Traveller letters: Dear smug travellers, how dare you criticise other passengers' need for extra luggage

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This was published 6 years ago

Traveller letters: Dear smug travellers, how dare you criticise other passengers' need for extra luggage

Carry-on luggage: How much is too much?

Carry-on luggage: How much is too much?Credit: iStock

ON THE TAKE

Dear smug travellers (Traveller letters, July 8), who with a self-congratulatory superiority ("We manage, why can't others?"), criticise other passengers "who bring copious amounts of hand luggage on the planes".

I am so jealous of your skills because I cannot manage this simple task. Let me assure you that I would be extremely happy if I did not have to take any hand luggage except for a small handbag with necessities.

Dead trees silhouetted against the golden sands of  Sossusvlei, Namibia.

Dead trees silhouetted against the golden sands of Sossusvlei, Namibia.Credit: Getty

A key reason I have to bring a carry-on bag is that I have to take a change of clothes and other essential items on board, in case my luggage doesn't arrive on time or doesn't arrive at all. Unfortunately, I have experienced both a delay between my arrival and that of my luggage and the loss of a suitcase. The loss of my luggage has ruined my holidays.

Airlines seem to treat such an incident as another statistic and do not seem to acknowledge the inconvenience caused to travellers. That is why as an insurance against such a mishap I am forced to take with me on board an unwieldy wheel luggage.

A further reason is that because of my slim frame I feel very cold and I have to bring a couple of warm shawls (sorry, but acrylic blankets provided by airlines are not good enough to keep me warm).

Halina Zobel, Queanbeyan, NSW

LETTER OF THE WEEK: THAT'S THE SPIRIT

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Brian Johnston's essay "When travel helps you see the light" (Traveller, July 8) articulated so well the spiritual pleasures of travel.

We all experience places that genuinely touch the soul and I have felt such moments of perfection swimming the dazzling, tropical waters of the Marovo Lagoon in the Solomon Islands, climbing the sand dunes of Sossusvlei, Namibia, at sunrise and most recently on Kokar, a remote island in the Aland archipelago between Finland and Sweden.

Its wild beauty, sparkling waters and its pure crystalline air induced such a sublime sense of wellbeing that it is etched into the memory forever. I use these memories as my "go to" thoughts when experiencing the stresses of the real world.

Lesley Strauss, Wahroonga, NSW

THROWING THE BOOK

You let yourself and your readers down in choosing to cover a major literary anniversary in such a trite and off-hand manner (Traveller, July 15). Jane Austen died 200 years ago on July 18, having enriched the world of literature enormously.

Yet you select a journalist who proudly admits to never having read one of her books to go on a tour he is obviously not interested in for an article in the travel section.

Surely one of the great authors of world literature deserved some coverage in your Spectrum section. And surely you could have found one of the many Australian Austen scholars to write something that did some justice to the themes, depth and brilliance of her works?

As Mr Knightley would say, "Badly done ... badly done indeed."

Susannah Fullerton, president, Jane Austen Society of Australia, Paddington, NSW

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

There have been a few letters lately about airlines damaging suitcases. I buy mine from the op shop. I find them ranging in condition from good to some that have never been used and can pick them up for not much more than the price of a couple of airport coffees. It's win, win, win, win. A charity has benefited, I've recycled, I've got myself a bargain and I couldn't give a rats how badly the airlines mistreat it or what sort of condition it's in at the end of the trip.

Bruce Laing, Diamond Creek, VIC

SHUT IT

Ian Woodforth's attitude that "I ask for a window seat because I want to look out" (Traveller letters, July 8) exemplifies much that is wrong with so many passengers these days. Sorry to break the news, Ian, but it's not all about you. Ditto to those with over-sized cabin baggage or who insist on reclining their seat on short flights.

Airline crew ask you to put the window shade down because they need to consider the comfort of all passengers on the flight. On most long haul flights you'll have plenty of time to look out the window, including during landing while you're hastily thinking of the best way to greet the authorities at your destination for refusing to follow crew instructions.

Malcolm Hunt, Redfern, NSW

I recently took off from Melbourne at 7.30am with Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong. I specifically fly daytime flights as I don't want to sleep – but straight after breakfast service we were all asked to shut the blinds.

In a window seat I kept it down for two hours, then had enough and opened it up. Others quickly followed. If you want to sleep on a flight, bring an eye mask. That way those of us who want to sleep can, and those who want to enjoy the light can do so as well. Sadly, with new aircraft and technologies, flight attendants now control the blinds from a central point.

Michael Smolders, Southbank, VIC

A couple of weeks ago I was on an Emirates flight to Dubai and spent the 14 hours in darkness. It was completely disorienting. Leaving early in the day, landing mid-afternoon locally, what was the point of the darkness for the interim?

Christine Northam, Caringbah, NSW

THE END

I was rather surprised, and somewhat disappointed, after reading all the writers' choices for their final flings here on earth (Traveller, July 15), not one mentioned any of our iconic Australian landscapes.

After having travelled extensively, I still think our Australian landscape is hard to beat. I have already decided that if I knew my time here on this planet was limited I would return to Davidson's Safari Lodge in Arnhem land.

A sunset cruise along Cooper Creek with Mount Borradaile as a backdrop, watching the eagles soar and the brolgas dance, is not to be matched.

Mary Lawson, Marrickville, NSW

TRAINS OF THOUGHT

The only site to use for train travel in Europe or elsewhere (Traveller letters, July 15) is The Man in Seat 61 (seat61.com). It is invaluable with precise and invaluable information and links to who and where to book train journeys – search no further.

Ian Radnell, Melbourne, VIC

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.

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