France Travel and Vacation

August France Travel and Vacation Planner  You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors > Things to Do in France > France Monthly Calendar > August France Travel and Vacation Planner Travel Go France Essentials New Year's Eve in Paris and France Worst of France 2005 Paris Travel Guide Top French Ski Resorts Best New Year's Eve Champagne Articles & Resources Destinations Trip Planning Transportation Interests & Situations Money, Safety & Issues Things to Do in France Where to Stay in France Staying Connected Blogs Picture Galleries Culture, Language & People Fun, Freebies & Quizes Relocating to France Nudism, Sex & Gay Travel D-Day & Historic Travel Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Sites Selling French Products Before You Buy the Gift of Travel Gifts for the France Fanatic Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the France for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search France for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading France in June France Travel in August Holidays and Events in France Related Blogs Dispatches from France Blog Paris Blog French Word-a-Day Blog La Coquette Blog Chroniques dune Fraise Nice Blog Rsidence Les Marronniers Provence Blog L'Oiseau Blog Chocolate and Zucchini Blog Forty Days in Paris Blog Most Popular "Naked City" Christmas in Paris Photo Tour Paris Sex District Top Paris Attractions Christmas in France What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Related Topics Europe for Visitors French Language French Cuisine Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways Wine France Travel in August From Kelby Carr , Your Guide to France for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Warm Weather, Vacation Attitude are Key Aspects August is normally a great vacation month, but in France (and especially in the north) it can be problematic. Most people get the month of August off in France, meaning you may find some shops are closed. Still, attractions are usually open and it can be a bit quieter than the rest of the year. The South of France tends to be quite packed this year, as many northerners head to the beaches. There is a festive, summer-vacation spirit here, and there are many festivals. Depending on your destination, the weather can be a bit too balmy, but it is surprisingly moderate in most of France. Weather The weather can be a bit extreme in August. There are major variations in climate depending on where you are in France, but here are some major cities: Paris : Average high temperature is 24 degrees celsius/75 degrees farenheit, and the average low is 13.9 celcius, 57 farenheit. Average rainfall is 55.2 millimeters, or 2.2 inches. Nice : Average high temperature is 26.7 degrees celsius/80 degrees farenheit, with the average low at 20 degrees celcius/68 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 31.6 millimeters, or 1.2 inches. Bordeaux : Average high temperature is 26.1 degrees celsius, 79 degrees farenheit, and the average low is 15 celcius/59 farenheit. Average rainfall is 59.1 millimeters, or 2.3 inches. Strasbourg : Average high temperature is 24 degrees celsius, or 75 degrees farenheit, and the average low is 14 celcius/55 farenheit. Average rainfall is 70.4 millimeters, or 2.8 inches. What to pack It can be challenging to pack for France, particularly if you will visit multiple cities. For the most part, this is a mild time of year. Be prepared for either hot days or cool nights, however. Your packing list should include: Sun screen Light clothes Flip flops Good walking shoes A bathing suit Get more ideas with my Packing Tips . Why to go in August Enjoy summer vacation the way the locals do The weather is warm All museums and attractions are open, usually with extended summertime hours There is a great vacation atmosphere Why not to visit France in August The closings! It can be a real letdown to find things shut down for vacations Airfare and lodging is expensive There can be some really hot days Events and festivals Bayonne Festival , which features bullfights, cow racing, dancing and a general festive atmosphere in this lovely Basque city near the Spanish border. Musique in Perigord , in Audrix, features young, up and coming musicians performing in the lovely Aquitaine countryside. Buzet Wine Festival Festival on the Champagne Route Cooking Festival in Pointe-à-Pitre Monte Carlo Internation Fireworks Festival

Austria Travel Guide, climate:

