Chasing a Qantas refund? After five unanswered emails, I had an idea

That’s Hudson with an aitch

Issues with Qantas? Why not take it to the top? CEO Vanessa Hudson pictured in a Qantas hangar.Credit: Eamon Gallagher

When I enrolled my wife in the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme, I unfortunately did so twice, resulting in two enrolment fees and two FF numbers. Five emails to the appropriate people to try to correct this went unanswered. I was determined not to give up, but I also realised that sending off another email was likely to have the same result, until I had an idea and sent off the sixth email. Well, the next day we didn’t just get action but a phone call saying the problem would be resolved and the extra $99 refunded. Fantastic response. Oh, what did I do to get such a response? Simple, really. I just copied the chief executive of Qantas into the email. Magic.
Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW

Altered States

The United States’ “Enhanced vetting” resulted in one reader missing their $15,000 cruise.Credit: Getty Images

Planning to travel to Donald Trump’s America? Think twice. You are neither wanted nor welcome. On March 11, following a 24-hour flight from Sydney via Hong Kong and New York’s JFK Airport, with my final destination being Miami to board a cruise, I was detained by border control at JFK for “enhanced vetting” as per the executive directive signed by the US president on January 25. Eight hours later, after three interview teams and extensive examination of my laptop and iPhone, they decided I’d come on an unusual route to the United States, namely from Australia via Asia (I flew premium economy and Cathay Pacific had the cheapest airfare). Although there was no evidence of wrongdoing, I was sent back to Australia, meaning I was unable to join my cruise, valued at $15,000 and not refundable.
Name and address withheld on request

EDITOR’S NOTE Traveller would like to hear from any readers who have experienced similar difficulties entering the US as holidaymakers. Contact us at the email address elsewhere on this page.

Mental rentals

It’s a shame that your reader’s desire for affordable travel in the form of Airbnbs (Traveller, March 29) is contributing to the breakdown of communities around the world. Hotels often cost more than Airbnbs because they provide more services. In my small South Coast, NSW, town more than half the houses are empty Monday to Friday. Weekends and holidays are occupied by different people (some pleasant, others not so much), few of whom are interested in saying hello or building community. Meanwhile, there are locals sleeping in their cars thanks to the housing shortage. Many destinations – New York, Barcelona and Venice, to name a few – are clamping down on Airbnb and the like because they can’t deal with the sheer number of tourists who use them.
Maggie Cooper, Culburra Beach, NSW

Letter of the week: Streets ahead

Street food at its most authentic – dabbawallahs in Mumbai.Credit: Getty Images

Debra Fox’s comment about Mumbai’s dabbawallahs following your cover story on the world’s greatest views (Traveller, March 29) excited my sense of romantic idealism. The prime purpose of the dabbawallah is to enable office workers to eat home-cooked meals. Traditionally regarded as the best and safest, it was also commonly the only meal an Indian would or could eat, coming as it did from the family kitchen, with the delivery system invented to facilitate this. However, these days, the service has expanded to include pick-ups not only from private homes, but also restaurants. I have no doubt some homes and food outlets would include pick-ups from the slums.
James Gannon, Phillip Island, Vic

Snoring cure

Rather than Airbnb, my service of choice is Stayz/Vrbo which I have used both domestically and internationally. Booking a house or apartment, instead of a hotel, really comes into its own when you are travelling with friends. I frequently go away with two girlfriends, and it is extraordinarily more economical and more convenient, to rent a place with three-bedrooms, as opposed to three separate hotel rooms. You have all the amenities of a home with the conviviality of shared accommodation. Added advantages are more room to move, less likelihood of noisy neighbours and the possibility of a garden. Even when travelling with my husband, we will often look for two-bedroom accommodation because he is a chainsaw snorer. And it makes you feel a little more like a local, coming back to a “home” after a day of adventuring.
Daniela Scalcon, Cabarita, NSW

Slowly does it

I was moved by Kerry van der Jagt’s beautiful tale, “Gran designs” (Traveller, March 22) of simple, slow travel with her grandsons. What a gift to give to the next generation. Flexible, unhurried adventures with young people are a balm for everyone’s soul. Sharing the wonder of the world around us while treading lightly on the planet is just the ticket. Hiking, pitching a tent, swimming in a creek, and observing nature’s mini beasts are some of my children’s favourite activities. May more of us slow down, connect with the young people in our lives and create memories that will last forever.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Nude not rude

I support the view of your reader, Digby Drew (Traveller, March 29), regarding the acceptance of nudity in Europe. Australian attitudes belong in the Victorian era. The reality is that underneath our clothes, we are all fundamentally the same. Obviously, there are times when nudity is inappropriate, but certainly beaches should be free. The more we try to police this prudish attitude, the more the perverse elements of our society create issues, consuming valuable policing time. It’s time for Australia to grow up.
Richard Doust, Maroochydore, Qld

