Ticket grief
My girlfriend and I booked a trip from Sydney to Adelaide flying with Tiger and Jetstar. A few weeks before the trip, I suffered a serious spinal injury and needed to postpone the trip. On compassionate grounds, I was easily able to change the flight dates free of charge for me and my partner on the Jetstar flight. But Tiger only agreed to waive the switch fee for me (the injured party). After difficulty dealing with Tiger, I ended up paying more to change my flight - with no change fee - than my partner, who bought an entirely new ticket. If you need to amend your Tiger ticket for any reason, just buy a new one.
- Nicolas Grandjean-Thomsen
Off the map
Attracted by the offer of a free map of a country we were about to travel to in Europe, my wife bought a TomTom GPS, registered online and was given a password to download the bonus map. Multiple attempts to do so failed, followed by numerous phone calls and emails detailing the problem and supplying a copy of the receipt of purchase.
Although the company was aware of our impending departure - eight days after the problem was first brought to its attention - it failed to deliver the appropriate product and didn't contact us with either an explanation or apology.
- Ian Andrews
Number crunching
It is time the travel industry came up with a new definition of ''small group travel''.
On a recent trip to Jordan and Syria with a promised maximum group size of 16, we were shocked to find the group size was 22, then three days later, we became 32. With only one guide and, in places, only one restaurant and one toilet stop, it was chaos. We were an international bunch of experienced travellers who were all dismayed by the arrogant disregard of our expectations.
- Mary Purnell
Insurance company delivers
I support Ross Huggard's praise of Cover-More Travel Insurance (Traveller, June 5). On the third day of my recent ski holiday in Switzerland, I broke my leg - it wasn't a spectacular fall but occurred after being nudged by a big man while I was virtually standing still. I was shattered by the sudden and early end to my holiday. Cover-More could not have been more helpful in helping me arrange my return trip to Sydney. As I was travelling alone, I really appreciated Cover-More's understanding and help.
After submitting my claim, I had all major expenses reimbursed, such as my $550 taxi trip and business-class flight upgrade.
- Susan Silvan
Open and shut case
On a recent Air France flight from Paris to Singapore, I put my window shutter up by one-third to see the Hindu Kush mountains of Pakistan. I was immediately told by a steward to close the shutter as it would wake people up. It was daylight outside. As the only person affected by the light was my husband (we were in a double seat), I said I did not want to close it as I was enjoying the view.
Another steward came and berated me, telling me the shutter must be closed. When I said no, he reached over and slammed it shut. I opened it again and it was once again slammed shut. I have been flying for the past 62 years and have never experienced such rudeness.
- Heather Morrison
Shuttle diplomacy
As a reasonably frequent flyer, I dread the commute from Melbourne Airport to the city. I have tried the various services on offer to the inner city and my congratulations go to Skybus - a bad experience at the airport counter was addressed with caring concern from customer service.
It was a far cry from the callous response and complete disregard received from another service when a booked pickup was not sent, a situation discovered only when I phoned curbside to check when it might arrive.
- K. Hall
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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