Traveller Letters: Crew made no effort to get coughing passenger to put on mask

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Traveller Letters: Crew made no effort to get coughing passenger to put on mask

Updated
Cabin crew need to get passengers to wear their masks, especially if they are coughing and sneezing during a flight, says one Traveller reader.

Cabin crew need to get passengers to wear their masks, especially if they are coughing and sneezing during a flight, says one Traveller reader.Credit: iStock

SPLUTTER CONTEMPT

I'm a Virgin Platinum frequent flyer and love flying with them. However I recently flew between Sydney and Melbourne, seated in an exit row and had to endure an unmasked passenger sneezing and coughing for the entire flight. The crew made no effort to do anything about mandatory face mask wearing. There was even a travelling pilot on the other side of him and when I questioned the crew, I was answered with an "all right". But it was too late as by that stage we were disembarking. The unmasked bandit then walked through the terminal unencumbered.

Paul Soanes, Doncaster, VIC

LETTER OF THE WEEK

PACK MENTALITY

I had to smile reading Lee Tulloch's column on carry-on luggage (Traveller, May 14). I returned this week from a two week Intrepid Premium tour of Morocco. There were six of us on the tour and the other five had all managed to arrive with a wheeled carry-on and a backpack. I had a medium suitcase weighing around 16 kilograms and a backpack and felt guilty every morning when I had to have a porter take the case to the lobby from my room. Quite frankly I (and the guide) wondered where on Earth all their changes of clothes were coming from. I had packed for possible cold nights in the desert and a cold Melbourne on return. I also had an extra pair of hiking shoes and a full toiletry and cosmetic bag. I wore all my clothes and had a couple of things laundered and wore them again so I'm not sure I could have reduced much. I suppose the extra shoes and toiletries were unnecessary. I'd be interested in what people choose to leave behind to enable carry-on

Denise Williamson, Seaford, NSW

BANG ON BANGKOK

It was lovely to see such a comprehensive story about a favourite travel haunt, the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok (Traveller, May 14). Thank you for including Samsara Cafe. I can vouch for it - a seriously stylish place and also tucked in this hidden laneway location, behind a temple, is the most beautiful and quirky hotel - Loy La Long. It has the same relaxed vibe as Samsara where you can sit with your legs dangling above the river, sipping a drink and watching Bangkok life flow by and also a fraction of the cost of the feature high-end resort.

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Sally Pope, Five Dock, NSW

GALL STORY

As much as I enjoyed Anthony Dennis' story about the Creative District in Bangkok, it was galling to see Thai Airways is the suggested carrier when I, and many others like me, are still waiting for Thai Airways to refund my cancelled flights from April 2020. And, I continue to hear nothing from them in regards to when I can expect the money.

Debra Kilsby, Elwood, VIC

DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT

The frustration in delays getting an appointment for a visa to visit the US is real and understandable. I have now just obtained my sixth J-1 visa which allows me to work at the University of Hawaii for one semester after a nail-biting four-week delay which I understand is caused by the consulate in Sydney being closed for relocation. The tip to keep looking online for earlier appointments is good but dates can fluctuate between November 2022 and March 2023. An alternative is to opt for submitting all documents by post and marking it "emergency". Good luck.

Judie Hudson, Prahran, VIC

IT'S TERMINAL

Sydney's Central Station concourse's lack of adequate cafe facilities (Traveller Letters, May 13) is notorious and has been so for years. The government's reason given for the lack, reportedly "due to reduced patronage", merely reflects the standard of what was on offer. The facilities and stale, pre-packaged food were so poor that it is no surprise under-patronage occurred. Downgrading facilities and then saying nobody wants them is a deliberate dodge. In the station concourse's eastern corner there used to be a welcoming cafe with seats, tables and plenty of fresh, diverse food on offer. Then that cafe disappeared. The government could easily return this cafe to use. When I travel from Newcastle I find it appalling that such a great city cannot insert a good cafe into the concourse which after all, may be many international and country people's first impression of Sydney.

Susan Webb, Valentine, NSW

CUTTING REMARKS

Paul Foley (Traveller Letters, May 13) has only part of the passport renewal story. After completing a renewal form online it clearly says you must print, sign, take the form with two photos to a post office where your passport is cut up, photos adhered, pay $308 and then wait for a new passport. I did it last Monday. My advice to Cheryl Luther (redeeming flight credits, Rants & raves, May 14) is to find a very experienced travel agent by asking around.

Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield, NSW

READER TIPS

TIP OF THE WEEK

BEST (AND WORST) OF BRITISH

A word of warning if you have just negotiated a fly-drive deal in the UK. I signed up for a seven day British Airways and Avis contract commencing March 18 from Belfast. When I arrived at the Avis desk, the agent refused to recognise my NSW electronic driver's licence, demanding a plastic licence. There had been absolutely no reference to this in the agreement documentation. I had to negotiate with another firm and get an understandably inflated deal, which exceeded the total fly-drive amount. So a big brickbat to Avis in Belfast. But there's a bouquet for British Air. When brought to their attention after my return to Oz, they have arranged payment to me of the total extra cost of car hire plus 50 Pounds "for my trouble". I consider that to be "above and beyond". And for the record, the best value for money if you're wanting to go to London from Sydney is definitely the BA Premium Economy in a Dreamliner.

Charlie McCusker, Manly, NSW

OPEN THE GATE

Have any readers had success in contacting the website, gotogate.com, in regards to flight credits as a result of the pandemic? My airline is happy to oblige with a credit but it requires confirmation from the booking agent, in this case gotogate ,who seem to have their phones permanently off the hook.

Michael Atkins, Noosa, QLD

FINN TIMES

Ray Charter (Traveller Letters, May 22), don't hang around the Helsinki airport terminal for eight hours, as seating and cafe space is limited in the pleasant but compact terminal. Take the frequent Finnair coach into town, which takes about 30 minutes to get to the central railway station in town. Walk across the square to the main art gallery, or if you feel like stretching your legs after the flight from Bangkok, stroll down through the design district and visit the Design Museum. You can see this charming museum in an hour or so, including time for the astonishing Marimeko Finnish-designed clothing display on the top floor. Stop inside the church across the road, to rest your weary legs and mind, or have brunch in a nearby cafe and walk back to the Finnair coach stop beside the railway station, following one of the tourist office's pedestrian routes, through the well preserved streetscapes of this calm and unspoilt city.

David Weir, Northcote, VIC

LOW RENT

In January, I booked accommodation in Port Stephens, NSW, through an agent 12 months in advance. I paid a 50 per cent deposit. Five months later, the agent contacted me advising that the owners of the apartment had decided to cancel my booking as they were unsure about renting it. My deposit was refunded. Later that day, I saw the apartment on the agent's website available for the same period as I had originally booked but for $2000 more. Has anyone else had a similar experience and did you do anything about it?

Rebecca Matthews, Chiswick, NSW

BUFF STUFF

Leafing nostalgically through my 1953 NSW Country Railway Timetable I relived the many overnight trips my high school friends and I had undertaken to such places as Wallangarra, Mungindi, Eugowra, Tumbarumba, Bourke, Dorrigo and Batlow. Recently, in a pale imitation, I took the 12.31am train from Strathfield to Lithgow, with a connection to Bathurst arriving just before 5am. Bathurst is one of our glorious country stations and fortunately heritage protected. I returned on the 5.46am "Bathurst Bullet", a great innovation of some years ago to enable a more convenient day link with Sydney.

John Slinn, Epping, NSW

DON'T BANK ON IT

While Terry Fletcher's bank has confirmed a refund of all fees (Traveller Letters, May 13), it doesn't mean the airline's bank has passed it on. Locally, some organisations don't refund merchant fees, including American Express and PayPal, which means there is still a cost to the vendor. And who knows what the case is in Qatar?

Mark Roberts, Caloundra, QLD

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 Mindfulness Travel Japan by Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh; Paon, Real Balinese Cooking, by Tjok Maya Kerthyasa and I Wayan Kresna; and Plume by Tania McCartney.

See hardiegrant.com

SHARE YOUR TIPS AND WIN THREE LONELY PLANET TRAVEL BOOKS WORTH $100

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books, including Australia's Best Trips, Best Day Walks Australia and Gourmet Trails Australia and NZ.

See shop.lonelyplanet.com

HOW TO WRITE TO US

We give preference to letters of 100 words or fewer and they may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Please use full sentences, don't use textspeak and don't include attachments. Email us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.

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