POINTS TAKEN
Your Letter of the Week (Letters, February 8-9) from N. Kelly caused panic to this 82-year-old! As a senior life member of Qantas Club since 1988 I also have accumulated frequent flyer points more than double those of N. Kelly. However, a check with helpful Qantas Club staff revealed that my points are valid as they are regularly added to from my linked Visa card activity. It is only when an account is inactive for a prolonged period that the points become redundant.
- Ken Paul
I read with interest your Letter of the Week regarding Qantas. The exact same thing happened to me - member for 20 years, had about 250,000 points which I have tried many times to use for a booking but never suitable/available - was saving for a big trip this year and then went to access account and bang! Zero points - no warning. Needless to say I will never be using Qantas again - I am disgusted with their treatment of a (once) loyal customer.
- Glenys Broadhead
N.Kelly needs to play his cards right. Opting to earn Qantas frequent flyer points with the free Everyday rewards card at Woolworths means points will stay current with just one $31 grocery shop.
Polly Price
I read with interest that N. Kelly's Qantas frequent flyer points expired without notice after 18 months of non-activity. Surely common courtesy would enable [Qantas] to email at least four to eight weeks before expiry.
- K. Maitland
UNDER COVER
It was interesting to read about James Cheeseman (Letters, February 15-16) trying to obtain travel insurance when you have a pre-existing condition. I am a nurse and now live in Britain. A small patient support group successfully negotiated with an insurance company to offer travel insurance for those with all gastro-intestinal conditions including ulcerative colitis, FAP and Crohn's disease or those who have had surgery. This was a major breakthrough for these patients - they are now able to travel the world with the safety blanket of having travel insurance. I know this is not that helpful for Australians back home, but maybe a local organisation might be able to negotiate a similar deal?
- Angela Neville
JAPAN'S OTHER SIDE
On a recent trip to Kyushu, Japan, we travelled by diesel train from Kumamoto in the west to Beppu on the eastern coast. The train, the Trans Kyushu Limited Express, took three hours, including switchbacks, to cover 150 kilometres and cost $35 a person. This was a trip to savour: comfortable seats and large picture windows, or one could sit at the front of the train next to the driver's cabin for an uninterrupted view. Picturesque mountain scenery alternating between mile after mile of rice farms, bamboo copses, villages and houses. We crossed the caldera of Mount Aso, reputedly one of the largest calderas in the world. We bought our tickets about one hour before the trip and, as at all ticket stations in Japan, it does help to travel with someone who speaks the language. The trip ended too soon; it was a great choice to see a different aspect of Japan.
- Virginia Barnett
WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES
The winner of the best letter published each week will receive a travel-friendly Logitech case+energy iPhone battery pack, valued at $120, which doubles the power of an iPhone battery. Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Email us at travellerletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au and include your name, address and phone number.
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