—Bustness REVIEW ‘TERRACE STANDARD | Could be tougher to get out | now that Air B.C. has left By JEFF NAGEL IT MAY get harder to fly to Vancouver ~ especially if you want a cheap seat, if you want to fly on the weekend or if you want to use up frequent flyer points. The final pullout of Air B.C. as of April 3 leaves Terrace with just one air- line and three flights per day. The remaining Cana- dian Regional Airlines flights should fly much closer to capacity, making the run more profitable than in the past when the two competing airlines flew with many empty seats. ’ But local travel agents say passengers trying to book seats on those flights will find it tighter than in the past. , Most people want to stay over a Saturday night to get discounted fares, meaning there’s heavy de- mand for flights on Fridays and Sundays. ’ American Express Elan Travel owner George Clark says he’s already noticed more flights at or near ca- pacity at those times. ! He said the cheaper ex- eursion fares obtained by booking in advance are li- mited to a certain number of seats on each flight. ; Those seats in particu- lar should start disappear- ing faster, leaving some travellers the choice of paying full fare or not fly- ing. “If the economy picks up there could be a pro- blem getting cheaper seats,” said Clark. “But 1 daresay the airlines would be happy.to see the planes leaving full even if some of the passengers are left behind, * - The seat scarcity could also make it tougher to book a flight using fre- quent flyer points. » Canadian sets aside a ecrtain number of seats for redemption of its Canadian Plus frequent flyer points. The more heavily booked flights become, the harder those seats will likely be to obtain. Canadian Regional Air- & id rd lines spokesman Dean Brawn said he couldn’t say what proportion of a given flight is set aside for dis- counted fares or frequent flyer redemption, adding that varies from month to month and day to day. But he said the airline will rethink its number of flights and level of service here if demand isn’t being met. “There’s going to have io be some fine tuning,” Brawn said. “Who knows what the economy of Terrace is going to be like,” he said. “Maybe we'll have to in- crease the number af flights. Maybe we'll have to increase the size of the aircraft. Maybe we'll have to decrease the size of the aircraft.” The last possibility - a downgrade from the cur- rent Fokker F-28 jet ser- vice down to some or all flights using turboprop Dash-8s — is what has Clark most worried, “My concern is that we do receive a pood ade- quate service and | think Terrace is a bit too far to service without a jet,” ’ Clark said, While Ottawa has gone to great lengths to suggest it will protect consumers from price-gouging by the two merging airlines, he said there’s nothing in le- gislation tabled to address service levels or types of aircraft flown. Carlson Wagonlit First Choice Travel co-owner Cindy Sabino is more cpti- mistic the plane size could go up rather than down with just oné-carrier flying. READY TO FLY: Passenger Anabella Custodio checks her bags for a Canadian Airlines flight to Vancouver. to get new owner Air Ca- nada to match the previous terms. That's nol the airlines’ problem, said Brawn, ex- plaining anyone can run a rewards program if they buy air tickets to give away. He did say Air Canada and Canadian are working to ensure there’s no uncer- tainty relating to their own STeogguld! -gsee Ythem?” frequent fiver programs: i bringing back the 737,” she said. “If the seats aren't being sold J can’t _see them tuming away bu- siness.” Another area of uncer- tainty for travellers is whe- ther they’Il be able to con- tinue to redeem Air Miles reward points for flights here. The loyalty program, which had in the past bought tickets from Cana- dian Airlines at a generous discount, has been unable a) Air ‘Canada’s Aeroplan’ and Canadian’s Canadian Plus programs will allow their participants to re- deem their points with ei- ther airline, he said. Point holders will also start to accumulate points in whatever plan they’re enrolled in even if they fly with the other airline. “There’s nothing what- soever to be concerned about,” Brawn said. “Things afe moving forward.” Why live with a diet that says no pizza, | no cake, no fun? (Now there’s no reason to.) o Now Weight Watchers easy 1*2°3 Success Plan lets you enjoy any food you crave! The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Apri! 5, 2000 - All Kemano home buyers add to an increase in house sales here THE AREA is experiencing an up- swing in the real estate market com- pared to the past several years. And indications are that there’s more