Air Canada

Air Canada has a message for its customers: Check in online and avoid checking bags. That's the word after the airline's call center agents, airport check-in workers and gate staff went on strike Tuesday after negotiations on a new contract at the Canadian airline fell apart. In an online statement, Air Canada says it plans to operate a full schedule even though thousands of workers represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union walked off the job. Air Canada says it has deployed 1,700 managers to help handle check-in and reservations in light of the strike.

If you go THE BEST WAY TO HALIFAX, CANADA From LAX, Air Canada, Delta, United and US Airways offer connecting service (change of planes) to Halifax. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $876, including taxes and fees. WHERE TO STAY The Halliburton, 5184 Morris St.; (902) 420-0658, http://www.thehalliburton.com . Three 19th century town houses converted into a sophisticated 29-room boutique hotel. Better for couples than kids. Rooms for two usually $165-$225, less in colder months.

More than 3,300 flight attendants at government-owned Air Canada were on strike today in a dispute over wages, but the carrier said there would be no interruption in service. Flight attendants began the strike at 11:59 p.m. Sunday after voting to reject Air Canada's offer of a 2% pay raise this year, 4% next year and a signing bonus of $600 to $800.

If you go THE BEST WAY TO PORT ALBERNI, CANADA From LAX, Air Canada, Delta, WestJet, United and Alaska offer nonstop service to Vancouver, and Delta, United and Alaska offer offer connecting service (change of plane). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $291, including taxes and fees. For information on the McLean Mill, Alberni Pacific Railway, Alberni Valley Museum and Maritime Discovery Centre, go to http://www.alberniheritage.com . For information on the Frances Barkley , call (250)

Air Canada said it was filing for bankruptcy protection from creditors, seeking time to reorganize its business and negotiate concessions from unions and help from the government. Air Canada is the only scheduled Canadian carrier with an extensive route network to the U.S. It employs more than 30,000 people. The carrier will continue flying during its reorganization.

The Canadian government, under pressure to rescue the country's troubled airline industry, said it will take "firm action" to maintain the viability of debt-laden flagship carrier Air Canada. Transport Minister David Collenette also opened the way for a major restructuring of Air Canada, the country's biggest airline and the 10th-largest carrier in the world. Air Canada is looking for an aid package of around $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion.

Beginning today, Air Canada is offering two nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Vancouver, British Columbia. The one-hour, 45-minute flights depart LAX at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; they leave Vancouver at 7:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Round-trip excursion fares, which require advance purchase and a Saturday-night stay, start at $218, a spokesman said. Regular round-trip fares are $596, he said. Information and reservations: (800) 776-3000.

Air Canada and a pilots union are continuing talks, with more scheduled for today, to avoid a strike that could ground the country's biggest airline. Air Canada said talks with the Air Canada Pilots Assn., which represents 2,200 pilots employed by the Montreal-based carrier, have made "considerable progress" during the last four days. The pilots haven't given the company a notice of a strike, the company said in a statement.

Bargaining has resumed between Air Canada and its flight attendants, but the airline's ground workers are preparing for a vote on striking by Aug. 10. Air Canada said it "could operate successfully" even if there is such a strike. Talks between the airline and the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, representing 8,500 ground workers, are at a standstill while mediator Roland Doucet prepares his report.

Onex Corp. withdrew its bid to take over Air Canada and restructure Canada's air industry, shortly after a provincial court ruled the proposal was illegal. The dramatic events left Air Canada victorious in staving off the hostile takeover attempt by Onex, which planned to merge it with rival Canadian Airlines to create a single national carrier.

The temperature in Minneapolis didn't fall to zero degrees this winter until Jan. 12. On Jan. 5., the daytime high in Rapid City, S.D. (a record-setting 71 degrees), was higher than in balmy Miami (69 degrees). And just a couple of days before New Year's, visitors to Park City, Utah, skied on man-made snow and dined al fresco — without their parkas. Throughout the continental United States, it's been a very warm winter. "The talk across the whole country has been, 'Where has winter been?

