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Travel Questions
March 6, 2010 - When in Rome, scoot as the Romans do
February 27, 2010 - Vegas great place to check travel accessories
February 20, 2010 - Mexico's beach restoration nears completion
March 6, 2010 - When in Rome, scoot as the Romans do
The nature of questions I receive from week to week seems to be a reliable predictor of where readers will be travelling to over the coming months.
Right now, Europe questions are the most frequent, but South American and Asian inquiries are also consistent.
With sun destination questions starting to wane, today's column will begin answering some of those overseas inquiries.
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Do you think it is safe to rent a scooter in Rome?
I think it all depends upon your experience level. I rented a car in Rome and, while I found it easy to drive throughout Italy, I found driving in Rome stressful. A GPS would have made it much easier.
Scooter transportation is common in Rome and automobile drivers and those on scooters seem to coexist amazingly well. If you already own or drive a motorcycle, you will likely do fine.
There is a significant amount of in and out movement on the streets. It is also not uncommon for cyclists to travel between lanes, a practice not likely condoned, even on the streets of Rome.
I certainly wouldn't recommend it if you just think it might be a quaint way to get around.
You may also want to check your insurance. Many policies will not cover your health or other costs if you partake in what the insurance company deems "dangerous activities".
Every policy is not necessarily the same as others, so check the fine print carefully.
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We plan to travel to Cannes this year. I always followed the love story of Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco. Is it worth taking the extra time to spend a day or two there?
For the uninitiated, Grace Kelly was an Academy Award-winning actor who fell in love and married Prince Rainier of Monaco. This 1950s actor gave up acting completely and her story was what romance novels are made of.
I have been to Monaco twice. This principality is on the border of France and still draws the rich and the famous. While the communities nearby bring up the numbers to more than 100,000, the population of Monaco itself is under 30,000.
Its gambling casinos are still popular and its harbour is always loaded with the most expensive yachts you are likely to find anywhere.
While it is also one of the safest areas in the world, if you do decide to go it should be noted that thieves do occasionally target out-of-Monaco vehicles to break into looking for valuables.
Accommodations in Monaco are very expensive, although they are in Cannes as well. However, Monaco has fewer options.
Because of your yearning to experience the Grace Kelly history I think it is definitely worth visiting. There are a number of day tours you can take that travel through some of the quaint communities in the region as well.
Whether you drive or take a tour, you are sure to be impressed by the many panoramic views along the coastline.
Until recently, Monaco was head office for many international associations because of a policy of taxes and low rents that were attractive. This was done to keep the flow of high level tourists to the principality.
It was for such an association meeting that took me to Monaco for my first visit. It coincidentally was timed around Valentine's Day.
That evening we were dining in one of the better hotel restaurants in the city.
As I looked at the many well-heeled, grey-haired gentlemen around the room, I could not help but make the facetious observation that "It was really nice that all these men had decided to take their granddaughters out for Valentines dinner." And drinks back at the yacht, I presume.
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Has the railroad going up to Machu Picchu in Peru been repaired following the recent mudslides?
Machu Picchu is not yet opened to tourists. The government has stated that the railroad will be reopened in April.
Whether it will is still uncertain as the torrential rains did significant damage. However, no amount of money will be spared to make that deadline.
Machu Picchu is the single biggest attraction in Peru and by the time the sight is reopened the country will have lost close to $200 million in tourism.
Few people who visit Machu Picchu come back unaffected. It is a world heritage site that brings 300,000 visitors to the country annually.
Access to Machu Picchu is from Cusco by train. Anyone planning to go must realize that the city of Cusco sits at an altitude of 3395 metres (11,203 ft.,). No matter how fit you are it is important to become acclimatized to living at that altitude.
Most people will feel the strain of activity during the first few hours, or days.
Lima itself is also a city well worth visiting. While not known as a major beach resort destination, Peru offers hundreds of kilometres of coastline, with many of the beaches within easy driving distance from Lima.
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February 27, 2010 - Vegas great place to check travel accessories
Readers frequently comment about my travels and ask me a lot of questions about the destinations, the properties I stay in, as well as about what there is to do while on vacation in these areas.
Once again I am on the road, this time back to Las Vegas.
Even though I am not much of a gambler, this trip has become almost an annual pilgrimage of sorts.
While I make a point of taking in a couple of shows and a golf game if I can, my primary purpose is to find out what the latest trends are in travel accessories and luggage.
