So long Qantas, I found a better option for frequent flyer points

Redemption stories

In the early ’90s, when I started to do a lot of work travel and earn a lot of points, I opted to fly Qantas rather than Ansett because of their international network, which was how I wanted to redeem the points. Good choice as it turned out, given Ansett’s demise, but I stuck with Qantas for many good reasons for more than 25 years and considered myself “rusted on”. This despite Qantas’ constant tweaking of the system which has consistently devalued the points and made them harder to redeem, despite its rhetoric to the contrary.

One Traveller reader found it easy to book a flight with Qatar Airways using Virgin Australia’s Velocity points.Credit: Bloomberg

Recently, however, I have accumulated a reasonable number of Virgin Australia’s Velocity points, and went to redeem them for travel to Doha (on Qatar Airways, before the recent announcement on ownership). Not only was I somewhat amazed to see that seats were available on my selected date (and every day for weeks either side of it) but when I had to cancel and re-book, it only cost me $60, the points were refunded instantaneously, and the fees were refunded to my account within 24 hours.

My allegiances have now changed.
Kevin Hunt, Kenthurst, NSW

Letter of the week: Unscheduled stop

The Church of the Merced, San Jose, Costa Rica.Credit: Getty Images

My wife, two friends, and I embarked on a nine-week, pre-paid tour of Central America and the US, using my Westpac Altitude credit card, which included complimentary Allianz Travel Insurance. At the remote Costa Rican-Panamanian border of Sixaola-Guabito International Bridge, my passport’s condition led to denied entry, requiring an emergency passport application in San Jose and a two-week delay in Costa Rica. My travel companions proceeded as planned. I incurred significant extra costs for accommodation and travel. Upon returning to Australia, Allianz’s prompt support resulted in full reimbursement for all my additional expenses.
Simon Richards, Glen Iris

Save the bees

Lee Tulloch is correct when she states bee numbers are dangerously depleted due to habitat loss among other factors (Traveller, March 4). However, her idea that “individuals and organisations think about keeping hives” is dangerously flawed. For Australia’s 2000 native bees and other endangered indigenous pollinators, the last thing they need is competition for ever-diminishing resources from introduced invasive agricultural livestock, ie European honey bees. It is especially worrying when multiple hives each containing about 60,000 bees are placed into wilderness areas. Honeybees do not occur naturally in Australian ecosystems and are a declared feral pest in Australia. In Tasmania another agricultural escapee, the bumblebee, is doing great damage environmentally. Keeping honeybees to “save the bees” is akin to keeping chickens to “save the birds”.
Sarah Sampson, Mornington Peninsula, Vic

Take a leaf

From beach to ski field to golf course… Tofino, Canada.Credit: Alamy

As a resident of Canada my whole life, I like to remind people we are more than ski mountains (Traveller, March 1) and we love to say you can ski or surf in the morning and play golf in the afternoons. If you haven’t checked out our west cast beaches and vibe, Tofino is unforgettable. Thanks for the boost, Canadians can use all the support they can get with these unsettling times.
Tracy DeBuysscher, British Columbia

Take a leaf #2

You do realise that, other than Calgary, you ignored our beautiful Prairie Provinces. You also ignore, with the exception of our tiniest Atlantic Provinces PEI, all of our other three: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. That’s not to mention Canada’s other two territories, Nunavet & the Yukon. So, you have effectively left out well over half of our beautiful country.
Dodie Casey, Nova Scotia

Take a leaf #3

So pleased to read Ute Junker’s article and to not read about the Rocky Mountaineer. We explored Canada two years ago and loved exploring from Vancouver to Banff, by car. The downside was that we were hooked into the marketing drawing us to book the return by train. It was expensive and such an underwhelming experience. If you really want to see Canada, get a car and you’ll love it.
Michael Wilson, St Ives, NSW

Safety first

Manila Airport has strict security measures in place.Credit: Getty Images

According to Philippine Airlines guidance (“Floored in Manila”, Traveller Letters, March 8) the enhanced luggage screening is a requirement of the Australian government for all flights departing or transiting Philippines, which is considered a high-risk origin. Airport security people have long memories, perhaps they are still recalling the PAL434 bombing incident from 1994.
Ian Donaldson, Sandringham, Vic

Inconvenient truths

I, too, travel to Manila regularly and checking for arms and explosive devices is the norm in the Philippines. Best to remember that there are insurgent groups in the southern Philippines that will only be too happy to send a message to other countries like Australia. Regret and hindsight only comes after tragedy, so I’m happy to put up with the inconvenience.
Cristina Corleto, Stanmore, NSW

Finding god(zilla)

