This was published 8 years ago
Traveller letters: We didn't cancel the flight, so why do we have to pay?
Travel writer Paul Theroux.
CASTING A PALL
On July 10 this year we checked in bags for a Garuda flight to Bali. As there was a 12-hour delay, Garuda ground staff instructed us to catch a cab home and Garuda would reimburse the fare. Later that day the flight was cancelled due to the volcanic ash. As reservations were unable to rebook us on a flight within our holiday timeframe, they offered a full refund.
Six weeks later and we are awaiting a refund but have still been lumbered with a $125 a person cancellation fee. Who cancelled? Not us. In what other industry do you pay the full amount, months in advance for a service that is not provided and then get charged for its cancellation?
Lesley Strauss, Wahroonga, NSW
THREE FOR THE ROAD
We often travel to Canberra on the Hume Freeway and recommend to Robyn Whitehouse (Traveller Letters, August 22-23) that she also try J&B's Gourmet Cafe in Holbrook, NSW.
Over the years this cafe, under two ownerships, has served consistently excellent food. Much is home cooked and it can be a light snack or delicious, more substantial food. If the meat-loaf sandwich is on, it's an excellent choice.
However, avoid the "service centre" at Pheasants Nest closer to Sydney at all costs. It is disgraceful.
Peter O'Keefe, Collingwood, VIC
Robyn Whitehouse's letter reminded me of one of our family travel rituals. We have taken our two sons on numerous road trips around Australia and every time we passed the Dog on the Tucker Box at Gundagai, NSW, I took a photo of my boys. At first we have photos of two gorgeous, excited little boys who raced from the car to get in the photo.
This then changed to photos of two surly, embarrassed teenagers I had to drag from their various technical gadgets to pose for a photo. When my older son turned 21, the Powerpoint presentation of his life in pictures ended with the wonderful photos of the Dog on the Tucker Box, with my boys at various life stages.
It brought back so many memories of fabulous holidays in our beautiful homeland. Recently my son went on his own road trip with some university friends. And, you guessed it, he sent me a photo of himself, proudly posing with the Dog on the Tucker Box.
Jacqui Foster, Concord NSW
We have been travelling the Hume to Albury several times a year over the past 45 years or so and have seen it evolve from a mostly single-lane highway to the dual carriageway freeway of today.
The many now bypassed towns and villages along the way are well worth going off the freeway to visit, not only for food and refreshments, but also for the peace and quiet away from heavy traffic. Travelling south some of our favourite cafes are the Roses cafes in both Goulburn and Yass, and the Long Track Pantry in Jugiong.
The service stations on the freeway are ideal for a quick stop to refuel the vehicle and its occupants but the bypassed towns offer greater experiences. The locals are generally welcoming and friendly and the towns have lovely parks with well maintained, clean toilet facilities. Life in the slow lane can surprise you.
Chris and Frank Behl, Winmalee, NSW
FULL CREDIT
In response to Michael Webb's "Letter of the week" (Rants & raves, August 22-23), he can opt for a bank credit card "disputed transaction" procedure. The disputed transaction booklet is provided on request from the bank issuing the credit card. Simply follow the procedure set out in the booklet.
Importantly, if the credit card holder keys in his PIN, then a disputed transaction is not available, because you are deemed to consent by using your PIN.
His dispute with Choice Hotel is that he did not PIN number the credit transaction account and did not authorise it, as he intended to use his debit card for payment of the transaction.
Simply request the bank to reverse the unauthorised transaction of dollar value on the credit card, setting our the reason. The timing of the disputed transaction is important and should be done as soon as possible.
Finally, the credit card holder should demand the return of credit card imprints on leaving the hotel. In Australia, the Privacy Act of 1988 makes it illegal to store information without good reason, such as credit card imprints.
James Kearney, Hunters Hill, NSW
ANIMAL RIGHTS
In her article on Satellite Island, Tasmania (Traveller, August 22-23) Stephanie Wood writes of a live lobster "succumbing to the heat". Really? Doesn't she mean that this sea creature was slowly and painfully cooked alive?
I hope that I am wrong and that one of your journalists was not content to see her meal prepared with no regard for the lobster's welfare.
Peter Fenton, Parramatta, NSW
EDITOR'S NOTE The author of our story on Satellite Island assures us that the lobster in question was "asleep by the time it hit the barbecue".
MEXICAN SHUFFLE
Once again a travel article on Cuba (Traveller, August 22-23) maintains the myth that a visa (referred to in the article as a "visitor's permit") should be obtained from the Cuban Canberra Consulate. There is no need to buy from the Cuban Consulate for $60 ($110 by post), which also requires photos and passport.
A Travel Card – as it is correctly named – can be bought, for example, from any Mexican airline at check-in on departure for $US20 ($28). If travelling from Canada, it is included in the price of the ticket.
John Varley, Abbotsford, VIC
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Paul Theroux, the acclaimed travel author and novelist, once said that "you define a good flight by negatives: you didn't get hijacked, you didn't crash, you didn't throw up, you weren't nauseated by the food. So you are grateful."
Perhaps some recent Traveller letter writers could remember to be grateful that they have both the means and the opportunity to travel overseas when, for many, it forever remains an unrealised dream.
Diane Flentjar, Northcote, VIC
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