This was published 6 years ago
Traveller letters: Cabin crew should force passengers to pay attention in safety briefings
Should flight attendants force passengers to pay more attention during safety briefings?Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE
Having experienced a recent flight where oxygen masks were deployed followed by an emergency descent, I believe that more should be done to require that passengers pay full attention to the pre-flight safety briefing.
Additionally, a briefing I received when seated in an exit row on Hawaiian Airlines was delivered by the crew member with rapid fire to a row of six passengers, four of whom were either engaged with their mobile phones or reading. The crew member did nothing to demand their attention.
Most airlines promote that their passengers' safety is of the utmost importance to them. It's time that airlines enforced adequate crew delivery and passenger attention to the pre-flight safety briefing.
Diane Luccitti, Homebush, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK: SUDDEN IMPACT
The backlash against tourists is also apparent in San Sebastian.Credit: Alamy
Alison Stewart's article on the pressures being exerted on Venice (Traveller, October 28) reminded me of a recent exhibition on the impact of tourism in San Sebastian, Spain, where there is confronting graffiti telling tourists to go home, leading to a decidedly uncomfortable feeling.
Local, anti-tourism students engaged me in conversation wanting to "hear the other side of the story". They believed that locals are being forced out, their lives being impacted negatively by tourism.
The ease and accessibility of travel these days is having an impact on cities the world over. While I will continue to travel, I will attempt to do so in a way that contributes to the local economy of the places I visit.
And I will do my bit to make tourists to my city feel welcome. After all they are only doing in my city what I do in theirs. Exploring, learning and broadening their horizons.
Joanne Karcz, Dangar Island, NSW
GOING IT ALONE
Bravo Daphne (Traveller letters, October 28). What an inspiration you are, as you continue to travel on your own into your 80s. I too enjoy solo travel and here are a few suggestions for those considering it.
1. Pack lightly. I travel with a small bag weighing less than 10 kilograms.
2. Plan to travel to more adventurous places while you can e.g. in recent years I have been to Iran, Uzbekistan, Romania.
3. Use public transport … travel with the locals and see how they live.
4. You have far more interactions with the locals when you are on your own. Smile and say "hello" and you will never be lonely.
5. Be adventurous. This year I travelled on my own in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan … wonderful!
Now in my mid-70s, I was thinking perhaps I should stay at home more. But, Daphne, you have inspired me to think that I can travel for another 10 years.
Thank you.
Sue Shute, Rathmines, NSW
TALKIN' ABOUT OUR GENERATION
I am 83 and my wife is 79 and like Tony Curtis (Traveller letters, October 28), we also don't give a fig about age and have now been on two "expedition cruises" with Ponant on L'Austral, around New Zealand and from Darwin down the Kimberley coast and back.
Every cabin has a balcony and only 230 passengers on board. What more could you want? Every day we left the ship via Zodiac (inflatable boats) to go ashore on excursions.
I had misgivings about getting on and off the Zodiacs as I have a mobility issue, having to use a walking stick at all times. But I needn't have worried since the assistance climbing on and off was expert and efficient. I even did the fast boat ride through the Horizontal Falls, which was fantastic.
We still have the travel bug and while we may not be overseas again we are off in our four-wheel drive somewhere in Australia soon.
James Wilson, Knoxfield, VIC
WHAT A TURN-OFF
Although hotels are increasingly focused on ecologically sustainable practices, such as not laundering re-hung towels, some have still not adopted energy-wise room policies.
A recent week-long stay in the severe heat of Alice Springs at the Quest Hotel reminded me of this neglect. The air-conditioning whirred and purred the whole day in rooms vacated by day-trippers who had not turned their door-side temperature control module off.
Hotels that have installed key-card activated cooling systems require the guest to take out their card when vacating the room. This eco-friendly measure could help reduce accelerating room tariffs in the face of high energy prices in Australia.
Joseph Ting, Carina, QLD
BUCK STOPPED THERE
I agree with your review of Bocanariz wine bar in Santiago, Chile (Traveller, November 4). It's a fabulous place to sample Chilean wine and the food is pretty good too.
However, our experience earlier this year was marred by poor customer service. We had just arrived from Ecuador where the currency is US dollars.
We asked if we could pay using US currency and were told it would be OK but when we came to pay the bill they refused to take payment in US dollars. It was rather a sour end to what had been a very pleasant evening
Jennifer Farrer, Castle Hill, NSW
TIPPING POINTS
In the months leading up to our recent holiday to Sicily, Spain and Portugal, I scoured Traveller, absorbing all of the tips and taking note of recommendations.
I included many of these into our trip, enjoying amazing gelato in Palermo, Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, and Tapas in Madrid. Following one particular article, I managed to book a table at Ristorante Majore in Chiaramonte Gulfi, Sicily.
We had the most wonderful meal – amazing risotto and pappardelle served from enormous earthenware dishes, homemade pork and fennel salami, and a delicious carafe of red wine – all for around €30 for two. Sicily was probably our "favourite child", and I can't wait to get back there.
Thank you so much, Traveller.
Fiona Sanders, Glen Iris, VIC
A PLUS FOR BA
I sadly had my toiletries stolen from my luggage en route to Milan on a British Airways flight. The BA staff at the airport could not have been more helpful.
I sent the email with the info requested by them yesterday with scanned receipts. Today I received an email saying compensatory funds were going into my account – a 24 hour turnaround. Unbelievable.
Amazing customer service. Thanks, BA.
Joy Short, Strathfield, NSW
Send us your travel-related opinions and experiences
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.
See more: Traveller Letters
Sign up for the Traveller newsletter
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.