Thank Godzilla you’re here.Credit: Getty Images

On a recent trip to Tokyo, I got off the airport bus at Shinjuku station and got lost. A Japanese woman, who didn’t speak much English, stopped and asked if I needed any help. As I don’t speak any Japanese, I pointed to the map at the east exit. I said my hotel is at Kabuchiko. Her face lit up, she said “Godzilla”. Sure enough, when we got there, the huge Godzilla head loomed from atop the hotel. I thanked the woman, and Godzilla.
Sue Ng, North Rocks, NSW

Lost legroom

Due to unforeseen circumstances (unfortunately not covered by insurance) I was recently forced to cancel my flight to the Seychelles with Emirates. The $600 cancellation fee was expected, but not the withholding of $803 for extra legroom paid on top of the economy airfare.
Pure profit for Emirates and a nasty taste for me.
Tracy Mann, Birchgrove, NSW

Local knowledge

I didn’t need a haircut in Hanoi, but I did need some shampoo. The smiling proprietor of the little corner shop indicated for me to stay where I was and he then quickly left the shop. I was a bit confused. A few minutes later he returned trailing four local women behind him. The next door hairdresser then appraised my hair and chose the appropriate, bespoke shampoo. Her three clients, at various stages of their own hair appointments, nodded in agreement. This whole charming experience was conveyed by gestures, smiles and goodwill.
Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne, NSW

Reader tip of the week: War stories

Catalina flying boat wrecks in the mud flats at Roebuck Bay.Credit: Getty Images

People interested in history or World War II may be unaware of Broome’s significance during that period. It was the base for the Qantas Empire Flying Boat fleet that supported the war effort, particularly in the evacuation of refugees from Indonesia (Dutch East Indies). It too, with Darwin, was severely bombed, losing many of the flying boats where they sat refuelled and tragically full of refugees. You can take boat or hovercraft tours of Roebuck Bay where at low tide some of the remaining wrecks can be seen. Across the road from the Broome Explorer Bus stop near Town Beach is the Broome Historical Museum packed full of interesting fascinating stuff from World War II, and more, which volunteer staff will be happy to discuss.
Kay Hartman, Ettalong Beach, NSW

Wheels of misfortune

During a recent trip to Europe, my NSW driver’s licence expired, and I renewed it online. On attempting to collect a hire-car in Edinburgh, I was refused because digital drivers licences from NSW were specifically not accepted. The rental company refused to transfer the booking (pre-paid) to my wife and required a new reservation to be made in her name to allow a car to be delivered to us. They also refused to add me as a driver of the rental in her name. I also then had significant difficulty in obtaining reimbursement for the pre-paid car-hire, as I was classed as a “no-show” by the car rental company.
David Gibson, Crescent Head, NSW

Missing meds

My recent experience in New Zealand might help others, who, like me, find they are missing important medication. In Christchurch, we lucked upon Unichem Cashel Pharmacy, Church Street, which has access to a zoom service for an emergency doctor. I had a short interview to clarify the medication needed and why; then the prescription was emailed to the chemist’s dispensary. They didn’t have the medication in stock but as we were moving on the next morning to Blenheim, the prescription was emailed to Life Pharmacy, Blenheim. They then dispensed the medication for me to collect.

This was all done with extremely helpful and efficient staff. It was quite costly, but no complaints about that – getting the medication was important. I was lucky to find the right people offering this service. I should have checked my packing.
Gill Lister, Clontarf, NSW

New discoveries

Choosing the right cruise line is paramount, as we each have different priorities for how our travel dollars are spent. Last year after extensive research we chose Discovery One to explore the Kimberley. An ex-Manly ferry, it felt like a private charter offering small but comfortable cabins with immaculately clean “shared facilities”, a friendly, knowledgeable crew and only 22 passengers. The vessel’s shallow draft allowed us access to rivers and coastline that other vessels could not get to and all passengers could board the two tenders discovering areas that are usually out of reach. If adventure outranks caviar, then Discovery One may be for you.
Roxanne Le Blanc, Croydon, Vic

Arrive before time

Catching the Eurostar from the Gare du Nord Paris to St Pancras London last week, border control was chaotic. There were three passport checks, huge lines, lack of staff and the bag scanners were breaking down. So the tip is make sure you arrive earlier than advised.
Gabrielle McCabe, Elizabeth Bay, NSW

Opportunity shops

Go to op shops before you go travelling. Stock up on bulky pieces you’d normally wear on your trip. Before you pack to come home, bag them up and donate them. Think of all the space and weight you’ve created for your must-have purchases and the gifts you’ve left behind for the locals.
Joshua Pulver, Essendon, Vic

Happy place

My granddaughter asked me to suggest a trip and without hesitation, I said, “Uluru”. The changing colours of the landscape, the endless sky above you, the feeling of timeless magic everywhere – no other place expands your horizons quite like this.
Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

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