Brim reapers

We have observed widespread nudity in Germany. The noticeable feature was that the men and women were wearing very fetching hats.
Judith English, Hornsby Heights, NSW

Take covers

I had to smile when I read Michael Gebicki’s thoughts about “one double bed, two quilts” (Traveller, March 29). In fact, the double bed may be one frame with two mattresses and two quilts, and is usual in cooler European countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy. Amusingly, in German, a double bed with a double mattress is referred to as a “französiches bett” or French bed, the French obviously being thought more sexually adventurous, whereas many years ago I remember being asked in Venice whether we wanted a “letto matrimoniale”, or matrimonial bed, rather than two single beds.
Merran Loewenthal, Vienna, Austria

Wriggles fan

I am all for a duvet/doona when travelling, rather than sheets and blankets. Hotels tuck the bottom of the bedding in so tightly my poor toes are squashed into one tiny space with no wriggle room. Before snuggling down, I have to loosen up the bottom of the bedding, which can result in chilly toes. A duvet? Yes, please.
Marjie Williamson, Blaxland, NSW

Tip of the week: Take two

Ferrara and its castle.Credit: Getty Images

To your writer’s top 20 greatest Italian cities list (Traveller on Sunday, April 6), I’d add Orvieto and Ferrara, both great places to visit. I love both because when I visited them, they seemed to be off the main tourist trail, but maybe not any more. Ferrara has some fabulous historic buildings, including the imposing Castello Estense, complete with a moat and dungeon. Orvieto benefits (as do Montepulciano and Assisi), from being a hill town with sweeping views of the glorious countryside – it reminds me of Siena with its spectacular cathedral, contrade (neighbourhoods) and winding streets.
Kate McCaig, Surrey Hills, Vic

Sea of Siena

It’s difficult to disagree with seven of your top eight cities in your “Metro marvels” cover story. While I haven’t been to Mantua, Siena, with its cathedral with black and white stripes, has brought tears to my eyes right from our first overseas trip in 1984. Climb to the top and see the sea of Siena as you look out across the rooftops. However, I feel that missing Ravenna from your list is sacrilege, with its wonderful Byzantine past and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia.
Robert Hosking, Paddington, NSW

Secret agent

Artificial intelligence (AI) may just be your new travel agent. I spent over an hour working out the most economical way of doing nine train trips over six weeks in France, Switzerland and northern Italy. As our trips include the Glacier Express and Bernina Express in Switzerland, I looked at using the three-day Swiss Rail Pass, with individual tickets for the other days, individual tickets for all the trips, or a 10-day over two-month Eurail Pass. It was tedious work pricing each trip – and difficult as with dynamic pricing on many routes, you have to estimate what you will pay. The most economical option by several hundred dollars was the Eurail Pass. I then asked AI to do the same calculation – two seconds later, it came back with an almost identical result. Had I not done it myself first, I may not have trusted the answer. But I will certainly be using AI to help with my travel plans in the future.
Kerry Lewis, Williamstown, Vic

LAX standards

We all know it is definitely not advantageous to get foreign cash out at airports. But $A53.53 for two pre-packed takeaway sandwiches airside at American Airlines’ LAX terminal was a shock. I would not have thought sandwiches could be so expensive, even with our poor exchange rate. Luckily, my credit card doesn’t charge for foreign transactions.
Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield, NSW

Spokes person

I have some advice if you’re thinking of getting a bicycle and riding it in Japan. It’s all well and good to get around on two wheels, but there are some rules which you must stick to, if you want to avoid a hefty fine. Keep to the left; even if you think you’re just on the edge, not the actual road, riding on the wrong side will attract police attention. Never drink and ride. The blood alcohol limit is zero, even for cyclists, and breaching this can land you in jail. Riding while using a phone or umbrella is a no-no too.
Margot Pope, Kiryu, Japan

Cancel culture

Am I the jinx? Every time I travel by train between Sydney and Melbourne, the XPT is either cancelled or runs late. Last Monday I arrived at Southern Cross Station to find that coaches were replacing the train. Not for me. I have done that once before, and it is sheer hell, so I booked the next day. The train left Melbourne half an hour late and got to Sydney more than two hours late. There was nothing wrong with the train. Plenty of legroom, pleasant staff, all seats facing forward, space to wander around, no luggage hassles. They only need to put in Wi-Fi and charging points and the carriages would be as good as anything in Europe, and better than many modern ones with fixed rear-facing seats. The XPT between Sydney and Melbourne is one of the great rail journeys of the world. Just fix the track or the signals or whatever is causing the problem.
Ron Inglis, Strathfield, 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