Austria Travel Guide - Information and Advice Austria Travel Guide Information and Advice Austria Map | Austria Pictures Vienna Pictures | Vienna Travel Guide exodus specialises in “The different holiday”, offering the widest selection of walking, adventure, cycling, mountain biking, wildlife, cultural and winter holidays, and overland journeys across all seven continents! exodus: Homepage | Austria Tours | Brochure Request Austria Travel Guide, climate: Best: May - June, September for summer activities with less crowds and less heat than July/Aug, or Dec - March for a deep white winter. Worst: The country is rarely over hot or hideously overcrowded but July, August and Christmas are very busy times, while Oct/November can be miserable - dark, wet and grey. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not incl. flights: Vienna and Salzburg - 4 days Recommended: At least 2 weeks to take in Vienna, Salzburg and some country/mountain activities. Main Festivals in Austria : mid May- June: Vienna Festival - wide range of arts, especially music, naturally, but also dance and theatre, sometimes challenging pieces, all set in magnificent buildings. mid July-Aug: ImPulsTanz - a dynamic and diverse dance festival across the whole of lovely Vienna. End July - end August: Salzburg Festival - opera and concerts. 'Europe's most prestigious summer musical event.' Very large, very expensive. Every year in Mozart's pretty home town. Dec 31st, Kaiserball - waltzing into Vienna's glamorous ball season is this, the ultimate in smart dances, set in the magnificent Hofburg Palace. No expense spared. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see European Festivals or Arts Festivals Austria activities guide: Hiking: The Alps in summertime offer a zillion stunning, well-marked walking routes, open along with the spring flowers in late May. The Zillertal Alps are particularly scenic and leg friendly, and Zell am Ziller is a good starting point. Lifts help the less fit. Climbing: Plenty of challenging climbs available, with northern Tyrol being especially popular . Skiing: With all those mountains and snow Austria is a great downhill and cross-country ski destination, tho' not cheap. Tyrol and Vorarlberg are most popular. Hangliding & paragliding: Due to the excess of high places and affluence of the country, gliding is commonplace and kit can be rented easily from ski resorts. Rafting /canoeing: Land Salzburg [Salzburg Alps] has superb locations for watersports from quiet canoeing to wild white water rafting. Speed boats are restricted. Biking: This country is extremely bike friendly, with rental machines available from most railway stations and dedicated tracks everywhere. The best long route is the Lower Danube Cycle Track, running beside the river from Vienna to Naarn and passing many gorgeous medieval towns on the way. River Cruises: Lengthy and a bit slow on sights . If your travel time is limited don't bother with the Danube. Night life: Austria is culturally more about classical music than techno raves, tho' the natives do know how to have a good time. Austria Star Guide: Monuments *** Shopping and souvenirs ** Walkability ***** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value *** Beaches no sea! Wildlife ** Landscape ***** Local People **** Architecture ***** Safety ***** Nightlife and Clubbing **** Health Problems none Museums ***** Why Travel to Austria? It's efficient, safe, uncrowded [by locals - total population is about 8m], and has stunning towns and magnificent mountains . The rise and fall of the Hapsburg dynasty [1278- 1914] and the Austrian Empire is a monumental story, gone but not forgotten by tourists gaping at the mass of gothic, baroque and rococo royal relics or listening to present day concerts by long-dead Vienna inhabitants - Mozart, Strauss, Brahms and Beethoven to name but a few. Museums offer a lot more than Hapsburg lifestyle samples and cover many topics in great depth and style. The climate offers a comfortable heat in the summer and acceptable cold in winter, encouraging year-round outdoor activities, particularly summer hiking and winter skiing. Transport systems are brilliant and road access to other European cities is easy. Locals are friendly and many speak English. Downside: -Food is heavy and dedicated to carnivores. Vegetarians may have a hard time finding suitable body fuel. -German is more a language of command than conversation. Where to travel in Austria: 1] ***Vienna, a superbly walkable, beautiful, interesting city. Vienna page 2] **Salzburg. Mozart's home is a pretty little town - well, the old bit is - but heavily travelled and without much space to permit tourists to relax and enjoy its rampant baroquery properly. The castle towering over Salzburg is sturdily interesting, as is the cathedral, the Residenz [palace] and the nearby graveyard/catacombs, but the focus is more on where Wolfie the Wonder Boy grew up or Sound of Music locations. It's a very long day trip from Vienna so stay over and visit the 16thC town of Krems , magnificent Melk Abbey and Hellbrunn Palace on the way. Also worth a look, 48km from Salzburg, are the ice caves of Eisriesenwelt , near Werfen. Dramatic, elaborate shapes and frozen waterfalls line the 42km of explored caverns, tho' not all is open and guides may be necessary. Fascinating but cold and slippery so not suited to very young or old travellers. 