Las Vegas has become the home for major trade shows from throughout North America and beyond. With accessible air from most centres available at a reasonable price, and conference facilities at most of the major properties, it continues to see growth in that side of the market, even as the economy has substantially impacted the casual traveller within the United States.
Canada's own WestJet Airlines has really targeted the Las Vegas visitor and offers a number of non-stop options from Winnipeg. This really makes it a convenient jaunt, without being forced into lengthy connections, or worse, overnight layovers.
For me, it is a chance to discover the latest industry inventions and innovations at the Travel Goods Association market, one of the largest of its kind anywhere.
And at home or away, your questions keep rolling in.
Ron's wife Rae and friend Sue Ward with Doug Ward on a cruise excursion.
We have booked a 12-day, 10-port Mediterranean cruise this fall. I have some mobility difficulties and am unable to walk long distances. As a result I am thinking of renting a scooter for shore excursions. I would be grateful for your opinion as to the pros and cons of a scooter for this type of cruise.
On balance I think renting the scooter is a really good idea. You may even use it onboard the ship. Going back and forth on a cruise ship, during a sea day especially, can put on a lot of miles.
While there are always shore excursions that require minimal walking, even for these the extra speed and distance possibilities make it worth it.
However, you need to recognize that at some of the stops the terrain may be such that the scooter may not be able to traverse.
For taking tours in any of the cities the scooter will be invaluable. Most, but not all, cities in Europe have handicap friendly crossings and shop entries.
On a Caribbean cruise a couple of years ago I had to push a friend from Winnipeg around on a wheelchair because of a minor health problem that occurred. The cruise line staff was always helpful, and we continued to go on the excursions offered.
Even in cities that weren't that completely accustomed to serving their handicap population and international visitors, we still did well enough as he got on and off the wheelchair at a number of the street crossings.
In certain instances you may have to do the same but that won't be that difficult considering you actually do have considerable mobility.
The downside of course is the cost. Cruise ships have wheelchairs and the staffs are attuned to the needs of all of their clients with mobility challenges, so you might be fine without the investment.
It totally depends on what you may consider doing.
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February 20, 2010 - Mexico's beach restoration nears completion
These closures were all as a result of a Mexican government program aimed at restoring beaches that were eroded by hurricane activity over the past year.
While I was in Playacar, we were aware of work being done on the beaches of the downtown resorts such as the Gran Porto Real.
During our stay, work on beach front commenced at the resort next door to the Royal Hideaway Resort, where we stayed. We could easily surmise that guests arriving as we were leaving might not have use of our beach as we watched work commencing on it the morning of our departure.
I don't fully understand the technology. I do know that it is expensive. But clearly it works. If you visit my website you can check out the beach photos I took, and the ones supplied to me a week ago showing the completion of the work.
Beach Before |
Beach After |
As of this writing there are still properties that are being re-sanded, so to speak. The reason that no one can say exactly which resorts may be affected in a given week is because the work is not standard. One property may take two or three days while others may take longer.
The good thing is that much of the work is complete, so disruptions are fewer and fewer with each passing week.
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I heard there was a website that reviewed hotels and came up with a list of the worst hotels to stay in. Is that true and which are the worst?
The world's dirtiest hotels, broken down by countries and regions, has caused somewhat of a furor in the hotel industry.
The reviews were published by the online travel site Tripadvisor. They do not actually do any reviews. Rather, they rely on the input of guests who have stayed in properties and have then chosen to let fellow travellers know their views in a rating system set up by the website. Comments are posted as well, and the average of all ratings is what the reader sees.
There is some concern in the industry that the reputation of a hotel property or brand could be sullied not by legitimate reviewers but by competitors with ill intent on their minds.
The complaints are not as vociferous for those who seem to consistently receive ratings of five out of five or four out of five.
The most common complaints are about cleanliness and bedbugs. The second most common seems to be around the unsavoury characters that inhabit or hang around the place. Drug addicts and hookers seem common in the badly reviewed properties.
What is most surprising is that many of these hotels worldwide were once leading properties. In Canada, three of the top 10 hotels rated as the dirtiest are part of a long-standing franchise that was once seen as an excellent place for budget-conscious -- and even not so budget-conscious -- travellers to stay.
The expression 'let the buyer beware' still holds.
There are a number of other sites that do hotel and resort reviews. Check them out.
If the price seems like too good a deal, it may very well be.
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I have heard that the Antarctic cruises are extremely popular, with good reviews on them. It seems like it would be a very cold- weather excursion, so I don't understand the enthusiasm. What is your view?
