Traveller Letters: Virgin ‘perk’ of platinum, gold status is totally useless
Each week Traveller publishes a selection of rants, raves and travel tips from our readers. See below on how you can contribute.
Shut out
One of the advertised perks of being a Virgin Australia gold or platinum member when flying on several international airlines is lounge access. For United Airlines, Virgin directs you to the Singapore Airlines lounge in Melbourne, which (surprise, surprise) closes at 10am and reopens at 1pm. The United flights are at 11.30am and 12.30pm and therefore a totally useless loyalty “benefit” from Virgin Australia.
Hugo Bieber, Melbourne, Vic
Lounge access is of little use if the lounge is not open at the time of your flight, writes one Traveller reader this week.
Rats to that
I received a cheeky email from Qantas the night before I flew domestically, offering to keep the seat next to my selected seat vacant for a mere $45. I smelled a rat and thought, nah, it’s a try-on. Sure enough, after boarding, the seat remained vacant and I saved $45 from the giant Qantas money- grabbing machine.
John Swanton, Coogee, NSW
Bad mist
Having just read the review by Anthony Dennis (Traveller, March 30) of [premium economy] aboard Singapore Airlines I must disagree with the four out of five rating. I flew business class to Europe with Singapore Airlines last year. Not only was the seat and flatbed not comfortable but no amenity pack was provided and upon asking for one, the kit offered contained a minute tube of lip balm, facial mist, eyeshade and ear plugs. Service was average and certainly not worth the additional cost. The amenity pack provided by Jetstar business is far superior and Emirates beat Singapore by a mile, along with excellent service.
Rosie Hailes, Burwood, Vic
Glass act
I fortunately flew Singapore Airlines’ premium economy class a few weeks after its 2015 launch (London to Sydney aboard an A380, both legs) and it generally then rated best in sky. Interestingly, the premium cabin section was offered champagne after takeoff on both legs (a privilege recently re-introduced by Singapore Airlines). The nice Anthony Dennis review shows Singapore Airlines has lost little of its excellence since introduction. Great airline.
Paul Ellis, Toronto, NSW
Go team
After reading several letters about system problems with Qantas, I warily flew Qantas to Canberra over Easter. Flight delays from Melbourne and Canberra were disappointing with an hour and a half delay from Canberra due to “turnaround” problems in Melbourne. But the Qantas staff were excellent. Jason and Hana on the flight from Melbourne, and Charlie and Harry from Canberra were so helpful. Clearly Qantas’ greatest asset is their staff.
Mary Keating, Flemington, Vic
Letter of the week: Forbidden delights
Scene from The Last Emperor.Credit: Alamy
My walkabout around Beijing’s Forbidden City (Traveller, April 2 ) was accompanied by Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor (1987) film soundtrack. The music issued tremulously from my hand-cradled trusty first-gen Philips CD player as I basked in the deserted magnificence of the imperial complex one frost-nipped winter’s morning that same year. My mind’s eye replayed the boy emperor rushing past billowing curtains. His acute fixation on a pet cricket emerging from its box renders his gaze oblivious to the kowtowing minions paraded to the furthest walls of the imperial complex. Purposeful music to stimulate the traveller’s “wonder within”.
Joseph Ting, Carina, Qld
Smoke and mirrors
Further to hotels requesting travellers to cancel their bookings (Traveller Letters, March 2) last year I booked five days’ accommodation at a small hotel in Istanbul and in the notes section requested a quiet, non-smoking room. I politely backed my comments up with the helpful hint that I am very sensitive to smells. The reply I received rather shocked me as I was requested to cancel my booking as the hotel could not offer me what I had requested and didn’t want to lose their 8.5 rating. I was grateful for their honesty but shocked by their rationale.
Judith Hudson, Elwood, Vic
Do the right thing
I cannot tell you how delighted I was to see your story on sustainable regenerative travel (Traveller, March 30). As a student of humans and global heating and inequality, who finds great pleasure in local holidays and volunteering, it pushed all my buttons. Learning that poachers are retraining as rangers and holiday-makers as real change-makers was the turtle on my beach.
Lesley Walker, Northcote, Vic
Baby grand
Mausoleum of Itimad-ud-Daulah or Baby Taj, Agra.Credit: Alamy
How amazing to read Martin Artenstein’s letter (Traveller Letters, March 30) about Brian Johnston’s Seven Wonders article on the Taj Mahal (Traveller, March 9). Ironically, I missed Brian’s article because I was in India at the time visiting the Taj. It is a magnificent building. While in Agra I would also recommend visiting the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, also known as the Baby Taj. It was built between 1622 and 1628 by another family member of the Taj family, Nur Jahan. It is smaller than the Taj but is covered in mosaic patterns. Every section is a different design. As a quilter, I find it equally inspiring as I study all those gorgeous patterns. I have also visited Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and agree that it is also a must-see.