3] ***Salzkammergut is a vista-overload resort area of mountains, lakes and charming towns just east of Salzburg. In the summer it offers walks and water sports, in winter skiing. Key towns are Bad Ischl [fashionable spa resort], St. Wolfgang [on Wolfgangsee Lake] and Hallstatt . 4] ***Grossglockner Road. If you have wheels and it's May-November then this stunning 50km mountain/glacier route will really honk your horn. Start the tortuous tour from Zell am See. 5] *** Innsbruck [Tyrol] A lovely, partly medieval city surrounded by spectacular peaks, it functions perfectly as a summer resort or winter sports base, though it doesn't have immediate access to slopes. Nearby is Seefeld, a prime ski resort that offers more than just slopes and Mutters , 'the most beautiful village in Tyrol' and romantic in any weather. 6 ] ** St Anton am Arlsberg [Tyrol] Near Switzerland this is another picturesque Tyrolean town with some of Europe's best skiing at reasonable prices. The Blue Danube? Not likely, muddy green at best. There is an explanation for the name however... Napoleon had never lost a battle when he came across the white coated Austrian army at Aspern, around the Danube, in 1809. The French, in blue coats, lost, and their bodies were thrown into the Danube. Due to poor dye quality the colour ran into the water, turning it temporarily blue. Strauss remembered the great victory in 1867 by calling his latest waltz, 'The Blue Danube.' Austria Tours Tour operators offering tours to Austria can be found in our listings here: Austria Tours For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Map of Europe Visas: EU citizens and nationals of USA, Australia and New Zealand do not need visas for visits up to 90 days. Electricity: Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Safety: Crime is rare and more likely to be opportunistic theft by transient East Europeans rather than locals. Language: German is the native language but most Austrians under 50 speak excellent English. Cuisine Guide: This is not good weight-loss country . National dishes tend to be heavy, saucy and meat oriented - hardly surprising for a place with no coastline - while local cheeses, pastries, beers and wines are excellent and too tempting by half. Street snacks tend to be of the sausage, pickles and chunky bread variety. About the only thing that will not pile on the pounds is the superb coffee. Money: The currency is the Euro and prices are fairly high. ATMs are plentiful and most Traveller's Cheques accepted. If you plan to travel Austria you may find these other Bugbog guides to Europe useful: Germany Travel Guide Hungary Travel Guide Czech Republic Travel Guide Belgium Travel Guide Italy Travel Guide France Travel Guide Greece Travel Guide UK Travel Guide Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

Central America Travel

Adventure Travel with the Green Tortoise Bus Company Reservations & General Info Trips, Dates & Prices Links, Photos & Chat Boards Green Tortoise Hostels Company Info Search Home Page & Site Info Hello! The menu links at top will not work because you either have Style Sheets turned off in your preferences, or you are using a very old web browser version. Please move around the site by using the site directory at the bottom of this page. Please consider upgrading to a more recent version of your browser if necessary. - GT Webmaster The above menus will not work because you have Javascript turned off. Please use the site directory page or Adventures & Destinations clickable map to move around the site. plus, check out our brand new Gold Coast Loop ! About us Featured Adventure Trips Subscribe to our newsletter Request a print catalog Featured trip: Burning Man Festival -- Sign our Guest Map ... show us where you're from! new! Site map Chat room new! -- Green Tortoise Adventure Travel began over 30 years ago, with one sturdy bus and the realization that beautiful places, great food, and sociable people were the only essentials for gratifying travel experiences. Since then, over 500,000 people have traveled with us, including many repeat riders from all over the world. Enjoy the beauty, excitement, and inspiration of North and Central America aboard our " stretch-out-and-sleep " coaches. Our sleeper coaches are unique, with names and lots of character. Our happy passengers sleep lying down on converted platforms and bunk beds. In the morning, we arrive somewhere incredible! By day we swim, explore caves, climb mountains, raft downstream, stand under waterfalls, walk through forests, build camp-fires, visit towns, meet people, or just plain take it easy. You're welcome to join the adventure, friends and fun. The settings are the best national parks, beaches, deserts, forests, hot springs, mountains, and waterfalls. There's nothing else like the Green Tortoise—even a short ride on the Green Tortoise is a vacation . . . the longer trips will become lifelong memories. Above: "...What Now?" Black Rock Desert, NV. ©1997 Mike K . Used by permission. Arches Nat'l Park photo: ©2000 Sacha Schrier. Used by permission. We occasionally send out information about new trips, specials and other information by email to people who request it, via our newsletter group on YahooGroups. To receive these newsletters, you can subscribe to our YahooGroups list by submitting your email address here: You can also subscribe by simply sending a blank email to GreenTortoiseNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com , then reply to the confirmation email they send. Your email address will be kept completely confidential and only used for our periodic mailings. It will not ever be sold or given away, in accordance with YahooGroups' privacy policy . (Note: If you have a Hotmail account, you need to add GreenTortoiseNewsletter@yahoogroups.com to your Mailing Lists on your Options screen in Hotmail so the newsletters don't go into your Junk Mail folder.) About our catalog... Our full-color catalog contains the same information as this website. If you would like to order a free copy or have one sent to a friend, please use our online catalog request form or call us . Don't trust computers! Your intrepid webmaster does his best to keep our website updated with the most current information available - but in this ever-changing world in which we live in, you can never be too sure. All information on this website is subject to change without notice - please call us to confirm anything you read here before you make travel plans based on it! Even a short ride on the Green Tortoise is a vacation, and the longer adventures will become life-long memories. As we like to say, the Green Tortoise is Back to top Site map Terms and conditions Reservations/general info: tortoise greentortoise.com Technical/internet-related issues: webmaster greentortoise.com ©2003 Green Tortoise Adventure Travel Adventure Travel home - text-only version Hello! You are seeing the site directory below because you either have Javascript and Style Sheets turned off in your preferences, or you are using a very old web browser version (probably either Internet Explorer 3, or Netscape 4.74 or earlier.) You can continue to use the site like this if you wish, but please consider either turning these features on if they are off, or downloading more up-to-date web browser versions. Site Directory Reservations & General Info How to Make A Reservation This is it! Before you reserve How to make your reservation Reservation form Cancellations, credit card policy & fee, general copy of release Cancellantion policy Credit card policy General release form (html or PDF) Yes, we do Charters ! Charter information and online quote request form Traveling by Tortoise : about our food and sleeper coaches About our food About our sleeper coaches Why NOT Green Tortoise Is our style of travel for you? Read me! Frequently asked questions Our Frequent Crawler club : repeat riders get free trips Children riding the Tortoise: Our policies and advice on child passengers Our policy on children Thoughts about traveling on Green Tortoise with a young child, by a parent of a young Tortoise traveler Directions to our office, departure points and hostels Our Address, phone number and email Directions to our San Francisco Office and Hostel, and to our San Francisco bus departures Directions to our Seattle hostel Trips, Dates & Prices All Trip dates and fares listed by Trip name All Trip dates and fares month-by-month listing of departure dates Adventures & Destinations clickable map Alaskan Expedition Alaska Loop Burning Man Festival Best Of The West Canyons Of The West Cross Country Northern Crossing eastbound Cross Country Northern Dream westbound Cross Country Southern Crossing eastbound Cross Country Southern Dream westbound Death Valley National Park Hostel Hopper round-trip shuttle to LA, Las Vegas, Yosemite, and San Francisco -- Mardi Gras National Parks Loop Northeast Loop Northern Pioneer Northwest Loop