I have yet to make that journey but I am anxious to do so. Debbie Peters, who often hosts the Journeys radio show when I am away, has enjoyed this type of travel.
She came back from her trip totally enthralled with the experience.
Her trip was booked with Gap Adventures, one of the companies that specializes in Antarctic travel excursions.
"We flew into Buenos Aires first," she said "and I thought it was just like Paris."
At the most southern tip of Argentina, the last point before entering the continent of Antarctica, is a city named Ushuaia. From Paris the day before, she now felt like she was in Newfoundland, with its topography and the personality of its people.
It is here they boarded their 110-passenger ship for the nine-day excursion.
"There were people from all over the world," Peters observed, "some of them now experiencing their seventh continent."
While sailing through the Drake Passage was a little rough, Peters said the experience was well worth it. Particularly impressive were the Shetland Islands, Georgia Bay, and the trips ashore aboard a Zodiac boat.
With sea lions, whales and penguins almost within touching distance, Peters says "It is an experience I will never forget."
This is an exceptional excursion and during her trip last March Peters said the temperatures were actually colder in Manitoba at the time. But she acknowledged that packing for the trip was an interesting exercise since she needed to dress for the warm days of Buenos Aires and the sub-zero climate of Antarctica.
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February 13, 2010
Is it correct that Canadians will now require a passport to enter Mexico?
It is now official. As of March 1, Canadians will require a passport in order to be allowed entry into Mexico. Permanent residents of Canada will need a permanent resident card, certificate of identity or refugee travel document.
There has been some confusion around the issue, with some believing we will also need a visa to enter Mexico. This is not the case.
While I am surprised the implementation of this decision was not delayed until summer, it appears the problem may not be as big as surmised.
Mexican tourism officials say only about 10,000 Canadians over the past year entered without already having a passport in their possession. This is less than one per cent of the 1.2-million Canadians that visited Mexico last year.
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My husband and I are still looking to go south this winter. Are there any other spring break times or national holidays that we might want to avoid?
The challenge at this time of year is that spring-break weeks and/or reading weeks in the United States and Canada are not the same.
U.S. colleges have spring break from now to almost the end of March.
In Canada, they also may fall on different weeks but the total numbers our colleges and universities represent, while large, are not where the greatest impact is felt.
As a result it is not the time frame you need to avoid, although it is worth considering the fact that prices tend to be higher from Winnipeg around Manitoba spring breaks. More appropriately, what you need to avoid are the destinations that attract the greatest number of young people because of their reputation as party areas.
Montego Bay, Jamaica, is one of these cities, as are a number of destinations in Mexico, such as Cancun and Mazatlan. Some suggest Puerto Vallarta is the fastest-growing destination for spring-break parties.
Go to some of the quieter areas, like Nuevo Vallarta, about an hour away from Puerto Vallarta. The all-inclusive resorts along the Mayan Riviera are somewhat isolated from the major population centres and Playacar, where I recently spent a week, is likely to be comparatively serene.
Punta Cana resorts stretch out over a fairly long distance with no particular gathering centre for major parties to congregate. And the Cuban destinations that are available to us are not likely to be crowded with college students.
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I have a question about taxes charged on all-inclusive vacations. I was recently browsing a travel website for travel to Cancun, Mexico. While the prices varied widely, all the ones I looked at charged $280 for taxes. I then checked what air-only would be using the same carrier. The prices were dramatically lower but the taxes were still $280. I am confused. If I go to the store to buy a sweater, the amount of tax I pay depends on the amount the sweater costs. Can you shed some light on how the taxes can be the same for two vacations -- one at twice the cost of the other?
I think you will find that you are being quoted taxes and service charges.
The service-charge situation has become a ridiculous issue.
As I have described in this column in the past, tour operators often use it to make the advertised selling price of the product lower, and then they arbitrarily apply a service charge. Sometimes they will market products on sale by saying they are waiving service charges.
Each tour operator, in my opinion, plays their own game with this.
No one likes it. Consumers don't like it because they not only can't really figure out the logic, as per your question, but no one likes to be hit with what is called 'sticker shock', an expectation for one price and a shock when you realize the actual cost.
Travel agents don't like it for two reasons. Firstly, it is a way of not paying travel agents commissions for the work they do, as there is no commission on service charges. Secondly, it is the middle person, the travel agent, who most often bears the wrath of the consumer, even though they have no control whatsoever over pricing.