economic confidence out there, say realtors. Lisa Godlinski, who is s the local re- presentalive for the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board, says business began to pick up in February. “People are moving here ‘and people are upgrading,” said Godlinski, a realtor with: Royal LePage. “It's particularly active in the mid- dle — $130,000 to $180,000,” she said. In all, Godlinski says there are about 36 listings in that price range. “There is still a choice out there,” she said. Some homes are being bought by Alcan workers who have to be out of the Kemano townsile later this spring. That’s because Alcan, which owns the townsite, has decided the power generators at Kemano can be more cheaply maintained by operating a small camp there staffed by workers who will fly in and fly out. Godlinski and others estimated six Kemano familics have now bought houses here. Jim Duffy of Century 21 thinks that number may climb to 10 families by the time the townsite has been closed down later this year. Like Godlinski, Duffy says the Ke- mano influx.is welcome although it is not the sole driving force behind an in- ‘crease in the market, “People have some motivation be- cause of interest rate increases. They feel the rates may go up again and want to buy right now lo avoid that,” he said. That's particularly the case for people who have rates locked in under pre-approved mortgages and are now coming to the end of the period when those rates are guaranteed, Duffy con- linued. Jolin Evans at Remax says some of the buying interest comes from a stabi- lizing of prices. People may have held out last year in the expectation that prices will con- linue-to fall, he said. “Since last September, prices have levelled. They're not increasing, but they’re not falling either,” said Evans. “People want to get in now as op- posed to paying more later on if prices rise,” he said. CORRECTION NOTICE WE WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING IN QUR GURAENT ‘2000 ANNUAL CATALOGUE Page 376- ITEMS #6, REESE DRAW BAAS, 40-6000X Copy Reads: Fils all Hitches on Page 377, 2" Diop Ball Plallomm. 5000-(b capacity, Each 30.99-69.99 SOULD REAQ: Fils all ‘Class fir Hitches on -Page 377. Each 30.99- 124.99 | W2-SINCERELY REGRETANY ~ INCONVENIENCE WE MAY HAVE CAUSED YOU, cnola ‘BOcal - Zone 1 ARE YOU CAR SMART? Ford Motor Company & Chatelaine Magazine have joined forces to provide women with relevant information & facts they need to make informed automotive decisions. The seminars will cover the essentials of maintenance, financing alternatives as well as family and personal safety issues. Admission is FREE and gift bags will be given away along with a chance to win a trip. The number of participants is limited. For more information, call Lianne. Date: Wednesday, April 12 Time: 7pm - 9pm _ Terrace Totem Ford, — .4631 Keith Ave. ,.,... Phone: 635-4984 2) Every food has a POINTS® value. 3 ® Sarah, Duchess of York Stay within your POINTS range and lose weight! Now! Weight VVatchers has a whale new approach to weight loss — the 10% difference! zuew’ ie estas Join now for ¥2 price and save 209° Call 1-800-682-8011 for more information Knox United Church (Terrace) 4907 Lazelle - Tuesday 7:00 pm 7 Valid in British Colurnbia for a timiced time only, Subsequent weekly fees apply. GST not included, f ©2000 Weight Watchers International, Inc. Owner of the WEIGHT WATCHERS trademark. All rights reserved. I We're having a contest! Enler your suggestion for a name for Terrace's newest park 1; being built along Highway 16 west. The winner will receive a six month family pass ; to the Aquatic Centre valued at $248.00. The winning entrant will also be invited to participate in the official opening ceremony. a 6.) y Sesh F Name: ; Address: I E Phone Number: I My Name for the Park is: 1 * Entry forms can be dropped off at the Terrace Parks and Recreation Office | or at |. the Terrace Aquatic Centre, Deadline for entry is Aptit 28ih, 2000. ee ee eee eee | Buy Four Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tires for the price of three!* Aggressive all-terrain traction for your pickup, sport utility vehicle or 4x4! GOODSYEAR WRANGLER 14 £132} Othar sizes avallable. BUY A SET OF 42 14 EACH P235/75R15 5130-A Highway 16 West Terrace, BC V8G 5S6 or Terrace, BC V8G 1K4 (250) 635-4344 (250) 635-5576 "Buy 4 Goodyear Wrangler ATIS res for the price of ttuee. 4 Far 3 offer ends April 30, 2000, Otter sizes lab, see taller tor complete datails. Earn AIR MILES* reward milds on Goodyear tires and machanical at Fountain Fite, € Travemnares. of AIR MILES® Inleenetional Hokiing 4 V. Used under Soanse by The Leyalty Group, non san 4641 Keith Avenue