Pacific Trek Southeast Loop Southwest Loop Western Trail Yosemite National Park Three day Yosemite trips (June thru October) Two day weekend trips (April thru September) Baja Beach Daze / Whale Watching Baja Beach Daze 9 or 15 day adventure trips Baja Beach Whale Watching adventure trip Baja Beach "Fly In" trip Costa Rica (Costa Rica Loop / Costa-Nica / Panama Carnaval) Costa Rica Loop adventure trip Costa Rica/Nicaragua Loop adventure trip Carnaval trip: Costa Rica/Panama Gold Coast Loop Maya Dream Weeks : Yucatan Explorer, Caribbean Cruiser, Jungle Boogie, La Ruta Maya, Tropical Trek, and The Whole Enchilada Maya Trail Pyramids & Playas new! Southern Migration San Francisco to Cancun Check out our current Featured Adventure Trips Last Minute Specials Tell us what you thought! Links, Photos & Chat Boards Fellow Travelers : other sites about Green Tortoise, by passengers and friends Our online Photo Gallery Link to us! free link graphics and text for your web pages Pleased to meetcha! Meet our drivers, naturalists and office staff Meet our drivers Meet our naturalists Meet our office staff Friends Of The Tortoise: Other links of interest to Green Tortoise travelers Tortoise2Tortoise A community bulletin board Tortoise Tales Now it's your turn to talk! Our GuestMap : show us where you're from, and meet our other website visitors! new! Hostels Green Tortoise San Francisco Guesthouse home page Green Tortoise Seattle Hostel home page Online Booking information reserve your hostel bed from our website Company Info Green Tortoise Adventure Travel 494 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94133 USA US (outside SF Bay area) and Canada: 1-800-TORTOISE (1-800-867-8647) Bay Area & Worldwide: 415-956-7500 email: tortoise greentortoise com Website & technical issues only: webmaster greentortoise com San Francisco Hostel: 415-834-1000 Email: hostel greentortoise com Seattle Green Tortoise Hostel : 1-888-4-A-Hostel Email: info greentortoise net Employment Opportunities with our company Join a legend! 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Spain Travel

Barcelona Spain - Barcelona Travel Guide  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors Map showing the location of Barcelona, Spain. James Martin Stay up to date! Map showing the location of Barcelona, Spain. James Martin Email to a friend Print this page Spain Resources Spain Map and Travel Essentials Spain Links Eating in Spain Barcelona Resources Barcelona in Pictures Barcelona Links Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Barcelona, Spain - Travel Essentials Barcelona Spain Guide From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Where is Barcelona Spain?:  Barcelona, the capital of the region of Catalonia, is located on the Mediterranean coast in the east of Spain. It is located at 41.40°N Latitude and 2.17°E Longitude. What is the Population of Barcelona?:  The population of Barcelona in 2003 was around 1.5 million people. Getting to Barcelona by Air:  Barcelona's Airport is 13 km (8 miles) from the city of Barcelona. It has three terminals and its airport code is BCN. A taxi takes 20-30 minutes to get into town and costs 15-25 euros. Train services to the airport are available every 30 minutes from Clot-Arago, Arc de Triomf, Placa Catalunya and Barcelona Sants stations. Cost is 2.10 Euros. A bus runs every 15 minutes from the Plaza Catalunya to the airport. The fee is 3.30 Euros one-way. Barcelona Train Stations:  The two main stations serving Barcelona are Estaciós (stations) Sants and França. Sants services destinations in Spain and a few international trains, while most long distance trains (from Geneva, Milan, Paris and Zurich) depart from Estació França. Barcelona Bus Stations:  Estació del Nord is the larger of the two. It handles busses to most major Spanish cities as well as hosting international busses run by Eurolines/Linebús and Starbus. Location: Carrer d'Alí Bei near the Arc de Triomf metro station. The Estació d'Autobuses de Sants near the Sants train station handles buses to Montserrat and international services operated by Eurolines/Julià Via. Tourist Information:  Centre d'Informació Turisme de Barcelona in the Plaça de Catalunya, tel: 906 30 12 82 Language:  Traveling in Catalonia can be quite a challenge for those of us who speak a tiny bit of Spanish but no Catalán, the language of the region. Rest assured that Barcelona is a major travel destination, so you'll see menus in both Spainish and Catalán, and many folks speak a bit of English as well. What to do in Barcelona:   Walk La Rambla - One of the world's greatest boulevards. Watch people, gawk at performing artists, grab a bite to eat at the market, and watch your wallet. Take in the Picasso Museum - One of Barcelona's top art attractions, known for its large collections of the artist's earlier years. Open Tue-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-3pm. 5 Euros, Students pay half that. It's free the first Sunday of the Month. Fondació Joan Miró - Get contemporary by visiting a museum featuring the works of one of the greatest Catalan artists in the Placa Neptu. 