Traveller letters: Sick airline passengers' behaviour was disgusting

Back at home, I got in contact with Melbourne Airport parking via their web page contact form. They acknowledged my contact and said I would be contacted later. And so I was, with an email pointing me to the same web page that I already told them doesn't work. I rang the office number and was put on hold for about 30 seconds and then the recording told me ''all agents are busy, call another time'' and then I was hung up on.

Its Facebook site and associated Messenger option are operated by some sort of badly designed bot incapable of answering anything like a human should be able to do. It gives the option of "contact team member" but all that leads to is its website contact form and circular stupidity.

Pete Simpson, Kilsyth, VIC

NOSE JOB

In response to the comments of Brian Lucas (Traveller letters, July 3), I too had a similar experience through security in the US. My first two domestic flights required shoes off and computers out of case yet the following two flights did not.

Perplexed I asked a Transport and Security Administration (TSA) employee about the difference and he advised that since the sniffer dogs can smell explosives there is no need to remove iPads and computers, et al. Makes me wonder why they don't use sniffer dogs all the time at major airports.

Wayne Hindson, Bonnells Bay, NSW

PLANE FACTS

Your Letter of the Week (Traveller letters, July 14) about a recent QF2 experience was a heart-warming read until I noticed the picture of the aeroplane associated with the letter. Surely the specialised Traveller section wouldn't make the error of depicting a B787 instead of an A380, the aircraft type on Qantas' flagship QF2 route?

George Souris, Redfern, NSW

LONDON CALLING

Following my letter of complaint published in Traveller on June 30 regarding TripAdvisor not having a contact person, I can report they did kindly contact me from London and took up my complaint regarding our booked accommodation in Mauritius, securing us a full refund, for which we are sincerely grateful. But it still would be reassuring to have their contact details known in the original booking site.

John Hart, Bright, VIC

SNAP HAPPY

I too have had a bad experience with Europcar South Africa like Phil Campbell (Traveller letters, July 14). They claimed I had lost a three-centimetre piece of plastic from a rear wiper on my rental vehicle. But when shown the photos that I had taken at their office on pick-up they swiftly relented. But they did charge for fuel when I filled up at the airport and drove five kilometres to Europcar.

Now I use a company called Cape Town Taxis who provide car and driver for $120 for a day. It's ideal after a cruise when you have a late flight. Sure it is slightly more than a rental but without any hassles.

Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield, NSW

AGE OLD PROBLEM

Singapore Airlines isn't alone punishing families suffering a medical crisis (Traveller letters, July 7). Asiana, who we used to recommend, charged $1400 to move my wife's flight forward five days when her mother became critically-ill in London. They rejected swapping outgoing flights with our son who was already flying on that earlier date.

The sting? Asiana say they usually waive charges when the relative dies before changing flights but not if they die after you rush to their side – that you pay for! Asiana rejected all pleas to reconsider. Insurance? NRMA insurance doesn't pay if the dying relative lives outside Australia (tough luck migrants). NAB Credit card insurance, not if the relative is 80-plus (tough luck, elderly parents).

Michael Berg, Randwick, NSW

TAKE COVER

Please, one more doona letter?

We are travelling in Japan at the moment and we call any tourist we hear complaining a ''doona''.

Andrew Moody, Rhodes, NSW

ON THE BUSES

On a cold January day in London last year, my husband and I hopped aboard a bus at the stop outside our hotel. Seated upstairs in the front we wondered where our trip would take us. By the time we realised we were the only passengers left on board, we were underground in a bus depot parked alongside a row of stationary buses.

Our driver did a double-take when we appeared while drivers were doubled-over with laughter as he led us to another bus which conveyed us back to our hotel. It's yet another humorous event in our travels.

Kerry Whalen, Varsity Lakes, QLD

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