A heartwarming reason to fly

By Gerald V. Paul

Samuel and Margaret Banton are dedicated and long-term Caribbean Airlines passengers. Airline staff members at Pearson International Airport (inset) keep things happy and reliable.  Gerald V. Paul Photos
Samuel and Margaret Banton are dedicated and long-term Caribbean Airlines passengers. Airline staff members at Pearson International Airport (inset) keep things happy and reliable.
Gerald V. Paul Photos

“For the last 20 years we have been flying regularly with Caribbean Airlines and they are the best!”

That’s the considered opinion of Jamaican-born Samuel and his wife, Trinidad and Tobago-born Margaret Banton, when interviewed by The Camera at Pearson International Airport.

Guyanese-born Azeez Abraham, who for the past 25 years has been flying with Caribbean Airlines, offers his review: “Travel is good. Very reliable.

“As for the one-and-a-half-hour stopover in Trinidad, who cares?”

And when the forecast says “Today it’s 83F in the Caribbean,” that’s one heartwarming reason to fly.

Caribbean Airlines offers daily Toronto-to-Caribbean flights to Trinidad with connections to Tobago and Guyana. Three times a week, they fly to Kingston and twice weekly to Grenada.

Seats are subject to availability at time of booking.

They include the tasty complimentary meal/snack, in-flight entertainment, warm Caribbean service, reliable, modern aircraft and Caribbean Airlines’ valued customers can earn Frequent Flyer miles.

Meanwhile, according to news coming out of Caribbean Airlines office in Trinidad and Tobago last Friday: Caribbean Airlines announces changes to its checked baggage policies.

Despite the growing industry trend of airlines moving to charge passengers for all checked bags, Caribbean Airlines announced its new policy of charging passengers for their second checked bag. The first checked bag continues to be free, together with one carry-on bag while a fee for the second bag will be US$25.

Airline Staff
Airline Staff

The baggage policy for business class customers increases their free checked bag allotment to three pieces.

Caribbean Airlines had resisted moving to the policy for a second bag but because most competitors charge passengers for their checked bags, it had to match industry practice to remain competitive.

And because Christmas is for children and the season for giving, Caribbean Airlines staff recently brought some holiday cheer to children at JBF Paediatric Specialty Unit, Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital in Mount Hope.

In partnership with the Just Because Foundation, a paediatric cancer support organization, the Caribbean Airlines Wings of Love staff group spent time with the children and presented them with holiday gifts.

“We were so inspired by the kids. No one wants to be sick but they showed us how to be thankful and optimistic, especially when it’s tough to do so. They are truly remarkable,” said Alicia Cabrera, senior marketing manager, Caribbean Airlines.

For further information visit their website at www.caribbean-airlines.com.