7 Euro admission. Open Tue-Wed 10am-7pm, Thu 10am-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-2.30pm. Gaudi all over - Visit the Parc Güell that contains the Casa-Museu Gaudí , where Gaudi lived from 1906-1926. Free. Then visit the Sagrada Familia , the church Gaudi devoted 18 years of his life to constructing and it's not done yet. 5 Euros to get inside, which gets you great views of Barcelona and, for the cellar dwellers, a peek into the crypt containing the fascinating history though photos and drawings. Walk the twisty lanes of the Gothic quarter - Free and interesting. Lunch at the Mercat La Boquería - at 101 La Rambla, it's Spain's best market. Inside are several tapas bars. Pull up a stool and eat the best that comes to market that day. Cathedral Crawl - The cloister is a fine and most peaceful place if you ever need to escape the beautiful hustle and bustle of Barcelona. Dinner at Los Caracoles Restaurant - on Escudellers Street in the Gothic Quarter.        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There

Air Travel Complaints Program

FAQ's - How to file a complaint Complaints - Home The Agency's Role Jurisdiction of the Agency Types of Complaints General Consumer Information How to file a complaint People who want to make a complaint against an air carrier may mail or fax the Agency at: Canadian Transportation Agency Air Travel Complaints Program Ottawa, Ontario K1A ON9 Fax: (819) 953-5686 For more information, you may call the Agency from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 8 pm, Eastern Time, at: Phone: 1-888-222-2592 TTY: 1-800-669-5575 You may also file a complaint directly over the Internet Is there anything I should do before I contact the Agency? You should collect all your facts, receipts, names and phone numbers of people to whom you spoke and, most importantly, a copy of your ticket. Having this information at hand will assist in the review of your complaint. Approaching the carrier with your concerns is often a good idea as many problems can be handled quite quickly that way. In the end if you feel that you have a justifiable complaint, or if you are not satisfied with how the airline has resolved your complaint, you may bring it to the Agency. Do I need to complain to the carrier first? In many instances, issues or problems may be dealt with quite quickly and simply by bringing the situation to the attention of the carrier first . Some issues such as quality of service provided by an airline should first be brought to the carrier's attention before the Agency will be able to address your complaint. How can I complain to an air carrier directly when I don't know how to reach them so that my complaint will get dealt with? Here is a list of the largest Canadian Air Carriers' Customer Service Departments . What if I don't have all the information from my flight? While it would be helpful to have as much information as possible concerning your air travel arrangements, this does not prevent you from filing your complaint. However, you may encounter delays while staff researches the information that is needed to deal with the complaint. In some cases, it may be impossible to make a determination without sufficient relevant information. What needs to be included in my complaint? The more detail you can provide in your complaint, the more easily the matter can be resolved. Please see the complaint forms for details on the type of information which you should provide for different types of complaints. If you do not have all the information that the form requires, that is okay, but it will take extra time to find that information and process your complaint. Is there a time limit to file a complaint? No, but in practical terms it is better to bring the matter to the carrier's or Agency's attention sooner rather than later. The older a complaint, the more difficult it may be to obtain necessary documents, records, or information. Do I need a lawyer? You do not need to hire a lawyer in order to file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency. The complaint process is simple and easy to understand. Of course, you may consult a lawyer if you wish. Are there any fees/costs to process my complaint? There is no charge to file a complaint with the Agency. Once I file my complaint, what