I’ve been through many airports. This one’s arrival system is the worst

Kuala unbearable

One reader was unhappy with the arrival experience at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Credit: iStock

I strongly agree with the “Hell in KL” letter about the arrival “system” at Kuala Lumpur airport. On our incoming flight, there was no advice that we needed an arrival document and we were sent back from the immigration desk to fill in details on one of just three provided laptops. The software refused to allow certain data entry, and we were told to go to the customer service desk where even those staff members had trouble using it. After 30-plus minutes we were finally “welcomed” to Malaysia. We have been to many international airports over the years. KL has by far the worst arrival system.
John Konings, Port Fairy, Vic

Letter of the week: Prime mates

A young orangutan in Borneo – there are ways to help.Credit: iStock

Your “From the editors” note included a delightful photograph of a baby orangutan (Traveller print edition, June 21, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald) on the island of Borneo. It also referred to the loss of orangutan habitat through the spread of palm-oil plantations. Traveller readers should know that they can act to help save this remarkable animal. The Orangutan Project works to save the orangutan and habitat that supports it. In doing so, it also supports the conservation of other important species. The orangutan is an iconic species. It and a myriad of animals just like it face the threat of extinction. It is human activity that threatens them and human activity that can save them. Conservation is a global responsibility. We can all do something. The Orangutan Project can be contacted at orangutan.org.au
Colin Smith, Dandenong, Vic

Life and limbs

Having just returned from Singapore on Qantas flight QF38 – a flight in an Airbus A330-300, in cattle class, I too sat (tightly) and witnessed the challenges of boarding passengers and cabin staff negotiating the movement of the meal trolley (Traveller, June 23) while avoiding the overhanging limbs of sleeping passengers. I was pleased, for once in my life, that I wasn’t more than 182 centimetres (six feet in the old language) tall. I doubt that Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson and many of her executive team would actually fit in one of these seats, probably haven’t tried them, and therein lies the problem. Solution? Remove four rows, or 32 passengers, and give everyone an extra few inches – limbs would remain intact, and an enjoyable experience would be had. The downside for Qantas? Executive pay packets would reduce on lower profit margins.
Gary Williams, Surrey Hills, Vic

Lost and pound

In regard to leaving things on flights (Traveller, June 28) I believe KLM has a number of dogs, wearing coats with pockets, which accompany the cleaners after an aircraft arrives. When an item is found, it is placed in a dog’s pocket, and the dog then finds another KLM staff member in the arrivals lounge. The dog can easily find the relevant passenger, by acting like a sniffer dog, and the item is returned to the passenger with a minimum of fuss and delay. It sounds like an effective way to deal with a common problem.
Mia David, Wollongong, NSW

Dog acts

I returned last week to Australia after several weeks overseas. At the airport, despite having nothing to declare on my arrival form, l was pulled aside for a random check which involved standing within demarcated lanes while two different trained dogs led by heavily uniformed customs officials inspected the luggage. Instructions were delivered in abrupt, loud voices, such as “stand still, don’t move, don’t touch your luggage”. I wonder if the staff realise the impact of these procedures on those with familial and cultural ties to the Holocaust, or similar, obliterating experiences. I felt threatened, coerced, anxious, invisible and more. Does the harshness really add to the efficacy? Not a great homecoming, Australia.
Name and address withheld.

Plane unwell

Many of our friends who have recently returned from overseas have arrived home with the flu, COVID or RSV. Plane travel has always been renowned as a germ incubator but with COVID-19 still prevalent and a more cavalier attitude to testing and preventative measures, plane travel is more than ever a health lottery. The use of onboard toilets seems particularly fraught. I wonder if airlines have made any improvements to reduce the risk of contracting these illnesses and if other travellers have any safety tips they can recommend?
Peter Thomson, Brunswick, Vic

High fever

Mount Annapurna – as the monsoon season is extending, so are the risks.Credit: iStock

Thanks to Lee Tulloch for her article on dengue in Fiji with illness on the rise worldwide. According to The Kathmandu Post, Nepal had its first recorded dengue case of an infected foreigner in 2004 while in 2024 there were 42,000 reported cases. My wife was one of them, having spent nine days in hospital in Pokhara, Nepal, late last year with the illness. Climate data and anecdotal evidence shows the monsoon season is getting longer and later in Nepal, so there are obviously more mosquitoes at higher altitudes too.
Philip Macrae, Suffolk Park NSW

Poor show

We recently had business-class tickets on an American Airlines code share flight with Qantas from Washington DC to Brisbane via Los Angeles. However, due to a massive weather event, we learned our connecting flight would be delayed by five hours, meaning we would miss our flight to Brisbane. We immediately notified staff in the American Airlines lounge, who assured us that they had booked us on the next night’s flight. However, when we eventually went to the gate, ground staff told us our tickets had been cancelled in what, in their words, amounted to a “stuff up”. When they eventually found us seats in economy we were relieved that at least we would get to LA, where our travel agent booked us a hotel for the night.

The next morning, when the Qantas app showed no forward bookings, our travel agent checked and informed us Qantas had cancelled our tickets, due to our being a “no show”. Even worse, new business class tickets to Brisbane would cost us $50,000. When I suggested we should buy economy-class tickets he warned that to do so would allow Qantas to wipe their hands of us. Finally, at midnight LA time, our travel agent was able to convey the good news that Qantas had agreed to put us on a flight the next night.

