Air Canada and Canadian Airlines' Customers to Benefit From Common Computer Reservations System

Air Canada and Canadian Airlines will soon share one computer reservations system, enabling employees of either airline to provide customers with significantly improved service.

As of October 22, both airlines will use Air Canada's RESIII system. In a related development, Air Canada announced on September 29 that it had concluded an agreement with the CAW that provides for the workforce integration of customer service agents at Air Canada and Canadian Airlines. As a result, starting October 22 customers will be able to:

- Call Air Canada or Canadian Airlines to make reservations or to obtain flight information.

- Check-in at combined Air Canada/Canadian Airlines counters for any flight.

- Count on easier and faster access to seat availability, fares and frequent flyer programs redemption on both airlines.

- Rest assured that their frequent flyer status will be recognized by both airlines.

- Use self-service Express Check-In kiosks for every flight. Kiosks are now available in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

- Use electronic tickets on the combined services of Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and United Airlines.

- Use electronic tickets for Aeroplan and Canadian Plus reward travel on both airlines.

``The move to one computer reservations system is one of the most critical initiatives in our commitment to improved customer service and the integration of the two airlines,'' said Lise Fournel, Executive Vice-President, Commercial. ``With one common computer reservations system and an integrated workforce, our customers will benefit from streamlined procedures and our employees will be equipped to offer a superior level of service to customers of either carrier.''

As part of the transfer process, all Canadian Airlines ``CP'' code flights numbers will be converted to Air Canada ``AC'' code flight numbers.

Customers with reservations on Canadian Airlines operated flights may determine their new Air Canada flight number using a flight number conversion tool now available on the Air Canada website homepage by selecting either ``Airline Integration'' or ``Latest News - Travelling in the Next Few weeks?''. A 24-hour toll free line at 1-888-612-2737 is now available and customers may also contact their travel agent.

In further efforts to improve service, other systems and related information will also be integrated in conjunction with the RESIII transfer.

As of October 22, all tickets for future travel will be printed on Air Canada ticket stock. All airport flight information monitors will show Air Canada flight numbers.

The transfer to the ResIII system is a complex process involving the efforts of a dedicated team for the past nine months. Over 6,100 Canadian Airlines employees at airports, call centers, sales and administration offices have spent over 150,000 hours in training. To date, the technological preparations for the transfer have involved over 16,000 person days. Three successful test trials have been conducted to ensure the smooth transfer process of about one million active reservations from the Sabre system during a 24-hour period starting October 21.

``We have made every effort to minimize customer impact during the RESIII transfer period. However, certain temporary measures are necessary to finalize the integration of our computer reservations systems, after which we'll be able to offer our customers more efficient and convenient service,'' concluded Fournel.

TEMPORARY MEASURES DURING THE OCTOBER 20-22 CHANGEOVER PERIOD:

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PASSENGERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ARRIVE AND CHECK-IN EARLY AT THE AIRPORT.

RESERVATIONS ON CANADIAN AIRLINES AND CANADIAN REGIONAL AIRLINES OPERATED FLIGHTS will not be available on October 21 only. Reservations will be available on all Air Canada operated flights as usual.

ELECTRONIC TICKETING ON CANADIAN AIRLINES OPERATED FLIGHTS is not available for travel October 19-22. Passengers holding an e-ticket for a CP operated flight during this period need to have their ticket re-issued as a paper ticket prior to airport check-in.

A national newspaper campaign, advising customers of these temporary changes and easing them through the transfer period, starts October 12.

Aeroplan and Canadian Plus systems are unaffected by the transfer to RESIII. Members should continue to call their own frequent flyer programs until December 31, 2000 to obtain information or make reward reservations.