Traveller Letters: I was caught out by Qantas-Emirates codeshare

Why no Wi-Fi?

Reading Michael Gebicki’s article on codeshare baggage allowances (Traveller, July 1) prompted me to alert travellers on other codesharing issues. I recently flew Emirates business class to Europe for $10,000-plus, and I opted to choose to put the points on my Qantas Frequent Flyer program when booking, as opposed to selecting Emirates’ own program.

One reader couldn’t access free Wi-Fi during his business class Emirates flight after choosing to put the points on his Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

While in flight I found as a result of this, I did not get free Wi-Fi access. The cabin crew were not aware of the issue; at the lounge in Dubai, customer service looked at my boarding pass and told me I had no inflight Wi-Fi access based on my chosen loyalty program. One would think that in today’s world, Wi-Fi in business was not negotiable (otherwise, Emirates business service is to be commended).
Robert MacKay, Paddington, NSW

Out of focus

I have been a platinum Frequent Flyer with Qantas for more than 20 years and fly constantly, including regularly to Papua New Guinea. I have accumulated many points and use them solely for upgrades. When I flew to PNG earlier this month from Sydney, I sought an upgrade but was refused. I was informed that even though the business class cabin had many vacant seats, there were no upgrade seats available as they’d all been taken. Nothing changes. Qantas’ promise of being more customer-focused is rubbish.
Peter Lowing, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Letter of the week: Overnight sensation

Better overnight – Mont Saint Michel.Credit: iStock

Precious memories flooded back from a trip with my daughter to Mont Saint Michel Abbey in 2012 when we read Nick Place’s article about it (Traveller, January 9). The best advice we received was to “stay overnight if you can as all the tourists disappear by 6pm”. As a result, we had a magical two days with early mornings and late midsummer nights almost alone, apart from the inhabitants and a few other overnighters. We explored every layer of this spectacular island. Mussels and warm cider were a delicious highlight.
Merren Ricketson, Parkdale, Vic

It’s terminal

I wholeheartedly agree with Pru Clements (Traveller Letters, August 3). It is a complete embarrassment as an Australian to witness the debacle that is the arrivals procedure in Sydney. It’s as if they had no idea there would be as many people turning up to as there were. Could whoever is in charge of processes at Sydney Airport go to any airport in the world to see how better it can be? Every less developed country I’ve been to seem to have this down pat.
Barb La Ganza, North Narrabeen, NSW

Plastic fantastic

In response to Ben Groundwater’s Savvy Traveller article about splitting bills overseas (Traveller, August 15) I thought I would share our way of paying for our holidays and outings. We are two friends in our 60s sans husbands and we have been travelling, dining, enjoying art galleries, theatre and sports events together for many years. We used to take turns in paying and then transfer money to each other’s bank accounts but that became tedious and annoying. So, three years ago, we went to a bank and applied for a shared debit card in both our names. We nominate a sum to be transferred into the account when required and we both have access to it via the banking app and, of course, we both have a debit card. So when anything needs to be paid for we just use “our” card. It has worked a treat and I would recommend it to other non-related travellers as an easy and effective solution.
Jane Bartlett, Hawthorn, Vic

Let’s split

Having just returned from a trip with friends to Bali I had to respond to your article about bill-splitting. At no point in our various restaurant attendances did the staff quibble about splitting our bills. This was for groups of four, eight and on our final night 16. Every bill was always handled with patience and kindness. Payment by cash, card or e-wallet all accepted individually. Many of our group were proud singles and did not want to share costs with others. It worked brilliantly.
Yvonne Hunter, Armstrong Creek, Vic

Battle of the ashes

A week ago, I rummaged around the internet trying to find a cruise sailing north in August. I discovered that P&O had the ship Pacific Adventure going to Fiji on August 13, returning August 25. Perfect. My travel agent offered a family-style cabin at suite rates and I would be paying a two-person fare, which, unfortunately, is standard in the cruising industry. Then came the clanger. There had to be two passengers. They could not sell a solo cabin despite paying double. I was astonished and checked with P&O. Yes, there had to be two passengers. I went back to the travel agent and did a bit of a rant and the sympathetic assistant told me to invent someone! So I have resurrected my husband from the dead and signed him on. Perhaps I’ll take his ashes along. No one has stipulated that the second person has to be alive.
Gabrielle Pettit, Mona Vale, NSW