Susan Rowe, Epping, NSW
Pay the ferryman
Brian Johnson accurately describes some of the wonderful sights encountered on his South America and Chilean fjords cruise (Traveller, March 30). But did you know that the local tourist ferry alternative also covers the spectacular journey between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales? The four-day experience through the stunning Patagonian Fjords gives you a true Chilean experience at a tenth of the price of a cruise. Comparable with the Canadian Inside Passage ferries or the Original Coastal Express in Norway, this spectacular adventure lets you experience thrilling historical sites, like the Cotopaxi shipwreck, and encounter native wildlife such as curious dolphins while sailing through the awe-inspiring scenery, letting you marvel at nature at its best.
Keith Brown, Armidale, NSW
Tip of the week: Oh what a Town
Cape Town and Table Mountain.Credit: iStock
If there was ever a country flying under the radar, it is South Africa. Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background, is stunning, the food amazing and world-class, the people exceedingly friendly. We hired a car and drove ourselves to the Cape of Good Hope, via Chapmans Peak, and through the most beautiful scenery in the world. We were warned of the many dangers of travelling alone, but there was never a time when we didn’t feel totally safe.
However, the biggest thrill was Durban and surrounds. Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, [formerly Hluhluwe–Umfolozi] Game Reserve, a large “big five” conservation area, is the oldest park in South Africa consisting of unending views, untouched African savannah, grasslands, plains, rivers, forest, bush and, of course, the beautiful animals that inhabit it. Not far is the St Lucia estuary with its incredible and diverse birdlife and of course hippos floating about.
Maree Boyd, Manyana, NSW
Now look here
For a better view of the Japanese capital (Traveller, April 6), instead of Tokyo Skytree, I would recommend a visit to the observation deck of Roppongi Hills. The view gives you an idea of the density of the city, you get to see some stunning architecture and the proximity to swathes of colourful neon at night is excellent. You can also see Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree, planes landing and taking off from Haneda Airport and the bridges by Tokyo Bay. Also, there is a great art gallery, which hosts visiting exhibitions and it is also possible to go up onto the roof.
Phillip Musgrave, Pennant Hills, NSW
Monumental offence
Yet again Brian Johnston makes disparaging remarks about the Pyramids of Giza, although this time he has reached new heights in offence to Cairenes by describing shabby apartment blocks in an unedifying area. Meantime he sings the praises of views of Aswan from the deck of a Viking cruise ship.
Sharyn Volk, Malvern, Vic
Keep it clean
No matter what the cruise ship, the place on board for entertainment and gossip is the laundrette. From 7.30am until 8pm the place vibrates. The human traffic in and out is frenetic and the queue is continuous.
On my first visit, one guest was searching each laundrette on every deck for her laundry as her husband had not taken notice of where he dispatched it. Another couple were frantically opening and closing every door in the laundry searching desperately for their washing. Forlorn faces, the washing had gone, disappeared, until a casual observer noted this was deck 10. A sheepish retreat to deck 11 for another search. I’m looking forward to my next wash aboard Queen Mary 2.
Jan Naughton, Wahroonga, NSW
Permission sought
I’ve been well and truly put in my place as a traveller without a conscience for having the temerity to visit Hong Kong (Traveller Letters, April 6). Perhaps Traveller itself could help by suggesting a list of countries that we need to avoid on the basis of human rights or other issues. I’m off to Japan next week. I do hope that’s okay.
Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW
Editor’s note: It is a vexed issue and one that was tackled by columnist Ben Groundwater and our digital editor Craig Platt in an episode of Traveller’s podcast Flight of Fancy in 2021. Read more and listen here.
Star by name …
I have just returned from a holiday to Bali, flying Jetstar and in business class on the way over. The flight left on time and arrived early. The cabin crew were professional, accommodating and friendly. The food and welcome pack were of a high standard. The return trip was in economy. Again the flight left on time and arrived early. The staff were busy as the flight was full, but the standard of service was still high. On disembarking the plane we were thanked for flying Jetstar by the captain. A nice touch and a bouquet to Jetstar.
Pauline Kelly, Bonville, Vic
Concrete advice
When travelling in Vietnam by road, think twice (or more) when planning to go from A to B for many hours on a “sleeper bus”. Hell on wheels, concrete hard bed, cramped space, unpleasant bus crew and dirty bus shelters.
Judith English, Hornsby Heights NSW
Here’s the point
The Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme has received a lot of criticism, and perhaps quite rightly. However, now they have teamed up with Trip A Deal, there are at last some really good deals to be had – we’re off to Sri Lanka for the cost of a taxi to the airport.
Cecily Black, Annandale, 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
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