Canada not on sale any more
Remember when the US dollar got around $1.50 Canadian? Memories! (It’s around $1.12 as I type.) But it’s about to get more expensive for non-Canadians visiting the country. It has long been possible to get a tax refund at the border, including the GST paid for hotel stays. Effective April 1, 2007, no such refunds will be possible any longer. Bummer. Nice to get it while it lasted, of course, but honestly, the hotel stay tax refund never made sense to me.

US Airways shortens the life of a mile
Most airlines expire your miles after 3 years (you generally reset the clock with a flight, or any other account activity.) US Airways has now cut that time to 18 months. If you’re earning anything in your account, this is moot. But if you rarely earn miles, make sure to credit something small to your US Airways account to keep balances alive. Better yet, spend ‘em!

Maxjet marketers suck up to the boss
I’m all for fare sales. And a $999 roundtrip business class fare from New York to London is great. But to say that it’s in celebration of the CEO’s birthday? Asskissers. (Use code CEOBDAY to get the deal at maxjet.com.)

The 9/11 hijackers are on the no-fly list
Thank goodness they’re on the list now that they’re dead.

World’s best airport security? Sweden!
Rah, rah, Sweden. Biometrics in full effect, while safeguarding privacy.

US and EU reach deal on passenger data
Not much more information out there, other than the fact that a deal of some kind has been reached. But this means that airlines flying between the EU and US won’t be fined. I certainly hope the details don’t remain secret forever, though.

Slower blogging this week
Expect fewer posts this week. I’m at O’Hare as we speak, waiting for this specific plane to board. Happy travels to those on the road.

O Canada! Our neighbors to the north have wisely reconsidered some of the recently imposed airport security provisions.

In particular: Liquids purchased in Canadian airports AFTER passengers have passed security will no longer be prohibited on board airplanes. Buy that overpriced bottle of water, the venti latte, or a six-pack of Molson, and you won’t have to dump it before entering the jetway. Unless you’re traveling to the United States, in which case your liquids magically become threatening to everyone’s safety again, and you’re required to pour them out.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: It makes no sense to have a “sterile” area in the airport, where goods and individuals have been screened for contraband, and then ban items obtained from that area anyway. It’s completely arbitrary, and part of the kabuki security we’ve all gotten accustomed to in the past weeks. Hats off to Canada for injecting some modicum of sense into matters.