Travel industry associations have been trying to establish full-price transparency in all advertising, but so far with little success.
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February 6, 2010
Travel insurance can be very expensive. A pre-existing condition may not be covered, and once you reach 60, travel insurance can become more difficult and excessively expensive to get. Is travel insurance absolutely necessary when travelling to countries like Mexico or Cuba, or within Canada for that matter, where the cost of medical service may be comparable to our Manitoba medical coverage?
You are never obliged to go to any country with travel insurance, but to travel without it, to me, is sheer folly. We have seen the consequences. We are aware of Manitobans whose insurance provider has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single client file.
Manitoba Health recommends coverage for a good reason. No matter where you go in the world your costs will escalate beyond imagination. Most insurance companies also have medical professionals to help assess the patient's condition, even from afar.
Here again, we are aware of circumstances where a client was told he was going to require an extensive and dangerous operation abroad. After the insurance company listened to the assessment, they decided to fly the person home instead, only to find that no such operation was required. The assessment had been exaggerated beyond reality.
Even for travel to other Canadian provinces where we have a common health system, individual provinces assess costs and fees on procedures quite differently. British Columbia coverage can be quite different from ours on certain procedures, and even in the bed costs per night.
While I am aware of the burden travel insurance can place on senior travellers, to not have it is a frightening proposition.
In terms of pre-existing conditions, so long as that condition has been stable for the proscribed period, we find coverage readily available.
But as I have said in previous columns, never lie or even stretch the truth on an insurance medical questionnaire. Those who do will almost always be caught and denied coverage after the fact.
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I am a 56-year-old recently widowed woman and I'm finding it very difficult to find someone to travel with because most of my friends are married. I would like to go on two-week holidays to sun spots and extended holidays to Spain, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand in the future. Would you know of a group or company that caters to single women or who match up single travellers?
Yours is a common challenge. It seems not to be easy to find travel partners in the situation you have found yourself.
While it is not as easy to find organizations who work closely with singles like you wanting to travel to the usual sun destinations, there are some excellent opportunities for going elsewhere.
Trafalgar Tours, a worldwide motorcoach operator especially dominant in Europe, has an exceptional program. The way it works is that you agree to be roomed with someone who, like you, wants to travel but does not have a travel companion at this stage.
They will almost always have someone from another area in similar circumstances for you to room with. If they don't have anyone, you get a single room, without having to pay the single supplement.
While you may be worried about travelling alone on the motorcoach trip, you will find that a very quick bond is formed on the journey between all the clients, married and single. With fewer than 50 people dining, driving and sharing travel experiences together over the duration of the journey, new friendships are made easily.
Many of the passengers will be singles, like you, even if they are travelling with a friend.
As another alternative, you might look into joining and organization like Creative Retirement Manitoba. They do a lot of great work and offer at least a couple of trips a year with people travelling from here, many travelling alone as well.
Their website is www.crm.mb.ca.
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Given that corporations have tightened their travel budgets over the last couple of recession years, can airlines automatically look to these travellers coming back as the economy recovers?
A recent study undertaken by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives suggests that new technologies, now that they have been successfully tried, may affect travel budgets permanently.
Web conferencing, Skype, and other electronic alternatives will continue to grow. More than half of the companyies surveyed were definitive in their responses that they would continue using these means of communication to meet the restricted travel budgets built into new business plans.
At the same time, executives will often admit that even though everyone gets used to employing technology and is able to make it work effectively, there is a desire to return to the personal, direct, interactive touch.
As the economy strengthens I believe budgets will loosen and there will be a significant increase in corporate travel. However, the days of the high-flying mid-level executive, which airlines viewed as the goose that laid the golden egg, is likely gone for good.
Many companies have started looking for better fares on low-cost airlines, and are staying away from the front of the aircraft where the fancy meals and free beverages flow freely.
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January 30, 2010
I am planning on going to Ottawa for a weekend at the end of April. What do you suggest in terms of flights? Should I book now, or wait until it is closer to the date?
Over the past couple of weeks, there were some tremendous prices for cross-Canada travel, right into early summer.
I don't know what's left, but some of the fares being advertised were really exceptional.
If the sale was extremely successful from the airline's perspective, prices may not come down that much again. But there will be more sales that come along over the next month or so as well. Whether they are as low as recent offers is known only to the competing air carriers.
Watch the papers and jump on a good sale quickly, because there are not always a lot of seats at the advertised price.
