Jetstar cancelled our flight – then treated us like royalty

Five stars for Jetstar

Making our way to the departure gate we heard the announcement that our Jetstar flight to Maroochydore was cancelled due to engineering issues. I required mobility assistance due to recent surgery, so staff had provided a wheelchair on our initial check-in.

After a cancelled flight, one Traveller reader was impressed with Jetstar’s response.

The service we received from Jetstar staff on rebooking a flight for the following day to their organisation of accommodation and meals and taxi fares was outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble and we were treated like royalty. The fabulous service continued for our early morning flight the next day until our landing.
Marian Johnson, Hazelbrook, NSW

Missing the points

We’ve been Qantas Frequent Flyers for 50 years and on accumulated points we booked a hotel for three nights in Milan as our children had given us tickets to an opera at La Scala. After hours on the phone waiting I made a mistake with dates booking August instead of July for three nights. Immediately I informed Qantas of my error and now cannot change the dates to July when needed. Qantas blames the hotel, the hotel says speak to Qantas so we have a booking in August and we’ve lost all our points. No-one else can use our booking.
Irena Hutchings, Woollamia, NSW

Letter of the week: Make mine a double

Lake Mungo and its unique formations.Credit: iStock

After a long drive over a rough dirt road, we were devastated to discover that we had made a mistake in our booking and it seemed our much-anticipated visit to Lake Mungo was a disaster as the Lodge was booked out. However, on hearing of our plight, a young woman and her 10-year-old son immediately offered us the double bed in their room, saying they would take the bunks. Not only did we have a comfortable night but we octogenarians enjoyed the company of two delightful young people and had our faith in human kindness restored.
Lexie Neale, Bomaderry, NSW

Not cool, Manchester

David Whitley suggests Manchester Airport as one possible UK alternative arrival airport to Heathrow (Traveller, April 30). It may be OK for arrivals, but not necessarily for departures. Departing Manchester last November the airport required all liquids and creams to be placed in separate plastic bags. Having a medication cold bag, including insulin, no care was taken to maintain a medication-safe environment, with freezer packs left out on open trays, every item in both backpack and handbag strewn about on multiple trays, and one officer removing the cap of my insulin pen, perusing it as if he’d never before seen one. Had I realised how dreadful security was going to be at Manchester Airport, I would have requested special consideration in advance to ensure smooth progress through to departure.
Margaret Barry, Melbourne, Vic

Perfection overrated

Recently I stayed at a three-star unit in Adelaide. A sign on the fridge said any rating under 4.7 would be considered bad. I gave the unit a rating of 7 out of 10 as the lounge had no back cushions, one bed was very uncomfortable, and the shower design caused the bathroom to flood each time. I noticed booking.com only published the scores and not the comments. I then received a message asking why I hadn’t given it 10 out of 10. I explained they could not expect a five-star rating for three-star accommodation and repeated the reasons. Why does everyone expect perfect ratings these days?
Lorraine Phillips, Wollongong, NSW

Consider Cuba

Vintage Cuba.Credit: iStock

I agree with Ben Groundwater that Cuba is a terrific destination (Traveller, May 4). Fortunately, we went there before 2020 and, as per his information regarding getting an ESTA to go to the US, you’re still eligible for the visa waiver program if travel was before that time. You may still get a visa to travel to the US if you’ve been to Cuba post 2020, but it could take months and an interview.
Susan Griffiths, Gerroa, NSW

On points

Broome: worth a longer stay.Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Often touted as an overpriced “two-night-maximum” stopover for cruise ships or those travelling further into the Kimberley, Broome was well worth the five nights we spent there. Broome is a tropical paradise with great food, beaches and an interesting history. While it only takes a couple of days to “see” everything, lounge by the pool with a book for the rest of the holiday and get some R&R. Use those long-saved Qantas points and travel in May or September for a cheap escape.
Georgie Foster, Thornbury, Vic

Travel privileges

Yes, it’s frustrating when we can’t choose the seats we want on a plane, or when airports charge exorbitant prices for bottled drinks (“Hard to swallow” and “System failure”, Traveller Letters, May 10). But perhaps a little perspective is in order? About 80 per cent of the world’s population has never been on a flight. Travel is a privilege. The fact that so many Australians have the opportunity to explore our planet’s beautiful places is something we’d do well not to take for granted.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Made the switch

