Easton Tour & Travel Blog

I think most of us have experienced this at some point during our travels – you get back to your hotel room and find a flier for a local pizza joint or other restaurant slipped under your door, encouraging you to just sit and relax in your room and order dinner in.  Usually I just throw those away because I find them annoying, now there’s another reason to.

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Although a passport has always been recommended for international travel, as of March 1, 2010 passports will be required for entry to Mexico.  Canadians without valid passports will be returned to Canada.

According to the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, there have already been reports of some airlines refusing to board Canadians without a valid passort despite the official entry requirement not yet being in place.   As such it would be advisable for Canadians travelling to Mexico before March 1, 2010 to ensure that they have a valid passport for their trip.

CATSA has revised the official carry-on regulations effective January 20.  The new regulations are very similar to the old (pre-December bombing attempt) regulations, although very slightly different.  It appears as though the biggest differences entail a limitation on the size of laptop cases and purses.

Passengers are now allowed to bring one carry-on, and one personal item.  “carry-on baggage is limited to a size of 55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm (22 in x 16 in x 9 in), which is equivalent to the size of a small gym bag”.   Carrying cases for laptops must be limited to holding the laptop and accessories only, cases with expandable pockets, wheels, backpack style cases will count as your carry-on bag.
More information on the new regulations can be found on the CATSA website:

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/Page.aspx?ID=78&pname=carryonbaggage_bagagedecabine&lang=en

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/infosheets-menu-5811.htm

In response to the recent terrorist attempt in Detroit, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in cooperation with the US TSA has implemented new temporary carryon restriction for flights to the US.   These restrictions are expected to last for at least the next several days.  From the CATSA website:

U.S.A. bound passengers are permitted zero carry-on bags effective immediately and lasting for several days. Passengers travelling within Canada are still permitted two carry-on bags (although to make the screening process most efficient, fewer carry-on items is preferred).

Carry-on bag means items to which a passenger has access to during a flight, but does NOT include personal items such as small purses, cameras, coats, items for care of infants, laptop computers, diplomatic or consular bags, crutches, canes, walkers, containers carrying life sustaining items, medication or medical devices, musical instruments, or any special needs items.

For more information please consult the CATSA website.

Expect delays as passengers who have no complied with the new regulations will have to go back to the airline checkin counter to check their carryon bags, resulting in longer security lines.  Some airlines are currently waiving their additional baggage fees in an effort to accommodate the new security restriction.  Please check with your airline for their policy.

The following travel advisory updates have been issued by the Canadian government in the last week:
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