This was published 8 years ago
Traveller Letters: Inferior economy, there is such a thing
CLASS WARFARE
I regularly go to Japan on business. Normally using JAL or ANA. This year for different reasons I used Qantas. Twice. Economy.
Results: first flight on January 6 was moved to the next morning. Received notification through SMS.
Another flight was on March 13, QF061. All passengers had to stay inside the plane for nearly three hours, because some engineering check had to be completed.
Finally in the air! Let's try to watch movies: there were no new movies. Let's eat: just one dish (no salads, appetisers).
I felt it was not a normal economy, but one more layer in economy classes – inferior economy. Needless to say, in both cases whatever was planned in destination had to be cancelled, postponed, etc. Disappointment.
Igor Alexandrov, Clovelly, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Sometimes the most indelible travel memories are born of fleeting and incongruous moments.
I was recently at the gold leaf cathedral of Cordoba, Argentina, marvelling at the jewel-studded silver altar, the ceiling frescoes, saintly murals and marble statuary.
Inside the cathedral our guide was narrating the extraordinary and determined efforts of Jesuit priests in the 15th century to establish Cordoba as a centre for education and Catholic evangelising. Outside, in San Martin Plaza Square, a lone busker began singing, I Did it My Way.
The explanation for my mirth was lost somewhere in the translation.
Judith Salmon, Haberfield, NSW
COBBLED TOGETHER
Could someone please make a decent wheeled travel bag for those of us who like to walk and travel in places with gutters, cobble stones and stairs? The almost now universal types that stand vertically with little wheels in each corner of the base are only good for smooth floors.
Further, they can be dangerous and run away on things like escalators. Following accidents on escalators with these things running away and clearing those below, there are signs warning about them now in some airports.
They are hopeless for cobblestones and going up stairs or high gutters where the back of the bag gets scraped along sharp edges (and those very fashionable looking cases usual have no protective material over the pretty surface).
Could we have please the following: A carbon fibre/plastic type case with waterproof lid that closes with hinges and TSA locks (not zips), with just two largish wheels and some serious anti scratch material on the side that rubs against gutters/escalators.
Michael Fewster, Bellevue Heights, South Australia
VIETNAM EASE
I was surprised to read the scathing letter from Virginia Jackman (Traveller Letters, April 16-17) regarding Vietnam Airlines. My husband and I flew to Vietnam last year with Vietnam Airlines and was surprised at the state of the art service, attention to detail, lovely meals, wine if we wanted same and always on hand beautifully attired attendants.
We also had some short trips in Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoian and were shown the same level of service we received on the International flight. Vietnam Airlines received great praise from the the airline industry, securing top spot for an Asian airline.
We had a very short wait at Hanoi Airport on our trip home, with a stopover in Ho Chi Mnh City before heading back to Australia. At all times, the courtesy of the Vietnamese people, both in the air and on land could not be bettered anywhere we have travelled.
Veronica Husted, Sanctuary Point, NSW
As a serial visitor to Vietnam I was amused with Virginia Jackman's disdain for Vietnam Airlines business class. The flight from Hanoi to Hue takes a little over an hour and the business lounges at both airports might not be flash but the cost for the flight would be maybe $130.
Virginia I'm not sure what luxury you were seeking for an extra $50 but your time in beautiful Hue would have compensated you for your bad airline experience.
Kel Young, Barooga NSW
Virginia Jackman, I was staggered to read of your dissatisfaction with your Vietnam Airlines flight from Hanoi to Hue. I have flown with them many times over the last 24 years, most recently last week, and have always found them to be excellent.
The staff are lovely, the food good and the planes safe. You seem to have a lot of complaints for a one-hour flight.
Mark Roberts, Strathmore, VIC
NATURAL HIGH
Your article on Nepal (Traveller, April 9-10) after its earthquake was most interesting. One other part of the world that has now recovered from the effects of a massive earthquake – but, unlike Nepal, provides travel in an area with very few tourists – is north-eastern Tibet (incorporated these days into China's Sichuan province south of Xining).
The mountains are immense, the skies diamond clear, the space breathtaking and the culture unadulterated (despite Han Chinese efforts otherwise) with enthralling Buddhist monasteries. It is quite hard to travel independently but there are some efficient and welcoming small Tibetan-owned travel guides who are terrific to travel with.
Why so few people visit this area is truly a mystery to me. Unfortunately in the better-known "Tibetan Autonomous Region", travel for foreigners is severely-restricted to only the main cities and there can be a heavy military presence which can spoil the experience.
Nigel Hungerford, Hawthorn East, VIC
CRUEL WORLD
Thanks for publishing Stephen Bailey's letter about cruel methods of "training" elephants for tourist use (Traveller Letters, April 9-10). My daughter went on holiday to an elephant sanctuary where she helped gather food for the elephants and other tasks.
The profits from her stay help run the sanctuary which rescues elephants from logging camps and tourist use. We would love to see an article about this issue.
Dawn Hamilton, St Ives, NSW
WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES
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