Your letter about scams (Traveller Letters, May 10) reminded me of what made me switch from taxis to Uber. Years ago I was living in Melbourne and had just returned from a trip to Brisbane. I queued up, got a taxi, and we went on our way. We were about as far as Essendon Airport and I noticed the fare was higher than it should’ve been by that point and was ticking over quicker than expected. The driver asked me where I was visiting from, and I said I was a local. Suddenly, the meter started ticking over at a regular pace. When I got home he told me the fare and I asked what it would’ve been had he not been ripping me off at the start of the trip. He asked me what I wanted to pay. I’ve stuck to Uber ever since.
Simon Goodman, Potts Point, NSW

Maxed out

I used to be frequently the subject of taxi fare ripoffs at its epicentre, the Gold Coast. One reason is the high percentage of “maxi-taxis” where the driver has the capacity to inappropriately charge a multi-hire rate for just one or two passengers. I’ve since tracked down an honest cabbie who I use for all my travels around the area. She has assured me that all taxi complaints are taken very seriously. The important thing is always to get a copy of your receipt. That little piece of paper doesn’t just contain a receipt for payment but all the details of your fare, such as time, flag fall and all charges. It can’t be altered. Taxi “cowboys” give all hard-working cabbies a bad name and deserve to be reported.
Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW

Tip of the week: Happy teardrop island

Put Sri Lanka on your bucket list.Credit: iStock

We have just returned from a 15-day trip to the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. It was reasonably priced, had verdant varied terrain, lovely food, incredible hotels, great safari opportunities and people unable to do enough for you. Put it on your bucket list and you won’t be disappointed. We chose to have our own chauffeured car, and travelled with Olanka Travels, an online company who thought of everything – and it didn’t break the bank.
Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick, NSW

Mama’s favourite

In 1975, I worked at the CSR sugar mills in Ingham, north Queensland, where the population was mainly Italian, many of whom were from Sicily. One of the desserts that the women made was savoiardi cake, a dessert that I had not tasted before. I got the impression then that it was a popular peasant dish for festive occasions. My wife, who was teaching at a convent school just outside Ingham, was frequently indulged by mothers, with gifts of savoiardi cake. Many years later on our return to Sydney, we found the cake on some restaurant menus as tiramisu.
Peter Wotton Pyrmont, NSW

I bought it myself

Your tiramisu article (Traveller, May 4), reminded me of when my Italian husband would make this delicious dessert, soaking the savoiardi biscuits in freshly made espresso from his Bialetti moka pot, whisking the egg whites, the yolks, adding in the mascarpone, layering everything in a perfect construction before refrigeration. The end result was divine. But then he discovered Aldi’s desserts which include a tiramisu made in Italy. It costs $7.99 for 500g and sadly for me, he no longer thinks it’s worth the effort to make it at home.
Veronica Lauria, McMahons Point, NSW

Careful when you click

I recently went online to book accommodation in England for a holiday. Where possible I like to book directly with the hotel, so when I saw the name of the hotel followed by “guest reservations” I assumed this was their site. I booked two rooms for about $800 and received a receipt for $1300. The extra was for “taxes and services”. If I cancel or change the booking, I lose the whole amount. I contacted the hotel and it confirmed that I do have a booking but that they can’t do anything about the booking company. Very disappointing, but an expensive lesson learnt.
Jim Noonan, Malabar, NSW

Food of the Incan gods

Ben Groundwater’s article (Traveller, May 4) brought back fond memories of our gastronomic experience on the Inca Trail. For lunch on day 1, our porters served delicious avocado topped with prawns and fresh tomato salsa. Satisfied and rested, our group was ready for more hiking, when out came a main course, followed by a sweet treat to finish. Two days later for my husband’s 50th birthday, our amazing porters baked a birthday cake using the gas bottles they’d carried on the 42 kilometres of trail, to heat a simple oven.
Roxanne Le Blanc, Croydon, Vic

Ask the locals

I have many vivid and enjoyable memories of meals I’ve had while travelling. As we usually stay in hotels, I always ask the person in reception for recommendations, and I have never been disappointed. When in Toledo we were told of a restaurant down a back lane. We checked it out beforehand and it was a dingy shopfront. However we went back later and had a magnificent meal. The shop had been opened up with many small rooms and a huge side area was also in use. It was crowded with locals and the place was rocking. Another rule (Traveller, May 2) – don’t go where the waiters are wearing white jackets.
Patricia Harrington, Kerang, 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