Adding insult to injury, Qantas neglected to load most of our baggage. It was finally delivered to us four days after our arrival in Brisbane. The moral of this story? Without the perseverance of our travel agent at a high level in Qantas, we would never have been able to achieve an acceptable outcome from Qantas.
Sue Donovan, Main Beach, Qld

Jetstar, you star I

We’ve all felt that sinking moment when the carousel empties and a bag is missing. This happened to us returning to Melbourne from Bali with Jetstar. Expecting budget service from a budget airline, we were surprised when Jetstar exceeded expectations. At the baggage counter, staff quickly informed us our bag was still in Denpasar. Later, we received a call: a power bank left in the bag had held it up. After sending a quick confirmation email, and a couple of friendly follow-ups, our bag arrived two days later. Great communication and genuinely impressive service from Jetstar.
Peter Michael, Melbourne, Vic

Jetstar, you star II

We recently flew from Sydney to Uluru and were seated among a group of young adults with disabilities. Excitement about their upcoming holiday was wonderful to see. Their carers from Stellar Experiences were amazing, and it’s fantastic to see travel and adventure available to all. Shout out to Jetstar cabin crew, too, for their patience, understanding and humour. We even got a detailed commentary as we flew over Lake Eyre.
Julie Lynch, Oyster Bay, NSW

Tip of the week: Step aside, Singapore

Kuala Lumpur and the Petronas Twin Towers.Credit: Getty Images

I nominate Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as the foodie capital of Asia, surpassing Singapore in taste, variety and price. Even the not so humble shopping complexes offer an enormous variety of meals (albeit on the carby side). KL itself has much to offer, especially the Islamic Arts Museum, which is not too big, well-presented and engaging, plus its cafe offers great food. The Bandar Utana shopping complex next to the M World hotel at Petalingjaya has an enormous variety of shops and restaurants and even the buskers provide excellent music. I stumbled on a supermarket selling organic produce.
Ashley Berry, Toolijooa, NSW

Way to go

Luxe is relative. Ute Junker’s cover story, “The joy of luxe club” (Traveller on Sunday, June 29) is proof of that. Travel along Queensland’s Overlanders Way, where the tiny town of Julia Creek really turns it on. Country hospitality is their forte with fresh scones served with a CWA smile and a yarn. Indulge in mineral-rich artesian water in your private bathhouse whilst enjoying a glass of sparkly, as the outback sun sets, revealing another sparkle or two in the inky night skies. And if that’s not enough, the cheeky endangered Julia Creek dunnart will definitely charm you into staying another night.
Roxanne Le Blanc, Croydon, Vic

Grill thrill

We’re staying at the five-star Te Moama Resort in Tahiti, a big change from our usual budget travel. While the resort restaurant looked great, we opted to dine outside for a more local experience. Just a short walk, we found Taapuna Grill, a pop-up eatery operating from a caravan with a charcoal, open-air barbecue out the back. The menu features a solid selection of French-style dishes you’d expect at upscale restaurants but at much lower prices. We had the fish of the day, local swordfish, served with a choice of two sides – delicious.
Michael Copping, Oatley, NSW

Trulli Italy

Polignano a Mare.Credit: iStock

We’re just back from our small-group holiday in Puglia with Australian company, Italian Tours. We loved Locorotondo’s cobbled streets and flower baskets, the cliffs and beaches of Polignano a Mare, the olive groves and the vineyards. We enjoyed private lunches in wineries and small villages, travelling in our comfy coach with less than a dozen others. Our tour leader, Luca, shared his knowledge of Italian history and culture, food and wine, and suggested some great local restaurants. We enjoyed three nights each in carefully chosen hotels facing Santa Croce in Lecce, relaxing in a trulli resort in a vineyard and looking out to sea on the Gargano Peninsula. It was a wonderful experience.
Mary Worrad, King Creek, NSW

Well coached

Flying from Sydney to Tokyo, we often select a day flight, booking an airport hotel in Japan for our first night. At Haneda Airport, we stay at the Villa Fontaine Grand. Depending on arrival time you can have a meal at one of the airport restaurants, pick-up snacks from a 7-Eleven, or go straight to bed. The next morning, we use the airport limousine bus service (which operates at both Haneda and Narita), booking for it at the airport counter or online. There are various coaches that drop off at locations all around Tokyo, including main transport hubs for less than $15 – much cheaper than a taxi.
Philip Smith, Waterloo, NSW

SIMS like a good idea

I have been a regular user of eSims for some time, but I came across an unexpected limitation that travellers should be aware of. Last year, while visiting the US for a ski trip, I rented a car (a late-model SUV) and attempted to connect my phone via Android Auto, with complete failure, even after trying multiple cables. I chalked it up to some glitch, but this month I rented a car in Hawaii and the same problem occurred. Some searching showed that this is a reported problem with US cars and Airalo eSIMs, whereas other provider eSIMs will work fine. So if you expect to use your eSIM for car navigation, check to ensure the particular eSIM works for that situation.
Andrew McRae, Hunters Hill, NSW

Nothing fancy

Sometimes you don’t need to travel too far from home. We recently ended up in the Victorian town of Kilmore, just an hour or so north of Melbourne, at around lunchtime and decided to try the local Macs Irish pub. Despite its unprepossessing decor it’s a gem – friendly staff, excellent food and reasonable prices. The same is true of the Imperial Hotel Avenal, where 10 of us ended up at Easter and had a great lunch. No fancy renovations in either place, just warm friendly hospitality and a good feed. We are now on a mission to try older, unreconstructed pubs in Victorian country towns. And I can definitely recommend the Guinness pie at Macs.
Jacque Hardwick, Coburg, Vic

The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. See shop.lonelyplanet.com