Traveller letters: Angry man fixes selfie stick scourge

The following day I returned to Al Fahidi, for more time in galleries such as Alserkal Cultural Foundation and XVA, but also for a superb Emirati meal at the Sheik Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. There about a dozen of us sat on cushions around the dishes set out on the rugs before us, and ate while the Sheik entertained us with explanations of Emirati customs and clothing. Bookings are required.

Ellie Welkamp, Geelong, VIC

WHAT A RELIEF

In response to Les Herbert's letter (Traveller letters, December 16) regarding public toilets in New York. We are regular visitors to New York and have never had a problem.

Every major department store, book store and shopping mall have multiple and clean bathroom facilities. The higher the floor, the cleaner and less crowded. And if you're really desperate, relax and have a drink in one the many bars and use their facilities. Easy!

Jenny Cooper, Rozelle NSW

I love New York and wanted to let Traveller readers and Les Herbert know that all hotels in New York City must have "restroom" facilities available in their foyer/lobby areas for use by the general public. It is unfortunate that New York doesn't publicise this more widely to their tourists but you can now be confident that you can walk around freely knowing that every hotel has a "restroom" facility for your use.

Moira Heath, Bawley Point, NSW

New York is not the only toilet-challenged world city. I've bought many not-needed coffees in European cities over the years just to use a restaurant's facilities when caught short. However, it would be nice if Sydney were to be known not only as the Harbour City but the City of Dunnies.

John Byrne, Randwick, NSW

IT'S TERMINAL

I am not reassured by Kerrie Mather's formulaic assurances (Traveller letters, December 16) that all is well at Sydney Airport – or should it be called "Sydney Airport Shopping Mall"?

Perhaps Ms Mather could focus on the things that really irritate passengers and visitors to the airport, such as the astronomical pay-parking rip-off, the confusing arrivals pick-up process, the never-ending queues, particularly for overseas visitors who cannot access our Smart Gate facility, the very average bus transport between domestic and international terminals, the cancelled flights and more. And why can't departing passengers get from security to gate without getting lost in the cigarette, alcohol and perfume shopping maze? Many of the irritations result from understaffing, presumably for cost cutting, others just inadequate design.

Paul Ratcliffe, Yarralumla, ACT

Kerrie Mather (Traveller letters, December 16), you may have spent millions on improvements, much of which brings in additional dollars, but as a weekly user of Sydney Airport I don't see improvements for customers, what with the 25 minutes it can take just to get out of the car park and the 15 minutes to get out of the airport.

Then, at domestic, you have to walk miles to be picked up from the "Express" pick-up location, followed by another wait to get out of the airport.

Neil Bibby, Lane Cove, NSW

I've always had great experiences arriving at Sydney Airport and earlier this year marvelled to a Qantas flight attendant as we queued to put our passports in the automatic machines, that in the 50-plus years I have been travelling I hadn't seen the airport so busy, and yet my exit was seamless.

In fact my husband was caught at the duty free for some 30 minutes because of a computer glitch and there I was waiting at the baggage department with our bags for at least 20 mins before he arrived.

Yes, there appear to have been staff cutbacks, but if you are an Australian returning home it's pretty easy and mostly the staff are friendly and helpful. Try Istanbul Airport or Cancun, Mexico, where there can be queues of least two hours just to clear immigration. As one passenger commented flying into Istanbul from Italy, it took longer to get through immigration than it did to fly from Rome.

Dorothy Harris, Nambucca Heads, NSW

CABIN FEVER

In response to your writer's lament about chaotic aircraft boarding arrangements (Traveller letters, December 16), I believe one of the issues is airlines' laziness in applying the cabin baggage rules.

One of my co-workers missed a connection because his bag had to be stored far away from his seat and he couldn't get to it until most others had left the aircraft.

In Newcastle, NSW, gate staff will direct passengers with grossly oversized bags to leave them for transfer to the hold. The cheers would be deafening if this idea was enforced at other terminals.

Rod Sullivan, Medowie, NSW

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