SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT
Along with the present woes Qantas is experiencing on account of cancellations and misplaced baggage I wish to add worth gouging to the checklist. Subsequent month, I’m booked from Adelaide to Cape City, enterprise class with Qantas. Subsequently, needing to delay my return by two days, Qantas needed to cost $1250 to make the change to the later flight. I declined. Qantas lately knowledgeable me of a flight change from Johannesburg to Cape City, now arriving very late within the night. I made a decision to remain in a single day in Johannesburg at my very own expense and catch a morning flight the next day. Qantas needed to cost $350 to make the change, when the fare on the South African Airways web site could be purchased for as little as $115. As soon as once more, I declined. Want I say extra?
Craig McGrath, Erindale, SA
LATIN LESSON
We had been informed by the airline business years in the past that airways code-sharing flights would result in efficiencies, extra competitors and decrease fares. We fell for this line (not that we had a alternative) and now discover that these “alliances” have actually been a smokescreen for much less competitors, fare fixing and fewer decisions. An ideal instance is the Qantas/LATAM codeshare duopoly from Australia to South America. Seek for a fare on that route however sit down first. Air New Zealand has ceased flying this route, leaving Qantas and LATAM to gouge the market with grossly inflated fares. There are many different examples.
Wayne Murphy, Bardon, QLD
LETTER OF THE WEEK
CROCK NOT CROCKERY
I learn Lee Tulloch’s airport lounges piece (Traveller, August 6) with curiosity however surprise why our as soon as iconic nationwide airline did not fee a point out? Maybe it was as a result of its providing, like all points of the airline’s floor operations and providers, is so hit and miss. I lately flew Canberra to Darwin through Sydney return enterprise class and supply two examples. The Darwin Qantas Membership was vibrant, clear and ethereal with sizzling drinks and an intensive lunch menu served on crockery and bar choices in glassware. In Sydney, each membership and home enterprise class lounges had been crowded and in determined want of a makeover. Brews had been served in cardboard cups, drinks from the bar got here in tasting-sized plastic holders and the meals – which no self respecting chef would put his or her title to – got here on cardboard. Nonetheless, my baggage made it each methods and the flight attendants offered old style requirements, notably the crew on QF841 who had been excellent.
John Moore, Braidwood, NSW
WAITING GAME
After ready almost 14 weeks to have my passport renewed, I’m determined to grasp how some candidates have been fortunate sufficient to obtain their passports within the “cheap” time of six to eight weeks. My utility of Might 2 appears to have merely disappeared into the ether. On ringing the passport workplace to investigate, the primary query I used to be requested was “what’s my journey date?” It now happens to me that cluey persons are merely giving a close-by date and thereby getting their utility expedited. The passport workplace call-centre individuals haven’t any method of checking your journey date declare. In good religion, I submitted my renewal utility with months to spare, however sadly am nonetheless ready months later, with no data of the place I’m within the queue, and apparently no honest system being utilized in a first-in next-processed method. I’m powerless to alter this and should lose hundreds of {dollars} on a long-planned vacation. Is there any answer to this mess?
C. Murphy, Port Macquarie, NSW
TOURS DE FARCE
I write to you from a place of whole, utter frustration. I and plenty of others who’re in the same state of affairs have nowhere to go for pressing assist. We’d like a journey business ombudsman, proper now. Many people have had to make use of journey credit score (earlier than it expires and we lose it utterly ) from cancelled excursions brought on by COVID-19. On the time of getting to make the brand new bookings, planes weren’t even within the air. Tour firms have set the rule at zero refund if cancelled. However the place can we stand as passengers who gave these tour firms heaps and many cash as much as 4 years in the past? Excursions to Japan that we dedicated to utilizing our credit score have altered dramatically to what we initially paid for. We’ll probably need to pay much more cash for a tour that is not what we agreed to, and if we ask to alter our journey dates, the reply is a flat “no”. What rights do tour purchasers have? None in any respect, it appears.
