This was published 6 years ago
Traveller letters: Airlines should make passengers ask permission to recline seats
Should passengers ask permission to recline their seat?Credit: iStock
PASSENGER PAIN
I read with interest recently a letter about putting one's seat back on a plane. How I wish Qantas, which I believe was the first to introduce no smoking, would take the initiative and not allow passengers to put their seats right back without the permission of the person behind them or when lights are dimmed after a meal on an evening flight.
Recently we took off from JFK on a Qantas A380 bound for LAX before we flew on to Sydney. No sooner had the seat belt sign been switched off when I am sure the heaviest passenger on the plane pushed his seat back suddenly and knocked me on the head. I had just bent over to take a book out of the seat pocket as I wanted to read so that I would sleep on the second, longer leg of our journey home. I politely asked him to put the seat up a little but he replied that he had paid extra money so that he could have a comfortable ride. I missed out but he gained both ways as the six-year-old boy in front of him did not put his seat back at all.
Any traveller who is given goods to carry needs to have them checked.Credit: iStock
It was very hard to get out of my window seat to go to the bathroom as the drinks tray separating the two seats is fixed. I made a point of visiting the bathroom twice and explained as politely as possible that it was impossible to get out of my seat while his seat was fully back. Fortunately, he was not seated in front of me on the longer LAX-SYD leg but I expect some other passenger had the misfortune to have him in front of them.
Why are airlines not prepared to make a rule on the reclining seat position? If it is not dark passengers should ask the person behind if it is all right to recline their seat but it should be acceptable to do so when cabin lights are dimmed after a meal for a long flight. All airline staff politely asked passengers to return their seats to the upright position when meals were served. Qantas execs, sit in a premium or economy seat, have the heaviest person you can find on the flight push their seat in front of you back for several hours and see what passengers have to endure on many of your long-haul flights. Qantas, your company is first-class but please act on the reclining seat situation. Disgruntled passenger.
Patricia Dewey, Pennant Hills, NSW
Mixed bag: Always weigh up the risk of carrying luggage that isn't yours.Credit: iStock
LETTER OF THE WEEK: TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Some years ago I was asked by a colleague to collect a suitcase at Sydney airport being sent as unaccompanied luggage from Jakarta. I was told the content was personal effects. I felt so uneasy about this request I gave Customs details of the suitcase and luggage tag number and asked them to inspect it before releasing it. It did contain personal effects and was released. But had it not, and had I not contacted Customs, I would probably still be inside. Common sense dictates that any traveller who is given goods to carry needs to have them thoroughly checked before travelling, preferably by someone in authority, no matter how much they trust the donor.
Michael Plutte, Freshwater, NSW
PLOT THICKENS
I was quite dismayed to read Ros Barwick's letter (Rants & raves, April 1) relating her visit to the Bawa brothers' renowned gardens near Bentota, Sri Lanka. Both gardens are unique and special and I have never encountered anyone expressing disappointment associated with visiting them. Ironically, our first of many visits to Geoffrey Bawa's garden, Lunuganga, involved our driver mistakenly taking us to Brief Garden by Bevis Bawa, the reverse of Ros' experience. Such a shame she couldn't see the Lunuganga home. The Bawa Trust manages the estate along with his former Colombo property and bookings are made through them (its website, geoffreybawa.com, is worth exploring).
Geoffrey Bawa's architectural footprint across Sri Lanka and further afield such as in Bali is significant and also worth exploring. The brothers' history, estrangement, colonial and post-colonial lives are fascinating and captured in various books reflecting an era now gone but which can still be imagined through visits to their respective properties.
Frank Page, Daylesford, VIC
SHEDDING LIGHT
Further to Susan Morrison's letter (Traveller letters, April 15) about blacking out windows on international flights, I too always have a window seat. Being a very nervous passenger who sleeps very little, I enjoy looking out the window at night. We recently flew ANA to Japan where the same thing occurred. Passengers who tried to unblacken their windows got the request to darken them again, even though it was a night flight. Does anyone know why they have started doing this?
Julie Griffiths, Frenchs Forest, NSW
IT'S ABOUT THE DESTINATION
I can relate to David Harkness' sentiment (Traveller letters, April 15) and find it amusing that people place so much emphasis on the airport and plane experience. For me, they are merely the means to get where I want to go. Who cares if the food is stodgy, or if other passengers take too long when going through security, or if the flight attendant was unsmiling. The time you spend at the airport or in the plane only accounts for a fraction of your entire holiday. Keep it in perspective.
Betty Lee, Normanhurst, NSW
WIT LARGE
While for physical and financial reasons I am unlikely to take the Wineglass Bay, Tasmania sail-walk, I thoroughly enjoyed Keith Austin's witty account (Traveller, April 15). Reached for the dictionary twice, smiled a lot, read sections to the master of the house, yearned to go somewhere within reasonable reach. Thanks, mate.
Fran Henke, Hastings, VIC
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Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Preference will be given to letters of 50-100 words or less. Email us at travellerletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.
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