Business service disappoints
My husband and I flew London to Sydney on the Emirates A380 last year and like Gerard Ryle (Flight Test, Traveller May 8) were impressed with the cocooning effect of the seating. We could not see the person sitting across the aisle from us and comfort was A1.
However, the 380 business class is huge, and during meals, service is similar to economy class. The trolleys are rolled down the aisle to the front seats and flight attendants work their way back. We were in the second-last row and by the time the trolleys reached us several dishes were finished. Even eggs for breakfast. When I complained, I was told we should have ordered in advance if we wanted to be sure of getting what we wanted.
I was most taken aback - we did not expect this in business class.
- Helen Painter
Malaysian perspective
The article "Blowing the budget" (Traveller, April 24) claimed that Malaysia Airlines is being protected by the Malaysian government at the expense of AirAsiaX which wants to start new services from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney and Seoul - two of Malaysia Airlines' most lucrative routes.
The reality is that regulation takes place around the world. The Australian government regulates the lucrative trans-Pacific route and says in the National Aviation Policy White Paper it would give V Australia a reasonable opportunity to establish services on the trans-Pacific route before it would consider trading such access in return for additional commercial opportunities for Australian airlines.
The government says as a long haul, end-point destination, Australia has few valuable traffic rights to trade in exchange for access to the overseas market and that it needed to maximise what negotiating leverage it had.
Today, on the trans-Pacific routes, there are only four airlines: Delta, Virgin Blue's V Australia, Qantas and United Airlines.
Similarly, the Malaysian government needs to prudently consider what is best for the country and its citizens.
The arguments presented in the Australian media, that AirAsiaX will provide customers with more choices, more connectivity and boost the Malaysian economy, just by flying into Sydney and Seoul, are flawed.
If the Malaysian government is serious about providing Australian and Malaysian consumers with more destination choices its efforts should be on attracting other airlines including Australian carriers such as Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue to operate from multiple Australian points into Malaysia, and vice versa. But to do this, the Malaysian government needs to ensure that these routes are profitable for all airlines.
- Azmil Aziz, managing director/chief executive officer, Malaysia Airlines
Cover confusion
I sympathise with Rachel Palmieri (Traveller, April 24). In 2005 I had a request to Cover-More refused. My father died just before I was due to go to Britain to join a tour run by a local village group. I was able to alter my flight with the aid of a doctor's letter but the tour went without me.
I claimed the cost but then spent months corresponding with the company which required details I was not able to provide as the tour was for senior citizens, with a local bus company, and a flexible itinerary. After months of to-ing and fro-ing, they wore me down and I let the matter drop.
- Madeleine Wilson
Asiana impresses
I recently travelled with South Korea-based Asiana Airlines to Frankfurt via Incheon.
The cabin crew's service was excellent, the staff attentive and friendly and firm with those who wanted to access their overhead luggage while the plane was still in motion.
In-flight entertainment was video-on-demand on three of my four flights.
- Jens Korff
Comfort in Qantas
What a relief to board a Qantas flight after a longer-than-intended stay in Europe and an enforced re-routing via New York because of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano ash.
The patience displayed by ground staff who spent 40 minutes on the phone to Australia, trying to organise replacement tickets was just one example of their great service. Clean planes, courteous staff and generous meal, drink and entertainment provisions are attributes shared by several of the airlines we have used.
However, it is the warmth, friendliness of crew and the sense of humour displayed that makes Qantas unique and flying with them so much more pleasurable.
- Val Findling
Still waiting for refund
I booked a ticket over the internet with my personal credit card for my son to travel between Bangkok and Samui with Bangkok Airways.
At check-in at Bangkok he had his paid e-ticket but was asked for the credit card that the booking was made under. As he did not have it, and although the ticket had obviously been paid for, they insisted that he pay again. The second payment was made on his mother's credit card after he contacted us by phone. He did not have this credit card either!
He was told that on his return to Australia the money would be refunded.
It is now three letters, numerous emails and four months later and we still have not received the refund promised in their reply on January 30.
- Rodney Morley
We welcome your travel-related opinions, experiences and letters. Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Email us at travellerletters@fairfax.com.au including your name, address and phone number.
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