happens? When the Agency receives a complaint, a few things must be verified before the complaint can be processed. First, the complaint is examined to determine if it falls within the jurisdiction of any other government department or agency. If so, then it will be referred to the appropriate organization, and at the same time you will be notified where it has been sent. Then, it must be verified that you have first raised the issue with the air carrier. If you have not, then your complaint will be forwarded to the airline on your behalf to give the carrier the opportunity to resolve it. If you are still not satisfied with the way in which the airline handled your complaint, then the Agency can become involved. The nature of the complaint and the outcome that you seek will be determining factors in how the Agency deals with your complaint. Your complaint will be reviewed to ensure that it is clear and complete. It is possible to expedite matters if you collect all the facts, receipts, names and numbers of people who were involved and, most importantly, a copy of the ticket. Having this information at hand will greatly assist in the review and resolution of your complaint. Once the Agency has received all your relevant information, it will be forwarded to the carrier to give the airline a chance to respond. Should the air carrier raise any new issue or information, then you may be asked to respond. The Agency will try, whenever possible, to arrive at a solution acceptable to both parties. Even if your particular complaint cannot be resolved, it will prove useful in assisting the Agency to analyze and report on trends in customer service issues for the airline industry. If you are curious about the status of your complaint at any time, you may call the Agency staff assigned to your case, using your case reference number, to get an update. How long does it take? The Agency's procedures for a regulatory complaint require a resolution within 120 days unless an extension is agreed to by all parties. The length of the complaint process will depend heavily on the complexity of the complaint, on the quality and accuracy of information that is provided, and the type of outcome you seek. It is possible to expedite matters if you collect all the facts, receipts, names and numbers of people who were involved and, most importantly, a copy of the ticket. Having this information at hand will greatly assist in the review and resolution of your complaint. What will the Agency do if it finds in my favour? The Agency's response will depend on the nature of the complaint. If the Agency found that a fare, rate or increase offered on a route within Canada served by only one carrier was unreasonable, then the Agency could disallow the fare, rate or price increase; direct the carrier to reduce the fare, rate or increase; and order the payment of refunds, if practical, to passengers who were found to have been overcharged. If the Agency found that a term or condition of carriage in a carrier's tariff was unreasonable or unduly discriminatory, it could prohibit the carrier from applying that term or condition, and it may also substitute a new term or condition in its place. If the Agency found that a carrier failed to apply its tariff , it could order the carrier to apply its tariff as written and order the carrier to pay compensation for out of pocket expenses to a passenger if he or she was adversely affected by the carrier's failure to apply its tariff. If the complaint involved a carrier discontinuing or reducing its service to a community without giving proper notice, the Agency could order the carrier to resume service for up to 60 days or could impose a fine. In some circumstances, the Agency can also fine a carrier for specified violations of the Act. What happens if the Agency does not find in my favour? If the Agency finds in favour of the air carrier, the complaint would be dismissed and the matter would be closed. What happens if I'm not happy with the outcome of my complaint? If the facts or circumstances relating to an Agency decision changed after the decision was made, then either you or the carrier could ask the Agency to review its finding. You may also appeal the Agency's finding to the Federal Court of Appeal or ask the Federal Cabinet to review it. These processes would probably require the assistance of a lawyer. The Air Travel Complaints Program's role is to assist air travellers in resolving their complaints against air carriers through an informal complaint process. If a satisfactory resolution to the complaint is not achieved, the case may be referred to the Agency's formal complaint process. Last Updated: 2005-10-24 [ Important Notices ]