This was published 9 years ago
Traveller letters: Sydney international terminal's dirty secret
DIRTY SECRET
I recently travelled to south-east Asia where I had been advised not to expect toilet facilities to be of the same standard as those in Australia. However, by far the worst toilets I encountered were at Sydney's international terminal. When I was leaving, about around half the toilets at the terminal were blocked and overflowing. When I returned, the toilets at the international terminal were indescribably filthy. Surely the airport corporation could use some of its pre-tax profit of 6 per cent (The Sydney Morning Herald, February 26) to improve these facilities.
Catherine Burrows
LETTER OF THE WEEK
One of the best flights I have ever been on was a Swissair flight from Zurich to Singapore. In the Zurich departure lounge was a young couple. They had two children under the age of one year and both were crying their lungs out. We boarded the flight with a feeling of foreboding. Sure enough the young couple was sitting near us. The poor mother looked exhausted already. But on the same flight was a tour group of Swiss farmers and their wives. No sooner had the seat belt sign gone off than the Swiss farmers' wives were taking it in turns to walk up and down the aisles rocking the babies off to sleep as if they were their newborns on the farm. They kept this up for most of this lovely, peaceful flight. We all waved goodbye happily when the plane landed. Maybe all we need on flights are Swiss farm-trained cabin crew.
Judy Ebner
CRYING SHAME
Often babies and toddlers cry when flying because their ears (Eustachian tubes) are more sensitive to changes in altitude. Qantas used to hand out eucalyptus impregnated pads for younger children to sniff, but sadly (for everyone on board) stopped this. When my children were young I used to carry a jar of Vicks Vaporub for them to sniff, which had the same effect. I also handed it around the cabin if other children were crying, especially during descent for landing.
Roz Rogers
WOOL FIX
More than 50 years ago, after my six-week-old baby daughter cried on a flight all the way from Melbourne to Perth, I took her to a West Australian GP. He suggested putting cotton wool in her ears for the flight home. It worked brilliantly! Later, I became an infant welfare nurse and was thanked by many mums for this suggestion when they travelled. It works beautifully to pacify a crying baby during a flight.
Sybil Johnston
WINE WHINE
I concur with Chris Herbert, (Traveller Letters, February 20), in respect to Cathay Pacific premium economy not being premium. On a flight from Hong Kong to London I requested white wine with the meal only to be told all the white wine had been used in economy class.
Tim Earnshaw
ADVANCE SHOCK
I'm travelling to Mexico via Los Angeles with Qantas in May and am disappointed to learn the only way to reserve a seat in advance is to pay $25. Has anyone else found the same thing? I flew Cathay Pacific to Japan last year and the seats were allocated well in advance at no extra cost.
Jenny Sharp
THANKS LIAM
A recent broken leg resulted in my mobility being considerably affected when travelling to Sydney to visit my grandchildren. With a boot on my leg and struggling with carry on luggage, I was approached in the queue by Liam from Tiger Airlines. Asking for my seat number he quickly picked up my luggage and took it onto the plane, whileI waited for the portable lift.
He had placed my bag in the overhead compartments and checked regularly during the flight to see if I needed anything.
On my return flight to Melbourne a few days later, I again encountered Liam, who remembered me and took my luggage onto the plane.
Previous flights with Tiger Airlines several years ago were not as good. But due to their staff being so pleasant and helpful I now fly with them regularly.
Mary Keating
DRONE GROAN
Reading Lee Tulloch's thoughts on drones last Saturday was a portent of things to come. A quiet afternoon swim in the Murray River was rudely interrupted by a noisy drone.
In the Dalmatian Islands last October, walking the coastal track and swimming in the isolated coves between Hvar Town and Milna, solitude was bliss. Then above the soft lap of water on limestone an angry buzz intruded. A drone zig-zagged across the cove destroying the natural calm.
At sunset, selfie stick tourists point admiringly at another drone crisscrossing Hvar Harbour. Yes, next year they will have drones too.
Stephen Jacobs
FORGOTTEN PIES
Oi. Wots going on? 'Ow can some geezer do a piece on pies in Britain and not visit the cultural epicentre (or epiecentre) of the craft? I refer of course to the premises of L. Manze at 76 High Street, Walthamstow, London, E17, in the heart of the market.
Here he would have savoured the true spirit of the cockney gastronomic experience which is pie, mash and liquor, with perhaps a side of jellied eels.
My mouth's watering just thinking about it. And Mr Manze's is heritage-listed too. Cor blimey, wot a turn up.
Dave Muggleton
WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES
The writer of the letter judged the best of the week will receive a LUXE travel guides box set, valued at $60, including savvy, pocket-sized guides for destinations including Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, London and New York. See luxecityguides.com for more details. 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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