Executive Travel : Travel Notes

Courtesy Call: The best time to arrange an international conference call from North America is about 6 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. At least that’s the view of Minneapolis-based Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

While not convenient for all, the time more or less falls within waking hours in major commercial areas. At 6 a.m. PST, it is 2 p.m. in London, 5 p.m. in Moscow, 11 p.m. in Tokyo and 9 a.m. in New York.

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Vested Interest: Is there really a life vest under the airplane seat? A reader of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter wrote to that publication saying a passenger on a flight to Europe checked under her seat when the announcement was made about where to find one--and found none.

The reader said a flight attendant told the passenger that boaters sometimes steal the flotation devices. A replacement was brought on board and the plane took off.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it’s basically up to the airlines to make sure life vests are in place on flights on which they are required.

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Airline Guide: The 1996 edition of the Salk International Airport Transit Guide, published in Sunset Beach, is now available for $8.95. It covers ground-transfer services at 427 airports around the world. Individual copies can be purchased through Magellan’s catalogue by calling (800) 962-4943.

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Black Ink: David Swierenga, economist for the Air Transport Assn., estimates that passenger traffic for all of 1995 will be up by 3.5% over the 1994 level.

Net income for the association’s member airlines, which carry about 95% of U.S. air travelers, is expected to total about $2 billion for 1995.