Letters: It's time airlines gave priority to tall passengers

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This was published 11 years ago

Letters: It's time airlines gave priority to tall passengers

By Letters

Tall order in the exit row

It is time airlines gave priority for exit-row seats to tall passengers. I am 195 centimetres and have often crammed myself into standard seats while far shorter people spread out in an exit-row seat. This happens even when I try to pre-book and pay for an exit-row seat. Recently my 201-centimetre son squeezed into a Korean Air seat for 14 hours while a 150-centimetre woman sat cross-legged on a seat with extra leg room. With the pressure to load more people on flights, seat space has diminished. At times tall people sit with their legs in the aisles, creating a hazard for other passengers and crew.

- Peter Morgan

Eye-opening outlook on flying

Travel can be an expensive and uncomfortable endurance test. Why do it? On a long-haul flight to London I left my cramped seat and fellow passengers dozing in the dark and went to a back window where a blind was raised. The sun shone bright in a clear sky and sparkled on miles and miles of snow-clad mountains far below. Ten, 15 minutes went by in silent awe. I also felt exhilaration as my plane approached Heathrow above the English countryside.

- Evelyn Lawson

Moveable feast on foot

I recently undertook took Virginia Dae's "A Moveable Feast" Hemingway walking tour of Paris (parisinsight.com). There were four of us and the walk was incredibly rewarding. Starting with the richest ever hot chocolate at Les Deux Magots, for more than three hours we walked and talked our way through the Left Bank, Virginia bringing the period and characters to life with her stories. Her ability to gain access to private courtyards and gardens, showing us hidden history, was fascinating. A wonderful experience.

- Paul Montague

Aviatrix flies again

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Jean Batten was never an aviator (Smart Traveller, June 2-3). She was an aviatrix.

- Charles Scott

Amade to measure

I am from Austria and have insider tips to add to the Global Ski Special (Traveller, May 26-27) for readers thinking of skiing at Amade. Munich Airport is nearer to Amade's hub city, Salzburg, than Vienna Airport. The correct website address is www.flachau.com/en/winter/vacation-planning/arrival.html. The Amade accommodation mentioned in the article is certainly not the best choice. There are several great hotels in the area and I would recommend the Hotel Alpenhof (alpenhof.info) and Hotel Alpendorf (hotel-alpendorf.at).

- Petra Kraft

Wait not, want not

I have read in Traveller's letters column of people "remaining hopeful of being reimbursed" by airlines. Instead of being hopeful, lodge a complaint with the NSW Fair Trading department or equivalent in other states. Then see how fast the trader comes to the party. Don't wait in hope.

- Graham Lang

Take my cue and queue properly

So, you've made it through the airline queue ("Check-in fails to measure up", Traveller Letters, May 26-27), you get to the security check and people are getting out their laptops and other paraphernalia, taking off their belts - not to one side before they get to security, no, no, right there, blocking everyone who has taken the opportunity while in the (usually) long queue to prepare for security. Finally, the carry-on luggage is on the conveyor to X-ray, you make it through the scanner, with belt on (as you purchased one that doesn't set off the "beep beep, please step over here, sir" system) and you can taste the coffee in the lounge. Oh, but there are your fellow travellers repacking their oversize carry-on luggage on the conveyor and putting clothing back on, thus stopping everyone else from moving through the system. The system works, people - stop complaining about airport queues and get with the program. It's not hard, you just have to think more than one tweet ahead.

- Peter Goyen

A question of independence

I am experiencing occasional flashes of terror about the decision I recently made to travel alone to Vietnam next month - a week in Hanoi followed by a week in Hoi An, then a catch-up with extended family. My friends think I'm nuts. Why not take a lovely tour, they ask? What do readers think? Can an older female traveller who adores food and culture thrive on a solo journey in Vietnam?

- Kathy Burns

We welcome your travel-related opinions, experiences and letters. Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Email travellerletters@fairfax.com.au including your name, address and phone number.

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