In regards to your comments about the new full-body scanning equipment, I must say my concerns go beyond worrying about what I look like under my clothing. However, the users of this security equipment do not know the values of radiation that are emitted from the new equipment. Earlier this week, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones in the Free Press mentioned each person could be exposed to quite a high level of radiation by going through these machines. I think you omitted this aspect in your column this week.
You have made an excellent point and I did not talk about the radiation levels in the column the doctor contributed. For me personally, while I respect Dr. Gifford-Jones' position and others who make similar arguments, particularly as it relates to frequent travellers, it does not change my views on the subject.
I believe we will continue to be challenged with security breaches, which may prove more tragic than the last one. As a result, I still prefer maximum means to protect travellers be taken. Your concerns are extremely valid, and many will prefer the pat-down method, but so will the bad guys. That frightens me!
Many of these are personal decisions and while I don't have huge confidence in bureaucracies, I somehow don't think a United States or Canadian government is going to subject its citizenry to death by cancer to prevent death by terrorism.
I accept that study should be ongoing to research the facts. In the meantime, I will acknowledge everyone's right to reject the scanner in favour of a pat-down... at least until the next terrorist tragedy.
January 30, 2010
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Why do airport personnel insist people put their liquids into little baggies? It seems like a waste of time and materials to me, as once you got through the security lineup, you can simply toss away that baggie. In fact, two people could combine their liquids on the plane or elsewhere in the terminal. I have never understood the logic behind this step. Can you help answer the reasoning behind this seemingly strange policy?
ANSWER: Regarding the liquids in the little baggies, the only thing I see that is valid is it makes the search easier and the quantity is controlled. Once you have passed security and been checked, no one cares if you throw away the litre-sized clear plastic bags, which are restricted by the security policy.
I don't know how much liquid it takes to create an effective bomb, but we know that even with all the security measures in the world, including body scanners, terrorists will always be trying to find means to overcome these security mechanisms.
All of these measures together serve to reduce the risk of terrorist actions.
Only a couple of months ago, there was talk the liquid-control policy was going to be loosened. I suspect the events over Christmas have terminated those discussions for a long time.
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January 23, 2010
I have requested smoke-free rental cars in the past and, while the companies try to be accommodating, there are a limited number of these vehicles available. As a result, I have frequently found the car to still be holding a pretty strong odour from a past customer. Why don't they offer more smoke-free options?
I find the problem to be much more acute in Asia and Europe, where the percentage of smokers is still higher than in North America.
I don't know how long it's been since you rented in the United States or Canada, but back in September, both Avis and Budget introduced a complete no-smoking policy for all their vehicles.
One of the executives said "Tobacco smoke leaves a residue on fabrics, fibres and surfaces of vehicles, which emits odours that many people find unpleasant."
For non-smokers, that is an understatement. Nevertheless, you should be able to go with either of these two companies and find you are climbing into a much more freshly scented experience.
I don't know how the companies can police those who don't adhere to the policy but at least the message is clear and unequivocal.
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How do I know if a computer is dual-voltage or not? If it is, is that all I need to go overseas?
Most computers are dual-voltage, as are most camera battery chargers and most CPAP machines. However, you do need to confirm that by looking at the bottom of the device or charger.
You should find words and numbers that say "Input 100-240V" or "AC in 100-240V." I have seen similar descriptions using 125-250V as well.
Keep in mind, though, that even if the appliance is dual-voltage, you will still need an appropriate adapter plug.
If you do not have these words and numbers on the unit you are contemplating taking with you, you will also need a converter or adapter.
The difference between the two is simple but important.
Converters are used for electrical devices while transformers are for electronic devices or electrical appliances where the capacity requirements are high.
When you are using converters, it is important to note that, unlike transformers, you should not use them for long periods of time.
I found an excellent explanation on an American website. I am providing the entire URL information as it is a big website and by inputting all of the following you will get to the specific page more easily. It is http://www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/powerchairs#the-need-for-adapters
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Is it anticipated that the Olympics will draw visitors to other parts of Canada besides British Columbia?
Even though the events span over a 17-day period, including opening and closing ceremonies, few visitors will spend the entire time watching sports.
While the host province will get the largest economic boost, other parts of Canada will also benefit.
The season may not attract many visitors to Manitoba or Saskatchewan but it's a good bet that Banff will do well, as well as major cities even further afield from Vancouver.