Marg Huxley, Murwillumbah, NSW
VAN MAN
I left Australia to journey in Europe in 1972. My spouse and I drove to our native Hungary for our first return journey, arriving in Budapest in our 1963 VW Kombi van. We seemed up my ageing relative, (a well-known actress) and we spent a while together with her, driving her round within the van. We thought she was very cool and broad minded to get into an outdated bomb together with her long-lost hippie relations. So it was satisfying to learn in your report (Traveller, August 28) that the now restored opulent Anantara New York Palace Budapest Resort is providing its pampered company journeys round Budapest in a classic VW van.
Robert Sebes, Dulwich Hill NSW
ACT UP
I used to be disenchanted to learn (Traveller Letters, August 6), a few lady with a bodily incapacity allegedly being “hectored” by airport scanning employees, when she was unable to lift her arm. In case your criticism to these in cost is just not resolved, chances are you’ll want to contemplate a criticism to the Australian Human Rights Fee below the Incapacity Discrimination Act.
Matthew Hamilton, Kew, Vic
LOW RENT
Following on from Michael Gebicki’s article on automobile rent (Traveller, August 6), throughout a latest journey to the UK, I needed to guide a automobile from Scotland and gave my nation of residence as Australia. I used to be quoted £3600 ($6130). My son-in-law then did the identical search, however used his nation of residence, Scotland, and the quote got here again as £1600.
Lynda Cronshaw, Narrabeen, NSW
FLOUT LOUTS
I used to be equally disturbed by your correspondent’s statement (Traveller Letters, August 6) that it was disturbing that Thais nonetheless go round totally masked whereas foreigners can go about unmasked. Being vaccinated doesn’t give us the moral licence to lose the masks; extra so after we are visiting different nations the place the norm is to make use of one. One in every of my finest buddies is a Thai medical physician and she or he is infuriated that many vacationers go to her nation and blatantly flout masks guidelines. Allow us to all be accountable travellers please.
Cristina Corleto, Stanmore, NSW
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
A few years in the past my husband and I had been travelling in South America. We had been in Bariloche Argentina visiting our daughter who speaks fluent Spanish. She took us on a bus to go to the well-known Llao Llao resort. A girl on the bus spoke to her and stated how fantastic to see a well-known actress, Glenn Shut travelling on public transport and invited us to remain at her dwelling. Subsequent was Cusco airport the place the supervisor got here to greet us off the aeroplane. He was virtually bowing and stated he was so completely satisfied to have a well-known film star in Cusco. On our flight to Santiago the flight attendant needed to maneuver a person with an oxygen bottle to the again of the airplane so we might have his seats up the entrance! After all we declined. Once we landed in Santiago we had been requested to attend till everybody disembarked. Then the entire crew got here out and needed a gaggle photograph with Glenn. I additionally needed to signal autographs for all of them. I signed Glenn. I ponder if the actual Glenn ever heard about me, the imposter. I had many extra circumstances of mistaken identification in South America however these had been the standouts.
Ann Thorburn, Blairgowrie, Vic
TIP OF THE WEEK
FRESH EYRE
With an abroad household vacation twice thwarted, we determined to vacation domestically as a substitute, travelling from Melbourne to South Australia (southaustralia.com) for a 3 week street journey taking within the Flinders Ranges and the Eyre Peninsula. We travelled in winter and skilled largely blue skies and had the roads, wild coastlines and mountains just about to ourselves and had been capable of discover the gorgeous locations with ease and tranquillity. I’ve a renewed appreciation for the Australian panorama and was surprised by the great thing about the Flinders Ranges. A scenic flight is very beneficial to understand the vastness & fascinating geology of the area. We returned dwelling feeling rejuvenated & impressed by our magical nation. SA is an underrated vacation spot.
Melody Bidwell, Diamond Creek, Vic
KEY TO THE KINGDOM
Your author Julie Miller cherished the magical lands of Disney (Traveller, August 21) in her cowl story and, having been there myself, I can also affirm its title of “the happiest place on earth”. Nevertheless, the excessive price of ticket passes weren’t talked about within the article.
Andrew Krisenthal, Blazland, NSW
EDITOR’S NOTE An ordinary one-day ticket to Disneyland, California and Disney World, Florida, begin from $US104 to $US109 ($150 to $158) an individual respectively, relying on the reserving date. We have added the data on the prices of a Disney go to to the net model of our story. We invite readers to supply their finest money-saving suggestions for a vacation there with one of the best recommendation printed right here.
