Traveller Letters: When it comes to premium economy seats, Qantas wins
Each week Traveller publishes a selection of rants, raves and travel tips from our readers. See below on how you can contribute.
LETTER OF THE WEEK
That empty feeling
Having recently flown Singapore Airlines, premium economy, from Sydney to Paris, we compared it with flying Qantas, premium economy, recently between Sydney and Santiago. Qantas wins, with pre-departure drinks, to enhanced food and wines – in other words, a down-graded business class whereas the Singapore Airlines equivalent was an upgraded economy class.
Qantas premium economy are “more like a downgraded business class”.Credit: Brent Winstone
Our requested Qantas business class upgrade, on points, did not eventuate. The plane was supposedly full, except, somehow, there were four vacant business class seats. Perhaps it was a catering problem or perhaps our national airline is really not interested in “points upgrades”. We fly Santiago to Sydney at the end of March – should we take our own food or will business class somehow become available then?
John Verhelst, Huntleys Cove, NSW
Time to socket it to ’em
It is understandable that rental companies are offering electric vehicles at cheaper rates than petrol or diesel cars (Traveller letters, February 24). Companies will have calculated that EVs are cheaper to maintain, have less faults, hold their resale values longer and are nicer to drive. However, the comment, “EVs are flooding the Australian market” is misplaced as there is still less than 1 per cent of EV cars on the road here. Australia, therefore, is a backwater in the change to electric. In Europe, most car companies and countries are stopping the sale of petrol and diesel cars over the next six years or so.
Tom Maher, Aspendale, Vic
Spraying canned
It was interesting and informative, if not a bit alarming, to read Michael Gebicki’s “Welcome and have a nice spray” column (Traveller, February 12) about the insecticide used on all international arrivals. Spray cans to kill the increasing numbers of “hitchhiker” insects that are more easily moving about within the world’s warmer climate, alongside all the people and products criss-crossing the globe, seem essential, but at what cost? And what are the longer-term risks? We saw how quickly COVID-19 spread around the globe with devastating consequences. Biosecurity and infection control challenges may well be another reason to support the shift toward the simple, yet joyous, experiences of local travel.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic
Warning signs
Make sure you check Smarttraveller for warnings before travelling to any country.Credit: iStock
Like Eileen Kennedy (Traveller letters, February 24), I also booked a trip to Egypt last July, and I assure her the Smartraveller Level 3, “Reconsider your need to travel” advice was in place at that time and had been for some years. It was not introduced due to the Israel conflict. As I was on a tour, I weighed up the safety aspects and decided to go. I sympathise with the refusal of a refund from TripADeal, but many travel companies do not flag warnings with customers, saying the onus is on travellers to check their destinations before booking. A Level 3 warning can also impact insurance.
Olwyn Jones, Richmond, Vic
EDITOR’S NOTE: While the “reconsider your need to travel” alert has been in place for Egypt for some time, the context in which it now exists is heightened due to the intense nature of events in Gaza and across the Middle East.
Tripped up
Eileen Kennedy (Traveller letters, February 24) makes a good point as to how TripADeal was once a satisfactory travel agent (pre-pandemic for us), but attitudes have now changed significantly. The reason is obvious: Qantas has now the controlling interest in TripADeal and the Qantas disposition towards their clients (the Alan Joyce philosophy) is now evident. Questions are not answered, and your flights are wherever possible with Qantas, even though this is often inconvenient. Attempted upgrades to business class on long flights result in charges far more costly than the full price of a business fare. It seems TripA Deal now are retailers of package tours for Qantas rather than a traditional travel agent.
Drew Hewson, Newtown, Vic
Waltzing to Paris
My daughter and I travelled from Sydney to Melbourne recently on Qantas and we were thrilled to have both a female captain and co-pilot. To top off the trip, in the same week, the Matildas had a thumping win to qualify for this year’s Paris Olympics. Girl power at its best. Oi, oi, oi!
Michael Taplin, Mosman, NSW
Giving back
Volunteering in Hua Hin is made easy.Credit: iStock
It was comforting to read Brian Johnston’s Savvy Traveller report, “Travelling with heart” (Traveller, February 24) as I can speak from experience. In October last year I set off for two weeks on a community development program in Thailand with the New Zealand-based organisation International Volunteer Headquarters. On arrival at Bangkok, I was met by a representative for the three-hour bus journey to the city of Hua Hin. Once there, I had the choice of dormitory accommodation or a private room for a small extra fee. Upon settling in, a co-ordinator gave us a thorough induction of daily activities including a beach clean-up, mangrove regeneration and teaching in a school. Three meals a day were provided plus transport to volunteer activities.
Rohan Harvey, Hamilton, NSW
No right of say
In reply to Adriaan Vanjaarsveldt (Traveller letters, February 24), I agree that Mousehole is a special place. But I’d note that in her book The Mousehole Cat, Antonia Barber writes: “They say it the Cornish way ‘Mowzel’, but you may say it any way you choose.” So there’s no right or wrong way it would seem.
Tom Wilson, North Turramurra, NSW
Wheels of fortune
The best place in the world to travel by scooter is Italy.Credit: Alamy
I can vouch for the sheer joy and convenience of navigating the ancient roads of Italy and beyond on a two wheeler wasp (Traveller, February 17). Memories of an amazing Vespa journey through Italy, Greece and the former Yugoslavia in 1965 come flooding back. In those good old days, respect for scooter riders, particularly those in skirts, was reassuring. Italian drivers are master weavers on the road but they do have in-built sonars around scooters. On the other hand, scooter drivers themselves take the cake for infiltrating minuscule spaces on road and off. Times may have changed but the excitement and freedom of Vespa travel has to be enduring.
Andrea Maselli, Carlton, Vic
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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