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Traveller Letters: I was bumped off a flight because I had no checked luggage
One reader says she was chosen to be bumped from a Virgin Australia flight because she was travelling with only carry-on luggage.Credit: iStock
LETTER OF THE WEEK
THINGS THAT GO BUMP
In October last year, I flew Perth-Brisbane-Perth with Virgin Australia with only hand luggage. The return flight was delayed for an hour because of "paperwork that needs to be fixed''. Then an announcement was made that the delay meant that headwinds would be encountered and thus several passengers would be offloaded. I was one of them. I inquired as to why I was chosen and was informed that it was because I didn't have checked-in luggage. I asked what would happen if I refused and was told I'd be removed. Aged in my 70s, this notion was terrifying so I meekly complied but burst into tears. I was "consoled" by being parked in the business lounge till the next flight five hours later and advised to apply for compensation. I was offered $100 credit to fly with them again. As if. But I would love to know how offloading eight passengers was calculated to offset strong headwinds?
Catherine Hall, Kalamunda WA
LIGHTEN UP
Bemused, I listened in on a conversation between two travelling couples last week. One complained about flights getting into (insert capital city) at midnight, the other complained about (insert budget airline) being half way from X to Y and having to turn back as the pilot had exceeded his flight hours quota. We learned, a long time ago, to travel with Qantas and get by with hand luggage, not checked baggage. Though Qantas airfares may be more expensive, the airline has never left us stranded. Hand luggage allows us to pivot quickly if flights are changed, and it's just prudent to book a hotel which offers guest laundry facilities or is located near a laundromat so we can travel with just a few days' worth of clothes.
Belinda Coombs, Ermington NSW
INSTANT RECALL
Thanks to Ben Groundwater (Traveller, December 10) for getting my memories of Japan going in his Savvy Traveller article. It's been a while but I recall a similar foreign exchange rate in 2010. We still looked to cut expenses by joining up to Toyoko Inns, purchasing delicious bento boxes at train stations, eating at the Yoshinoya restaurant chain and the many noodle shops where you looked at a picture, chose your meal, then put your coins in the machine which then gave you a ticket to go to the counter with your order. "Lucky dip meals", as I called them, and always delicious and so cheap. That meant more money to put towards stunning kaiseki and melt in the mouth wagyu hibachi meals as a splurge which absolutely must be done. And staying in ryokans, especially in the countryside is a must-do.
Vicki Copping, Oatley, NSW
COLD CASE
My suitcase was damaged on a Singapore Airlines flight in early September last year and my small claim for compensation is still unresolved. Its Baggage Services department is impossible to contact, as is its representative Swissport at Melbourne Airport. Even raising five formal complaints has achieved nothing, so beware if your bag is lost or damaged by this airline. Or use an old bag just in case
Tony Danino, Wheelers Hill, Vic
BARE FACTS
Shoes on or off in flight (Traveller, January 3)? In my experience the real culprits are hikers' socks that have been worn on an overland trek as well as runners that don't breathe unless taken off. Bare feet are beautiful.
John Swanton, Coogee, NSW
REX VEX
Grant Taylor's letter (Traveller Letters, December 4) about Rex Airlines doubling the fare in order to simply change a date is typical of most airlines. Another popular rort is to refuse transferring tickets to anyone else if you can't make it. Unreasonable, even if it is in the fine print. Airlines say the "low" fares are a very special privilege. Rubbish. They are "low" to make sure they can load their planes to 100 per cent and buy bigger or more planes for bragging rights. We need a union of at least 5 million Australian flyers who will only fly with rort-less airlines. Then we'll see a change.
Richard Dowling, Blackburn, VIC
EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to an editing error, the name of our reader, above, was wrongly attributed to a January 7 letter regarding Air Vanuatu. The writer of that letter was Natasha Wainberg. Apologies to both readers.
DO THE RIGHT THING
Congratulations to Lee Tulloch (Traveller, December 10) for raising the issue of plastic pollution. I wholeheartedly agree with her statement that "people trying to do the right thing have been let down by corporations and governments" Lee has convinced me to use toothpaste tablets and soaps instead of bottles. I truly hope Lee's message hits home.