TEED OFF
We lately spent a number of weeks within the US and wanted a SIM card for our cell phone for emergencies and navigation. After negotiating a rent automobile out of Dallas, we purchased an AT&T SIM (att.com) at Walmart and had bother activating it. We known as right into a small AT&T workplace the following day however the sole operator additionally could not get it to work after two hours of swapping SIMs. We stored travelling and made our method to an AT&T company workplace. Two hours later and on the shut of the shop we had been nonetheless unconnected however had a customer support ticket indicating we might be contacted inside 24 to 72 hours. No contact was forthcoming. The story continued with no promised contact, extra retailer visits and customer support calls from borrowed telephones. No service and no satisfaction from AT&T. We have returned to Australia now with a $50 steadiness on our unserviced SIM and no recourse for getting a refund. Our recommendation? Watch out for AT&T pay as you go.
Anthony Sullivan, Walwa, Vic
HALO EFFECT
I’m a reasonably seasoned traveller, and I’ve to say that the Bankwest Halo (bankwest.com.au) credit score and debit-cards are by far probably the most handy method to deal with cash whereas travelling. Halo refers to the truth that they’re actually rings with a chip embedded. I’ve a white one on one hand (credit score) and a gunmetal gray one on my left hand (debit). It signifies that I can exit with out a bag or a handbag and pay for items and providers with a faucet of my fist, and no web required. It is sensible and in addition discreet. The one draw back is that I’ve but to search out an ATM within the UK that can enable me to withdraw money by tapping however I count on that can come quickly. Till then, the quaint debit card should do.
Helen Edwards-Davis, Kingscliff, NSW
PLANE SAILING
Australians are nice travellers, as evidenced by the tales every week in Traveller, however we even have sights and surroundings shut at hand to rival something world wide. Lately, my spouse and I selected to make the scenic flight with Sydney by Seaplane (sydneybyseaplane.com), departing from the Palm Seashore Wharf in a historic de Havilland Beaver seaplane. The view from the air on the way in which down the Coast over the Northern Seashores is thoughts blowing and I imagine is unrivalled wherever on this planet. After we flew over Manly we turned and did a circuit of Sydney Heads after which a figure-eight across the harbour, then over the Harbour Bridge and Opera Home at 500 ft (152 metres). Our flight path took us again to the north to land at Cottage Level Inn on the Hawkesbury for lunch and to greet our household and the celebration of my spouse’s birthday. It’s a incredible flight and one that we might advocate to anybody.
Dennis Rutzou, Palm Seashore, NSW
FINANCIAL ADVICE
My worldwide journey profession started virtually 50 years in the past when your cash decisions had been money or these ubiquitous travellers cheques, normally in quite a lot of worldwide currencies (British kilos, US {dollars} or Swiss francs). Right now my journey cash consists of three varieties of card: my CBA Mastercard; a CBA Mastercard debit card; and two CBA Visa Journey Cash playing cards. The final two have two separate PINs and are normally loaded with US {dollars} and euros. I invariably journey with three or 4 days money and the adoption of the euro has made this side rather a lot simpler. My different tip is all the time inform your financial institution or monetary establishment if you end up travelling abroad, together with most nations you might be visiting, and cut back the day by day restrict for ATMs and bank card transactions. I even have my financial institution’s 24 hour name centre loaded into my cell phone favourites.
Michael Hayden, Kiama Downs, NSW
HOW TO WRITE TO US
We give choice to letters of 100 phrases or fewer and so they could also be edited for area, authorized or different causes. Please use full sentences, do not use textspeak and do not embrace attachments. E-mail us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, embrace your title, handle and cellphone quantity.
The Letter of the Week author wins Hardie Grant journey books value greater than $100. For September, that features We Reside in a Caravan; Life Unhurried; and Paris or Die. See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week author wins a set of three nice Lonely Planet journey books, together with Epic Hikes of Australia and New Zealand, Epic Street Journeys of Europe, and Epic Street journeys of the Americas. See store.lonelyplanet.com
