Air Canada offers unlimited air travel with subscription flight passes

BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT

March 15, 2007: Air Canada has introduced, for the first time in the United States, subscription flight passes providing unlimited air travel for a flat monthly rate.

The unique scheme, meant to celebrate the introduction of its Unlimited Flight Pass to Canada, offers a special introductory price till May 7, 2007, starting from just US$1,657 a month to fly as much one wants over a choice of three-month or six- month periods. In addition, Air Canada offers automatic top tier Elite frequent flyer status.

The Unlimited Flight Pass to Canada subscription at the Latitude fare-level starts at $2,360 a month with additional flexibility and benefits.

By pre-purchasing air travel, holders of the Flight Pass benefit from predictable fixed monthly payments and the advantage of managing their bookings online. Moreover, pass prices include airport fees, charges and taxes.

“We are very excited to give our customers in the United States the freedom to travel as much as they want along with the peace of mind that Air Canada’s Flight Passes provide,” says Charles McKee, vice-president, Marketing. “Since we first launched Flight Passes in Canada about three years ago, their popularity has grown so much. In 2006, we saw our pass sales more than double, and the number of first-time users triple. With these special introductory offers available at aircanada.com or through travel agents, there has never been a better moment to try out and experience a whole new way to travel throughout Air Canada’s extensive network from 53 US airports.”

Air Canada's Flight Pass to Canada includes a wide range of options, allowing customers to select the product and attributes that best meet their travel requirements. Customers can learn more about how to select and use Flight Passes by taking the interactive virtual tour ‘What's a Flight Pass?’ at aircanada.com

Air Canada has made it easier for US customers to choose the Flight Pass that meets their travel needs by creating four simple geographic zones to choose from – Canada Commuter (from New York, Newark, Boston, Chicago to Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal); Eastern (extended Eastern US-Canada corridor); Western (extended Western US-Canada corridor), and a comprehensive North America pass encompassing all 120 destinations served by Air Canada in the US and Canada.

Besides, a monthly subscription pass providing unlimited air travel for a choice of three or six months at a time, Air Canada offers passes for individuals for a fixed number of pre-purchased flight credits valid for 10 or 20 one-way trips over a 12-month period.

For US-registered businesses, Air Canada's ‘Flight Pass to Canada’ is also available in a multi-user ‘Small Business Pass’ version valid for six months that provides 30 flight credits for up to eight different travelers from one company.

To give customers additional control in choosing the benefits they want at the right price, all Flight Passes are available at two fare levels: Tango Plus, Air Canada’s everyday value fare, or Latitude, offering maximum flexibility to make reservation changes free of charge as well as complimentary upgrades to Executive Class made online.

To promote the new, everyday low Tango Plus price, Air Canada offers a special introductory price until May 7, 2007, for its 10-trip Tango Plus ‘Flight Pass to Canada’ starting at US$2,100 or only $210 a trip to Canada valid for a 12-month period, including all fees, charges and taxes.