Air Canada wants to slug passengers extra for hand baggage

 

Air Canada. The airline that takes a week to get a suitcase they lost back to you. And doesn't give a damn about it. 

Air Canada. The airline that sends your missing bag to Windsor, Ontario. Because your name is Winsor. 

Yes, that Air Canada. 

Now they want to charge you for hand baggage. Following, you guessed it, in the footsteps of no-service US carriers. 

Air Canada, which already had a "no frills" approach to customer service, is now planning to gouge travellers who want to travel with an overnight bag, or even a larger laptop. 

From January 2025, passengers travelling on Air Canada’s economy basic fare (yep, they mean basic) within Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean will be restricted to a single small personal item such as a purse or belt bag, satchel or laptop bag (if the laptop is small). 

The Air Canada website stated this week that larger items such as backpacks, duffel bags and cabin bags - which until now had been included in each economy basic fare – will be charged at $35 in local dollars for the first item and $50 for each additional bag. 

Passengers will have their ticket and carry-on baggage allowance verified at the departure gate - which sounds highly likely to cause delays and prompt arguments - and anybody trying to sneak an extra bag on board will be hit up for $65 at the gate.

Air Canada does say that mobility aids, medical devices and child strollers remain exempt. For now. 

Air Canada boasts it has "an ongoing commitment to excellence". I think they are kidding themselves.

World travel returns to normal post-Covid

Around 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of 2024, as the global tourism sector recovered to 98% of pre-pandemic levels.

The latest World Tourism Barometer released by UN Tourism this week, says a full recovery from the biggest crisis in the travel sector’s history is expected by the end of the year, despite economic, geopolitical and climate challenges.

Four years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought global tourism to a standstill, the Barometer reflects the sector’s remarkable recovery, with most regions already exceeding 2019 arrival numbers in the period January to September 2024.

The report also shows outstanding results in terms of international tourism receipts, with most destinations with available data posting double-digit growth compared to 2019.

UN Tourism secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The strong growth seen in tourism receipts is excellent news for economies around the world.

"The fact that visitor spending is growing even stronger than arrivals has a direct impact on millions of jobs and small businesses and contributes decisively to the balance of payments and tax revenues of many economies.”

The Middle East (+29% compared to 2019) continued to enjoy record growth this nine-month period, while Europe (+1%) and Africa (+6%) also exceeded 2019 levels. The Americas recovered to 97% of its pre-pandemic arrivals, while Asia and the Pacific reached 85% of 2019 levels.

The summer season in the northern hemisphere was generally strong, with arrivals worldwide reaching 99% of pre-pandemic values in Q3 2024.

Among the world’s top earners, Japan (+59%), Türkiye (+41%) and France (+27%) all recorded double-digit growth through September.

Image: Jerome Quek, Scop.io

Super-premium tequila lands in Australia

Good news for tequila lovers in Australia. 

Patron Tequila, the world's best-selling super-premium tequila, just released its latest expression, Patron El Alto, in time for summer festivities. 

Hand-crafted from 100% Weber Blue Agave grown in the highest parts of Jalisco, Mexico, El Alto is a limited-release aged tequila aimed at aficionados. 

Master Distiller David Rodriguez and his team have combined a selection of the best Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejotequilas.

"Patron El Alto stays true to Patron Tequila's traditional roots in distilling while innovating in a way that achieves the best blended, aged tequila profile possible," said Rodriguez.

“The tequilas that harmoniously come together took four years to focus on only the best of the best and perfect the bold, sweet flavours of this expression the right way: naturally."

El Alto is, I am reliably informed, made using the traditional Tahona production process. This involves a two-tonne volcanic stone being used to crush the baked agave, "which creates a tequila with natural sweetness and flavours of the earth". 

Patron is the leading producer of Tahona-based tequila in the world. 

I'll add some tasting notes shortly. 

Patron El Alto is available in select premium venues and retail outlets Australia-wide now for an RRP of $315.

For more information visit www.patrontequila.com.

Tasmanian brands come together for a spirited experience

Love artisan spirits? Heading for Hobart? This summer, MACq 01 Hotel, Hobart’s "storytelling" hotel, is unveiling a new MACq 01 gin range created in partnership with local award-winning McHenry Distillery. 

The five new gins will take centre stage in the hotel’s new storytelling experience, Gin Tales, from December 9.

Gin Tales brings together MACq 01 Hotel’s dedication to immersive storytelling with premium crafted gins, offering a journey through Tasmania's heritage and characters. 

Working alongside distiller William McHenry, the hotel seeks to bring legendary figures to life through a specially curated range of gins. 

The spirits have been crafted to embody five core Tasmanian character traits that shape the design elements of the hotel and align to the 114 iconic Tasmanian characters that feature on the 114 guest rooms. 

Gin Tales joins the existing range of storytelling tours that guests and visitors to Hobart can join during their stay – hosted by the MACq 01 storytelling team. 

Guests can sip their way through Tasmanian history, guided by a storyteller, matching the bold, quirky and curious stories with the flavours of each distinctive gin. 

Think flavours like Hearty & Resilient, and Curious & Creative. 

Other gins include Grounded Yet Exceptional, Fighting Believers and Colourful & Quirky.