Jenell Heslop, Coal Point. NSW
TOUR (OPERATOR) DE FORCE
We totally agree with Rae Masman (Traveller Letters, December 10) regarding Intrepid Travel. In June 2022 we contracted COVID-19 in Mexico while on an Intrepid trip through Central America. We had to leave the tour after only 10 days but we received a full credit from Intrepid for the remaining 47 days of the trip. After recovering, we spent another month by ourselves travelling through Central America which was in itself an amazing experience. We are now heading off to Egypt and Jordan in February 2023 travelling once again with Intrepid. Unlike Rae's experience our credit voucher was not transferable and was valid for only 24 months. But, hey, in these times of travel uncertainty, that was certainly still an amazing outcome for us.
Marlene Lawton, Bundarra, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
BOUNCING BACK
In December, I enjoyed a three week stay on my favourite island – Sri Lanka (srilanka.travel), a country I have visited often. This, my 10th visit, did not disappoint. After a political crisis earlier this year, this resilient part of the world is bouncing back, welcoming tourists again. I mostly stayed down south in the popular tourist town of Hikkaduwa. Many new cafes have opened since my last visit three years ago, such as Gunni's German café. It boasts a delicious borsht and an amazing choice of homemade gelatos. Another newby, Salty Swami (saltyswamis.com), owned by an Australian, sporting a Balinese feel, is next door to Funky de Bar on the beach, popular with millennials for food, music and dancing. Nothing matches Lobster Red, specialising in fish dishes to die for while a little further south Galle Fort has long captured my imagination. A twilight stroll around the Ramparts overlooking the ocean ends in a latte at Pedlar's Inn Café, famous for their chocolate brownies. The country still experiences one hour daily power black-outs due to power shortages but one quickly adjusts to this minor inconvenience.
Gloria Meltzer, Chewton, Vic
MARRAKECH IMPRESS
An older woman, I recently travelled alone to Marrakech, Morocco for a short stay. The trip was arranged by Aussies in Morocco Tours (aussiesinmoroccotours.com.au). Owner and founder Cara Ghassemian was sensitive to my travelling on my own. She was always happy to answer questions and provide suggestions along with helpful information sheets about topics such as tipping and bargaining. She arranged two great guides, a traditional riad right in the heart of the medina and a sensational evening food tour. It was a wonderful trip.
Jebby Phillips, Turramurra, NSW
HEARTBREAK HOTEL
We have recently returned from a wonderful visit to Laos and Vietnam. We booked our hotel in Vientiane with Qantas Hotels and when we arrived at the hotel at about 8.30 pm on a Saturday evening there wasn't one. We subsequently learned that it closed over two years previously due to COVID, something that was not picked up by Qantas. Contacting Qantas Hotels over a weekend was impossible and finding alternative accommodation in a new city, in the evening, on a weekend and with baggage in tow not easy. Qantas Hotels did refund the pre-paid cost of the non-existent hotel and gave us about $14 each to contribute towards the many expensive telephone calls, additional costs and the massive inconvenience. In future, we will book direct with the hotel.
Donna Ravenscroft, Mosman, NSW
SIMPLY BLED
Having read Ben Groundwater's article on the origins of the vanilla slice brought back memories of the famous and delicious Bled cake which is very similar to our vanilla slice. We enjoyed Bled cake, a vanilla custard cream cake between layered pastry, at the Hotel Park Cafe overlooking the very scenic Lake Bled in Slovenia. Whilst a vanilla slice is an Australian favourite Bled cake is a Slovenian favourite and should not be missed when visiting Bled.
Glenn Earl-Peacock, Mosman, NSW
EARNING THEIR STRIPES
I am just returned from Kerinci, Sumatra with an Indonesian tour company called Wild Sumatra (wildsumatra.com) On my four day three night trek the provided mosquito proof tents, ground sheet mat and sleeping bag were comfortable and the food is four-star bush standard using butane gas. The jungle remains great tiger cover with both the guide and two porters excellent. The steep muddy track was a testing worthwhile experience and my prepaid Cover-More insurance reassuring.
Timothy Scollary, Carlton, Vic
HOW TO WRITE TO US
We give preference to letters of 100 words or fewer and they may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Please use full sentences, don't use textspeak and don't include attachments. Email us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.
The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100. For November, that includes Ultimate Caravan Trips: Australia, Ultimate Food & Drink: Australia and Neighbourhood Guide to Cycling: Naarm Melbourne. See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books, including Wine Trails of Australia and New Zealand, Gourmet Trails of Australia and New Zealand and Australia's Best Trips.See shop.lonelyplanet.com
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