[TAC] Cone one --- come all

[Kurt T. Meyers]

    I set out to make my travel reservations for FP today. Since the flight from Halifax to St. Pierre is "one of a kind" I started there to make sure room was still available.

    HALIFAX-ST. PIERRE. Call 1-877-277-7765 and you talk with one of two people. Ted and I spoke earlier with a bi-lingual francophone man. Today, I spoke with an Anglophone woman. That office turns out to be in Newfoundland. I made reservations on the same flights Ted has:

    Mon, Nov. 21, Halifax 12:00 to St. Pierre at 14:30.
    Wed, Nov. 30, St. Pierre 12:30 to Halifax at 13:10.

    I said I had additional friends who would want these same flights. Could she tell me how reservations were going? She checked the computer and said: They're "w i d e  o p e n". Then I asked her if the HF Bands were "w i d e   o p e n" but she couldn't answer that.

    DETROIT-HALIFAX / HALIFAX-NEWARK-DETROIT. This is where it got interesting. I already detected flight discrepancies  -- from the info Ted and Hank gave me -- at various web sites. Before I try to explain the changes, previous purchasers of tickets have had their files updated and should receive email. Or they can call 1-800-692-6980 for these modifications.

    DETROIT-HALIFAX. Flight 2852 leaving Detroit at 5:10P and arriving Halifax 9:00 PM has been replaced by Flight 2868 leaving Detroit at 5:16 PM and arriving Halifax at 8:56 PM. Looks like they expect a stronger tail wind for this new flight.

    HALIFAX-NEWARK. Flight 5504V leaving Halifax at 3:10P and arriving Newark at 4:30P has been replaced by Flight 5504 leaving Halifax 3:25P arriving Newark at 4:45P.

    NEWARK-DETROIT. The 15-minute later arrival in Newark cramps the time to go through customs so severely, that those passengers can no longer take Flight 3479V departing Newark at 6:20P, arriving Detroit 8:24P. The previous reservants plus me have been scheduled for Flight 649 leaving Newark 7:45P, arriving Detroit 9:37P. 

    Those who have already paid will not be charged more money. For myself, the "Johnny-come-lately", I get to pay over $100 more for these changed flights.

    I pointed out to the young woman that it's still 2-1/2 months to these reservation dates. Was it likely there would be still further changes in these flights? She said she doubted it, but she could not rule out further changes.

    For Greg, K8GL: Since Ian has declined the room offer this Saturday in Findlay, I'll pick it up. Is your reservation under your name? That will be good to know since I may arrive there before you do.

73, Kurt W8IQ