From Toronto — The NHL's video review room in Toronto was quiet Monday afternoon, with a dozen TV screens showing infomercials and computer screens displaying overhead views of empty nets. Three hours later the work stations would be occupied by half a dozen staff members responsible for reviewing plays in the six scheduled NHL games. Was the puck kicked into the net? Did the puck fully cross the line after a shot? Those judgments are made daily in this room, located next door to the Air Canada Centre and within earshot of the goal horn at the Maple Leafs' home rink.

From LAX, Air Tahiti Nui, Air France and Delta offer nonstop service to Paris, and American, British, Swiss, United, Continental, Air Canada, KLM, Lufthansa and US Airways offering connecting service (change of planes). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $801, excluding taxes and fees. By train, it is about four hours from Paris to Auray, which is about seven miles from Carnac. Information about visiting Carnac, Locmariaquer and other prehistoric sites in Brittany is available at the Maison des Mégalithes, 011-33-2-97-52-29-81, http://www.carnac.monuments-nationaux.fr . Guided tours about $8 a person.

THE BEST WAY TO NELSON From LAX, direct service (stop, no change of plane) to Spokane, Wash., is offered on Southwest, and connecting service (change of plane) is offered on Delta, Alaska, United, Southwest and Frontier. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $180. From LAX to Castlegar, Canada, connecting service is offered on Air Canada. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $716. Nelson is about a 30-mile drive from Castlegar and the Castlegar Municipal Airport, a 150-mile drive north of Spokane.

Air Canada has a message for its customers: Check in online and avoid checking bags. That's the word after the airline's call center agents, airport check-in workers and gate staff went on strike Tuesday after negotiations on a new contract at the Canadian airline fell apart. In an online statement, Air Canada says it plans to operate a full schedule even though thousands of workers represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union walked off the job. Air Canada says it has deployed 1,700 managers to help handle check-in and reservations in light of the strike.

On today's NHL docket of missives, misdeeds and missed calls, we start with a significant sponsor threatening to withdraw its support in protest of a hit that drew no suspension but is being investigated by Montreal police, and another hit that was not penalized Wednesday but drew a three-game suspension Thursday. For good measure we also have the Montreal Canadiens' owner vowing to stamp out "violent behavior," and the NHL Players' Assn. metaphorically affixing a Band-Aid to a broken neck by saying it will inspect padding around the glass in NHL rinks, when it should have urged its constituents to stop skating outside the boundaries of accepted behavior to knock one another into the hospital.

Seeking to attract low-paying customers after the plunge in lucrative business air travel, Air Canada has unveiled its long-awaited no-frills carrier, naming it Zip. Air Canada, the country's dominant airline and the world's 10th-biggest, said the wholly owned subsidiary will be based in Calgary, Alberta, for service starting this summer in western Canada.

Victor Li, a son of Asia's richest businessman, beat New York investment firm Cerberus Capital Management in a bid to invest in Air Canada to help the airline emerge from bankruptcy protection, the airline said. Li's private investment company Trinity Time Investments was chosen to invest $486 million for a 31% stake in Canada's largest airline, Air Canada said. Li would fund the purchase personally or from family holdings, it said.

The Kings' game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday will be an expensive occasion for right wing Wayne Simmonds , but he doesn't mind reaching deep into his pockets to subsidize his own rooting section. Simmonds will play in his hometown for the first time, and he's expecting about 15 people to attend the game and cheer for him. He said today his three brothers, his sister, his best friend's family, his parents and "a lot of buddies" are scheduled to watch him at the Air Canada Centre, where the average cost of a Maple Leafs ticket is $117.

Air Canada seems to be the place to find many of the airfare deals to Vancouver. The latest: a $118 round-trip fare from LAX. The price does not include taxes. Most important, there is no advance purchase. You can travel any day of the week, and the deal is good through March 10. For details, call (888) 247-2262, or go to www.aircanada.com. Source: