I was on a Qantas flight from Dallas to Brisbane on May 30 when it had to make an unscheduled stop in Noumea to refuel.
What has not been reported is the reason for the refuel. Qantas already knows about the headwinds that aircraft face flying east to west. However, the aircraft could not take on a full load of fuel in Dallas due to the high temperature on the tarmac there.
Qantas management will need to think seriously about the sense in trying to fly directly to and from Dallas, especially at a time of year when temperatures are very high.
- Allan Scadden
Cathay comfort
I agree with Ian Cox (Traveller, May 28) about the comfort of the "shell" economy seats on Cathay Pacific flights. At the end of last year, I flew with my husband to Britain, via a stopover in Hong Kong. In the past I have flown premium economy with British Airways but our long haul in economy with Cathay was as comfortable.
Not only could we recline the seats without disturbing our fellow passengers, we were seated together in a configuration of two and enjoyed excellent inflight service.
- Linda Butler
Shell hell
My wife and I flew Cathay last December paying $100 extra a person to have exit-row seats. I am 190 centimetres tall but my wife is a lot shorter. We found the "shell" seats to be the most uncomfortable we have flown in.
The padding is thin, the neck support is non-existent and the degree of "recline" is minimal (the seat doesn't actually recline; it slides forward in an arc).
Oh, and about the exit-row seats - on both legs we had someone vomit at our feet while waiting to get into the adjacent toilets.
- Russel Ho
Stranded by Tiger
I was stuck with my partner in Hobart for more than 20 hours after morning fog in Melbourne delayed flights across Australia on May 30. After we'd spent more than five hours in the airport, Tiger's ground crew issued hotel vouchers to those who qualified.
For a flight that was originally scheduled to leave at 8.05pm, it was not until well after midnight that most passengers left the terminal to find accommodation.
No transport or food costs were paid for, despite the almost $100 round trip into the city, and limited help was given to find hotels with rooms available.
Though passengers returned the next day for the newly scheduled 11.30am flight, we did not get off the ground until after 2pm.
Tiger has lost two customers - me and my partner - and so has its owner, Singapore Airlines. Shame on both companies for their awful approach to customer service.
- Eva Hamilton
Late apology
I wrote to Traveller at the end of 2009 with a complaint about Tiger Airways regarding a cancelled flight. We received a $90 refund pretty much soon after the letter was published. We received the apology in March of this year, 19 months later.
I find it ironic that in their letter of apology they stress how important punctuality is to them.
Many thanks for publishing my original letter.
- Eilean Hynes
Singapore salute
I am a travel addict. I've been around the world five times, to Europe about 12 times and to the US 10. Each week I buy the Saturday and Sunday papers to pore over the travel sections. The letters to the editor never cease to amaze me with the number of gripes about recent flights.
From my experience, if you want a great experience with good food, excellent inflight entertainment and attentive, polite and genuine flight attendants then you cannot go past Singapore Airlines. Its economy class is others' premium economy and its business class is better than most other carriers' first class.
- Simon James
We welcome your travel-related opinions, experiences and letters. Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Email us at travellerletters@fairfax.com.au including your name, address and phone number.
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