William McHenry describes the collaboration as a way to merge two iconic Tasmanian brands.

“With the new MACq 01 range, we’ve crafting five gins as layered as the stories of Tasmania’s people. It was a great experience bringing the influence of key MACq 01 characters together with the freshest Tasmanian ingredients, often resulting in unexpected combinations. 

"We went in with no limitations - even trialling squid ink in one of the iterations. Each gin reflects a part of Tasmania’s character and we’re thrilled with what we’ve produced with MACq 01.”

McHenry Distillery is located on the Tasman Peninsula. 

At the heart of everything the family-owned business does is clean, soft spring water from the springs on the property. 

The Gin Tales experience highlights include a one-hour guided tasting by a MACq 01 storyteller at MACq 01’s The Story Bar featuring a tasting of five 15ml pours from the MACq 01 collection

Tasting are held at 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and cost $35 per person. The experience is open to both guests and public and bookings are available online or through the MACq 01 Hotel team at hello@macq01.com.au

See macq01.com.au.

Meet Tasmania's stunning new wine tasting facility

One of Tasmania's most successful wine brands has unveiled a stunning new tasting room in the Coal River Valley - but you'll need to make an appointment if you want to eat and drink. 

Tolpuddle Vineyard will open its new Tasting Room outside Richmond - 25 minutes from Hobart - to the public next Friday (December 13). 

In addition to structured tastings featuring current release chardonnay and pinot noir alongside back vintages ($55), there will also be tasty treats on offer for those lucky enough to secure a time slot. 

Tolpuddle, which released its first wines in 2012, has been a global success story with its wines praised by international critics including Jancis Robinson and Tim Atkin and a swag of trophies from leading international wine shows. 

The Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room will be managed by Pip Anderson (above), previously general manager of hospitality at MONA, and will be open from Friday to Monday, 11am-5pm with appointments available online.

To accompany the tasting flight, guests can also choose from a tight menu of small share plates with local ingredients featured where possible, such as Tongola Curdy Goats Cheese with Hazelbrae Hazelnuts and Kunzea honey. Caviar is a worthy exception, but the scallops are definitely local.. 

The Tasting Room will also be available for exclusive wine-focused events for 15-30 guests. 

Sam Bray, formerly of MONA and Manky Sally’s, has devised the menu - and the offerings are outstanding (I was lucky enough to attend a sneak preview). 

In addition to the wines flights, wines will be available by the glass ($25-30) and by the bottle.

The building, surrounded by vines planted by visionaries Bill Cassimaty, Garry Crittenden and the late Tony Jordan at what was then Strathayr, was designed by Hobart-based Tanner Architects and constructed by local builder Cordwell Built. 

The Tasting Room has large floor-to-ceiling windows providing views over the vines. Salvaged timber from the West Coast of Tasmania features throughout and there is seating both inside and out.

Tolpuddle is owned and operated by two of the canniest operators in the Australian wine business, cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith AM MW (the founders of Shaw+Smith in the Adelaide Hills). 

In 2011, the pair visited Tasmania intending to buy nothing more than lunch. They tasted several wines but were impressed with the quality of wines made using grapes bought from Tolpuddle, which was planted in 1988. 

They made an offer for the vineyard - which was not for sale - and made their first wines the next year. 

“When we first bought the vineyard in 2011, we envisioned a day when we would build a Tasting Room in the midst of the vines to showcase our wines from this special site," Shaw said. 

"We love this vineyard and now have a tasting space so visitors can experience Tolpuddle Vineyard first-hand.”

Hill-Smith says the vineyard team led by Carlos Souris has put in a lot of work over the past 12 years, raising standards. 

"But we have been staggered by what a success it has been," he said. "It has been hugely rewarding the way the wines have been recognised around the world for their quality." 

See www.tolpuddlevineyard.com

Hot new Sydney precinct gets a little bit festive

Sydney Place, tucked behind Sydney's vibrant Circular Quay quarter, is offering a range of pre-Christmas drawcards. 

With a mix of activities for workers, visitors and families until December 20, the precinct is hosting prize giveaways, roving entertainers and festive-themed fun.

Sydney Place has three new, intimate city laneways with a diverse mix of day and late-night attractions. 

The area sits by the 55-storey Salesforce Tower - the city’s tallest office building. 

Ah Toy Lane, Sai Ying Lane and Underwood Street ware home to 23 eating and drinking destinations including Jacksons on George, Joel Best’s Bar Besuto - a Japanese Omakase restaurant and whisky bar - and Lode Pies & Pastries, by Sydney chef Federico Zanellato. 

Live roving entertainment throughout the precinct pre-Christmas includes The Shoppers, a troupe of retro juggling performers, and The Gagliardies (above), a group of circus performers, along with gingerbread men on stilts. Spot them 11:30am-1:30pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

Santa’s Mailbox, meanwhile, is a festive installation inviting visitors to write and deposit their ‘naughty or nice’ lists into Santa’s Mailbox. A QR code on the box offers entry into a giveaway for a series of  prizes.

Shoppers who spend $10 or more at Sydney Place can head over to the festive pop-up Prize Wheel with a chance to win prizes including free drinks lunchtime Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until December 20.