Virgin soldiers

A big thumbs up to Virgin Australia for coming to the rescue of thousands of passengers left stranded after Rex grounded its entire jet fleet. An SMS from Rex on Wednesday, July 31, saying our upcoming flight from Sydney to Adelaide was cancelled seemed to end our plans to celebrate a birthday in Adelaide. The news that Virgin Australia was offering free re-bookings gave us hope, but the scale of the problem seemed insurmountable. We straightaway did the quick and simple online registration with Virgin and four days later we received the good news that we were rebooked on Virgin at no additional cost. Our sincere thanks go to Virgin Australia for the way it handled this dire situation with such good communication and prompt action both for us and many other travellers. Well done.
Anthony & Ruth Tarplee, Newtown, NSW

All the rivers run

Cologne, Germany, on the Rhine River.Credit: iStock

The “letter of the week” (Traveller Letters, August 3) recommended the train trip along Portugal’s Douro River for a quick, pleasant and easy way to experience the river. For the same reasons the train trip along the Rhine from Frankfurt to Cologne is also well worth doing. The section between Mainz and Koblenz in particular is truly spectacular. We did the trip mid-afternoon and sat in the near empty dining car which provided panoramic views all the way for just the cost of a coffee.
Chris Close, Doncaster East, Vic

Tip of the week: Bight stuff

The cliffs of the Great Australian Bight.Credit: iStock

Having just returned from a wonderful small group tour across South Australia around the Great Australian Bight, I can recommend South Australian Jeff Teague’s Minibus Tours. Last year, through Holidays of Australia and the World, we travelled to Lake Eyre, South Australia, with Jeff. It was fabulous so we agreed to go with Jeff on one of his Bight trips. He loves his home state of South Australia and his guidance is attentive and personal. Thank you, Jeff.
Alison Stewart, Waitara, NSW

Good as gold

On a recent wet stay in Creswick, Victoria, we popped into the tourist information centre and were greeted by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteer who suggested we do a drive around the area’s abandoned mine sites. Armed with a map we spent an informative afternoon discovering the rich mining area of the region. Tourist information centres, staffed by knowledgeable locals, are a real gold mine in their own right.
Jacque Hardwick, Coburg, Vic

Local heroes

Two girls in their mid-20 had been riding on their bikes at sunset and it turned to dark night in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, far from their hotel and quite lost. Locals offered a ride in the back of the ute with their bikes. The girls refused and said they would be okay. Just 10 metres down the road the chain on one of the bikes broke. The girls accepted the ride and were driven safely back to their hotel by beautifully kind and generous people. When you are in need, and your intuition tells you it’s okay, let locals help you.
Emily Mitchell, Adamstown Heights, NSW

Full bottle

To prevent a child from crying on take-off and landing, please give a bottle to drink. The sucking and swallowing will relieve the pressure that builds up in your baby’s ears and make them feel more comfortable. Sucking and swallowing will help to ease any painful ear popping. A young child can suck a lollipop or chew a snack. Passengers will be thankful for a peaceful cabin.
Judith Bond, Campbelltown, NSW

Bridge too far

The Infante and Maria Pia bridges on the Douro River.Credit: iStock

In reference to the Traveller Quiz (Traveller, August 9), Gustav Eiffel did not design the Dom Luis Bridge in Porto, Portugal, but the rail bridge further up river, known as the Maria Pia Bridge. After completing the Maria Pia in 1877, Eiffel did put in a proposal in 1879 for a high-level, single deck bridge at the Dom Luis location, but it was rejected in favour of the two-level design.
Ian Bartley, Mount Martha, Vic
EDITOR’S NOTE Thanks to our reader for pointing out the error. The online version of the quiz has been corrected.

Harmful not harmless

Your story on the new rules of travel (Traveller, August 11) featured some essential information about responsible tourism, however, one glaring contradiction was evident. A safari in Africa is recommended as something worthwhile to get us off social media and, at the same time, we are urged to “show respect to... all living things.” These two experiences cannot possibly co-exist, as the noise and intrusion of safaris on wildlife is extremely harmful to the animals concerned. As long as groups of tourists and their loud vehicles prevent animals such as cheetahs from communicating effectively with their young, safaris should not be on a list of responsible tourism practices.
Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown, NSW

Read it and weep

I recently had to cut short my overseas trip by a month due to my mother’s hospitalisation. When I submitted my travel insurance claim to cover the losses of cancelled accommodation and flights, I was rejected on the basis my mother is 86 years old and the cut-off age for insurance is 85. Beware of the small print.
Tanya Nikolic, Keiraville, NSW

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