Traveller letters: Flight attendant resolves passenger's overhead locker shocker

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Traveller letters: Flight attendant resolves passenger's overhead locker shocker

"Find somewhere for this".

"Find somewhere for this".Credit: Getty Images

LOCK(ER), STOCK AND BARREL

My dearest Maggie (Traveller letters, June 17), I could not agree more with the sentiment of your epistle. I am a former flight attendant, both domestic and international, reservation and loyalty manager and I was a complete baggage zealot.

I once had a woman, before the door closed, drop a bag at my feet, saying, "Find somewhere for this".

You can find a way to relax in Barcelona.

You can find a way to relax in Barcelona.Credit: iStock

I did. I handed it to ground staff to put in the hold. After the flight departed I told her that her bag would be available to collect at the baggage carousel in Singapore.

However, I am unaware of where you book your "assigned" locker. It is more by good luck than good management, unless you are travelling business or first class.

Aaron Blake, Darlinghurst, NSW

A chef prepares murtabak, a thick pancake  stuffed with meat, egg and onions, at a food stall on Arab Street, Singapore.

A chef prepares murtabak, a thick pancake stuffed with meat, egg and onions, at a food stall on Arab Street, Singapore.Credit: Alamy

I can better the "locker shocker" letter. I just returned from a premium-economy return flight to and from London and several of the people filling up the premium-economy overhead lockers with carry-on were from economy class.

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It makes it so much easier for them to get to their seats when boarding and then to the exit when landing without carting all that extra baggage up and down the aisles, poor things. Cabin crew are far too busy during boarding time to monitor this.

Barbara Richardson, Elizabeth Bay, NSW

THE DEFENCE OF EUROPE

May I, as an Australian living permanently in Europe, and in addition to Neil Johns' comments (Traveller letters, June 24), add some suggestions of my own in respect to holidaying there in summer.

First, visit Europe in the northern spring or autumn. Accommodation prices are lower and although you won't avoid queues they will be shorter.

Second, most of the major tourist spots sell tickets of admission via the internet. You are normally allocated a time slot for visiting but the inconvenience of being restricted in this way far outweighs the possibility of queuing for literally hours.

Third, think alternatives. Stay in Siena and visit Firenze on day trips. Visit the cathedral of Seville instead of St Peters, enjoy the Picasso museum of Malaga instead of Barcelona.

The alternatives are endless.

Kel Pedersen, Aalborg, Denmark

LETTER OF THE WEEK: SPICE IT UP

The food and travel theme in the June 24 edition of Saturday's Traveller made great reading but it failed to give credit to one of Singapore's best and cheapest food experiences.

That is the murtabak – a tasty, spicy, filled pancake accompanied by a curry sauce. Check out the Zam Zam restaurant opposite the Sultan Mosque in Arab Street.

Last time I was there my wife and I ate murtabak plus a second dish with drinks (soft drink only) for less than $20. Upstairs for table service, downstairs for take-away.

Ken Follows, Erina, NSW

See also: Seven dishes every visitor must try in Singapore

SEAT WARS

Tony Rands, in reference to your comment abut reclining seats and bald heads (Traveller letters, June 24), I am a 38-year with a shaved bald head. I can assure you that my head only ever sweats when in a hat and when it is extremely hot.

I also consumed less of the earth's resources in the shower as such. When seated in my 1.5-square-metre prison in economy, the seat will recline as I see fit, unless it is meal time. If you can't invert your screen, read a book and empower your mind.

Shaun Dunford, Mt Gambier, SA

Thank you Judy Quintal (Traveller letters, June 17) for your sensible solution to the problem of airline seats being reclined into the face of the person sitting behind.

Our home recliners have a similar sliding padded seat mechanism that you recommended from your Vueling Airlines flight and it would certainly save a lot of "seat rage" if this option was offered or even standardised.

One downside is that letter writers would then have to find another pet hate, but any airline operating out of Australia with this seating as standard would have my patronage every time.

Ros Barwick, Sunnybank Hills, QLD

Michael Bailey (Traveller letters, June 10) is wrong when he claims trains don't have reclining seats. Try travelling on NSW Train Link. The services south to Canberra and north to Tamworth have reclining seats in first class.

Not sure about economy, as I always book first at generous senior concession rates and for the prospect of more space – a prospect which can so easily be compromised by recliners.

Richard Stone, Hughes, ACT

Do the people that whinge about people reclining their seats realise that the rules allow passengers to recline their seats. If you don't like the rules, go cruising.

Most of the passengers have paid for their seats and are not there to appease the few selfish ones. And the letter about directing air flow to the seat in front is very spiteful.

David Bourne, Dubbo, NSW

EDITOR'S NOTE We're inclined to mark the end of correspondence on this subject, at least for now. Thank you, readers, for the large quantity of letters received on this subject.

DISCORDANT NOTE

I was disappointed to read the piece covering the key musical venues and cities in the world in the June 17 edition of Traveller which had only one non-Western location, Buenos Aires, and nothing from the whole of Asia or Africa despite an obviously rich history and tradition in these parts and a number of standout music venues.

I understand that these were suggested by guest personalities. However, I think seeing the responses, it would be in the editorial remit to pursue more diversity, or to suggest a few on behalf of the newspaper.

Does Carnegie Hall really need more awareness? Have we not established that New York is home to a lot of musos? Would love to see the envelope pushed a bit more next time.

Angela Bennetts, Glebe, NSW

OFF SCRIPT

Only two weeks ago I visited the 700-year-old pharmacy in Dubrovnik featured in your article of June 10. Unfortunately, on our visit, the young woman behind the counter was completely uninterested and bored and was being particularly unfriendly to a potential Chinese customer. Her answers to questions were a series of "no" or "don't know". We were semi committed to buying some of the creme of roses mentioned in the article but left with our money in our wallet.

This experience was so untypical of the very tourist friendly approach we found otherwise during our 11 wonderful days in Croatia but does highlight that a successful tourist experience is more than just a famous site or pretty view.

Alex Gosman, Lyneham, ACT

ITALIANS DO IT BETTER

Keith Cawthorne and Peter Howe's speedy passport renewals have nothing on the Italian Consulate in Sydney, where passport renewals are always same-day issue.

We arrived at about 11am, the one-page form already downloaded from their website and filled in, and with two photos.

After an hour's wait in the ticketed queue we saw the officer, paid $163 each, were fingerprinted, and out the door with our new passports by 12.30pm.

The palaver and expense required for an Australian passport renewal is ludicrous.

Sally Edsall, Arncliffe, NSW

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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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