just as I was about to step out, she called out, “Wait a moment, I’ve had another idea.” Returning to the counter, I stood by while she dived back into the various books. After leafing back and forth between fare schedules, she triumphantly announced, “I’ve found it! If you upgrade your excursion to first class for the return, Miami is then on your allowable route.” The cost of the upgrade was only a fraction of the cost of a Montreal-Miami ticket. Delighted, I checked in for the Barbados-Miami flight on Eastern, only to find that first class was full, and I was bumped down to economy! But the final insult was back in the office in Montreal, when the office manager told me, despite my explanation of why I was claiming the upgrade, he was disallowing it as it was against company policy to fly first class. Fortunately, my boss stepped in and overrode him. Graeme Shelford |
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We received several responses to Bob Austin's request for information in NetLetter #1459. Seems that the pin/pendant brings back some pleasant memories - |
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From Paul Dhillon - This was the 'six month pin' given to employees coming off 6 months probation and becoming permanent AC employees. The majority were made in the style of jacket lapel pins (without the ring hoop). However, the style shown was an option for the female staff as it could be used as a necklace pendant. Here is a picture of ladies necklace pendant and men’s pin with tie tack or jacket lapel attachment options. Cheers, Paul Dhillon |
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From Gord Simons - Please let Bob Austin know that the pendant was given to new female employees at induction time. A similar one was given to the male employees. The pendant is from the 1970’s. Gord Simons |
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From Percy Cooley - Bob Austin from Ottawa was looking for information on an Air Canada pendant that he sent a photograph of. I have a lapel pin that is identical to the centre of his pendant that was given to me by my Supervisor on November 28, 1973 to commemorate the successful completion of my six month probationary period and to welcome me as a permanent member of the AC employee family. Not a pendant but the same design. Hope this helps…..I continue to enjoy reading The NetLetter…keep up the good work. Percy Cooley, Retired, Air Canada |
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From Linda Reverchon - I have the identical item which got put on a charm bracelet. I received it, if memory serves, to mark my first five years with Air Canada. I was in the Reservations office in Vancouver on West Hastings Street. I had been hired as a temporary reservations agent in October of 1972 in Miami, where I and my new husband were living, however my first few weeks were spent as the weekend Telex operator. In the winter of 1973 I applied for Toronto Reservations on Bloor Street and arrived there in the midst of the CP Air strike in June of that year. My supervisor Ed Farrow and I started on the same day. What a panic! I applied for Vancouver Reservations in the summer of 1974 and got there in May, 1975. That was 'home' until another strike, a short one of passenger agents in the spring of 1985. By the time this was over, my transfer to YVR had come through, so in June, 1985, I started at gates and check-in. This lasted for a few months until a position on the ticket counter became available at schedule change that fall. That is where I remained until my final days at YVR in late October 1997. My official retirement date was February 1, 1998. Can’t believe it’s already been 23 years! Best wishes to all, |
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