In 1998 I had the good fortune of attending a number of events at the Nagano Olympics. We planned for a week at the games, revelling at Sandra Schmirler's curling victory and dying in agony as Canada's hockey team finished out of the medals.
While there, we spent time in Osaka and took the speed rail to Nagasaki for perhaps the most emotionally impactful days of the entire trip.
It is an interesting note that in spite of a global downturn in tourism, South Africa with three major sport events, the Indian Premier League, the Confederations Cup and the British Lions tour of South Africa, has boosted tourism visitors substantially. On top of that, the FIFA World Cup takes place there this year and there are already signs of huge increases in visitations to the country.
I am confident that Canada's reputation for beauty and major attractions will also motivate visitors from around the world to travel beyond their favourite sports.
For many who will come to us from around the world, we are known as a haven of beauty and tranquility. Since many will be coming from countries where winter is not all that different than ours, frigid temperatures in February should not be a complete deterrent.
Relating to the first question today, it's a good bet that those who have not planned ahead before landing in Canada will be looking for what we term 'reverse converters' and adapter plugs to fit into our sockets.
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January 16, 2010
Once the new equipment is installed, doesn't the fact that a traveller can refuse a body scan in favour of a manual pat-down void the reason this program is being initiated in the first place?
While I appreciate the privacy issues being raised around the current debate, I personally think no one should be given a pass on evading this technology.
There could be opportunity for security-personnel abuse but the directive is to delete the images immediately after the person is cleared.
Perhaps the bomb, with a greater degree of attention, might have been detected in the underwear of the would-be Christmas bomber, but my confidence in pat-downs is not that high.
There are just too many ways to conceal other materials in clothing, besides in the underwear.
At the same time, the refusal to pass through the scanner alone may be a signal to really examine the traveller to assess whether it is a principled privacy statement that is being made, or alternatively, whether a long and thorough search is warranted.
To say we are in changing times is an understatement. The consequences of not catching would-be terrorists overrides those privacy concerns I may have.
In fact, one of the exclusions concerns me the most. These new measures do not affect Canadians under 18 years of age.
It seems to me it is some of the impressionable 'homegrown' young people who are being indoctrinated. This exclusion just doesn't make sense.
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We have a sense that the security in an all-inclusive property is very high, but given the occasional report of crime on these sites, I wonder if that is the case. What does your experience tell you?
Notwithstanding the high-profile events that have occurred in some of our most popular sun destinations at resort properties over the past few years, in fact, the crime rate is extremely low at these facilities.
Most of the places in which I have stayed over the past couple of years have had security personnel wandering the grounds on a regular basis, especially after dark.
While I have also seen them patrolling the beach in front of their facility, we need to recognize that beaches in most countries are open to all, day and night.
Reports of theft at night on long beach stretches are not uncommon. Visitors often take for granted that it may be safe to go for a long evening walk. The more unsavoury of the locals can be a problem and you need to know where you are at all times, and know who is watching your back.
This is not to create a greater fear than required but caution at night is important when you are off-property.
It needs to be recognized that in some countries, the all-inclusive expansive resort area was created, in no small part, to keep guests secure while enjoying their vacation.
Most resorts also check vehicles coming onto the property. They recognize the taxi drivers and regular delivery vehicles, while questioning those they don't recognize.
In my opinion, all-inclusive resorts are far and away the safest place to spend a holiday, but like travel anywhere, including our own country, we need to be cautious in certain places where crime, big or small, is likely to occur.
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Can you explain the situation that seems to be evolving where the United States wants to gather my personal information because I am in an aircraft flying over the country, even though the plane never touches down in America?
The motivation for this escapes me.
I can see some concern relating to a hijacking onboard an airplane over U.S. airspace, but at some point they need to trust that Canadian security officials are doing their job as well.
If you are flying to the United States, before you leave, Homeland Security and specifically the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is provided with the name, gender, and birthday of every passenger.
They then do all of their cross-checks to ensure no bad guys are trying to worm their way into their country through ours.
Recently they have informed Canada this same information would be required for the estimated five million Canadians who will pass through their airspace every year to those sun destinations. Even if the plane does not land, the United States is saying the information is still required.
An article in the Winnipeg Free Press recently pointed out that this request could, in fact, break Canadian law. And like the body-scanning issue in the first question, privacy concerns are being raised about the use of this information beyond the stated intention.
This is leaving tour operators in a very difficult situation. They could find themselves in trouble on one side of the border or the other in a total no-win situation.
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