Traveller Letters: Melbourne Airport defends giving Uber priority spot

Melbourne Airport has justified moving its taxi ranks to create a new pick-up area for ride-share services.Credit: AP

PULLING RANK

In response to shifts in customer demand, Melbourne Airport has made some changes to our public transport offerings As Julia Beckingsale points out in her letter last week (Traveller Letters, February 5), Uber is now located in a dedicated kerbside pickup zone outside Terminal 2.

Uber was responsible for more than a quarter of commercial vehicle pickups at Melbourne Airport in 2019 so bringing that service to our kerbside made sense. It means that passengers don't have to cross the road to get into their Uber, removing around 1 million pedestrian crossings per year.

Passengers will find taxis outside Qantas's Terminal 1 and at Terminal 4, where taxi ranks have been located for several years. The excellent SkyBus service to the city also has stops conveniently located at Terminals 1, 3 and 4.

Having a range of choices makes it easier for passengers to access the services they want to use. But we do recognise that people exiting from Terminal 3 will have a longer walk to taxis, and we do have assistance available to people who need it. Our signage is something we are always working on and we'll certainly be looking at what changes we could make so that it's clearer.

Jai McDermott, chief of ground transport, Melbourne Airport

LETTER OF THE WEEK

BADGE OF HONOUR

Thanks, Rob McFarland, for the article on your flight to Antarctica. I flew in a 747 on the second flight, organised by Dick Smith, in early 1977 and I still have the medal I received. It was a wonderful experience, just as you described it, and one of the best days of my life. I'd finished my film before we reached Antarctica and some other generous passengers sent me copies of their fabulous photos afterwards. It's the only time I've ever been in a cockpit and a pilot wrote the lowest latitude we reached in my passport. Oh, the memories.

Anne Heath Mennell , Tenby Point, VIC

FULLY CHARGED

After booking and cancelling numerous trips over the last few years I am finally in a position to book a one-way flight from Adelaide to Melbourne in early March. I have a credit voucher for $267 and according to the website there is a fare for $131. But when I try to use my voucher credit the cost amps up to $282. I was also told that there was a "card charge" applicable, which surprised me, because I am not using a card to book the travel.

None of this seems to make sense to me but I am open to an explanation. However, when I sought an explanation from the Qantas call centre I was put on hold and the call was disconnected after 55 minutes. I have messaged Qantas and also put a post on their Facebook page but have received no response.

Victoria Martin, Hawthorn East, VIC

FUNNY BUSINESS

I redeemed frequent flyer points and secured two business class tickets ex Melbourne on Cathay Pacific to Paris on Thursday May 6, 2022. When I recently checked my flight on their website it stated the flight was fully booked.

I thought this seemed strange so I accessed my flight via the "manage my booking" function and seat selection to discover there were over 30 business class seats available to select. There were only six seats shown as being unavailable, two of them for my booking. I contacted Cathay Pacific by phone and was advised my booking was confirmed.

I went to their website with my query as to whether this flight was in fact still scheduled and was told to contact Qantas. I believe Cathay Pacific has cancelled this flight and no doubt many other flights to Europe, but for reasons known to itself it is not communicating this to passengers. If I try to make a booking on Cathay's website it states either choose another date or my flight is full.

Peter Kenny, Albert Park, VIC

WRITE STUFF

Ruth Green (Traveller Letters, February 5), is on the money. This is an election year. Many of us hope to travel in the second half of 2022 to Europe so let's all try to make it as enjoyable and hassle free as possible. Send a letter to your local federal MP and Dan Tehan (federal tourism minister) voicing your concerns and just maybe they will listen. It galls me to see that New Zealand signed up for the EU Digital Certificate and we didn't.

Gary Rowe, Wyoming, NSW

FEELING REJECTED

Now that we are opening our borders to foreign tourists, I wonder whether travellers from Europe will have their EU vaccination certificate rejected here as our Australian one is when we travel to Europe. Surely this can be sorted out so we can all travel the world effortlessly.

Kathryn Thelwell, North Ryde, NSW

DFAT CHANCE

I couldn't agree more with Barbara Greenaway's Letter of the Week (Traveller Letters, January 29). On a recent overseas work trip I transited or visited Hong Kong, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Singapore over a four week period.

During that time no-one was remotely interested in my Australian (non)-International COVID Vaccination Certificate. All they wanted was to see my proof of a negative PCR result and then, once obtained, a copy of my EU Digital COVID Certificate, kindly issued by France in recognition of my Australian-administered vaccinations.

If I had not obtained that EU certificate I would not have been allowed to sleep, work or eat in most parts of Europe without a negative PCR test every 72 hours. Our so-called "international" certificate is currently worthless for those of us needing or wanting to travel in Europe.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's response to Barbara's query is depressing but not surprising. Let's join her call for the government to sign up for the EU DCC program.

Brenton Hayward, Middle Park, VIC

FAR OUT NORTH

Thank you, Max Anderson, for your guide to Port Douglas. It evoked fond memories of our holidays there and we now plan to revisit for an end of financial year break. I particularly remember the little bookshop in the town centre with its own cafe and friendly staff as well as the barramundi dinners every night. I can't wait.

Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW

WIN A SET OF THREE HARDIE GRANT TRAVEL BOOKS

The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100, including Undiscovered Tasmania by Rochelle & Wally Dare; Emma Shaw's Ultimate Weekends Australia; and Vantastic by Kate Ulman.

See hardiegrant.com

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