This was published 2 years ago
Traveller Letters: Our vaccine passports don't work in Europe? It's Europe's fault apparently
European Parliament in Brussels.Credit: iStock
LETTER OF THE WEEK
PROBLEM SOLVED
Why is the federal government making travel in Europe so difficult for us when one decision could solve all our problems? It could apply for an "equivalence decision" (like many other countries). It would make our International Covid Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) acceptable under the same conditions as the European Union Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC), thus solving the problems of Australians who wish to travel freely around Europe.
I put a query to the Smartraveller.gov.au website asking when Australia was going to sign up for the EU DCC program and was told by the passport client services department that our ICVC was accepted at international borders globally and that basically it was Europe's fault for not complying with international standards. Therefore they weren't going to do anything about it.
If the government wants the travel industry to recover, they should be making overseas travel for Australians as easy as possible, especially in an election year. I think it is about time the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, and any other travel organisations, put pressure on the government to sign up to the EU DCC program, which will benefit every traveller.
Barbara Greenaway, Mount Eliza, VIC
BAD FIT
I am not surprised that there are problems with the International Vaccinate Certificate (Traveller Letters, January 15). It's another example of poor government thinking. To qualify, you must have an Australian passport or a foreign passport with an Australian visa. I have lived in Australia for 37 years and like thousands of others do not fit either of these categories. I travel in and out of Australia without a problem but cannot get a vaccination certificate attached to my passport. They are quite happy to send me a paper copy. Yes, I am a New Zealand citizen (actually dual citizen), living here before visa requirements were enforced and still travelling on my NZ passport. I would suspect there are many of us oldies who fall into this "no man's land".
Ray Sheldon, Glen Waverley, VIC
UNSOLVED CASE
Never mind jabs, PCRs or border passes. Who else is having trouble just packing a suitcase? I printed off my trusty travel packing list but it is now written in some strange code I cannot crack. Cancel papers? Passport? Ticket? Reading light? What do these words mean? I only have a week to crack the code, so time is running out.
Jenny Mooney, Karuah, NSW
COOK WORTH A LOOK
Cooktown in Far North Queensland is worth visiting. Her Majesty's Bark Endeavour was holed by the Great Barrier Reef. This mishap obliged Lieutenant James Cook of the Royal Navy to find a safe harbour to effect repairs in mid-1770. Proximate to his recorded landing, I stood at the plinth of his statue. I gave him my best naval salute to honour his achievements which later led to the European settlement of Australia. Unimpressed by my votive efforts, he appeared to scowl at me. We vicariously connected. Remember his feats every Australia Day.
Mike Fogarty, Weston, ACT
AIR FARE
Richard Grant complains about Qantas food on a Sydney-Melbourne flight (Traveller Letters, January 15). Goodness me, it's a one hour flight and accepting the Qantas food on offer isn't compulsory. Back in pre-COVID days when we would take direct flights to and from Cairns and Melbourne, we very rarely ate on board and preferred to enjoy a meal once we'd arrived.
Liz Riordan, Newtown, VIC
PRETTY FLAMINGOS
Max Simmons' letter (Traveller Letters, December 11), relating to Orbetello in Tuscany, brought back fantastic memories of great people, excellent seafood and stunning beaches. One of the many highlights was witnessing the annual migration of thousands of flamingos to the wetlands. I cycled all across the peninsula and never failed to meet friendly locals and eat some of the best seafood I have ever had. I will return for a third time when things settle. Use the local bed and breakfasts - brilliant. History nerds will love the place, from its Etruscan settlements to the World War Two seaplane base.
Mark Cosgrove, Albury, NSW
WIPE THAT SMILE
For reasons I won't go into, I have been terminating my frequent flyer memberships with various airlines in the last few months though not all of them. I was incensed when the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles program asked me to provide a copy of my passport to exit its program. My points were due to expire and I wasn't attempting to take any benefit. A photo of my Miles&Smiles card was rejected and, I tell you, I wasn't smiling.
This is in contrast to Etihad Guest which had invited me to donate my points to bushfire relief - in Australia, no less. I handed them all over in 2020 and later there was a simple deactivation without fuss. Emirates, too, made it easy once I got past the quirky email contact protocol. Aeroflot Bonus is one I'm keeping. What's not to like about a FF program that extends your miles without you even asking?
Amanda Rogers, Kirribilli, NSW
SPACE INVADER
Natalie Cleary (Traveller Letters, January 15) wants rail operators to remove seats so she can transport her E-bike. Give me a break. Apparently she thinks it is okay that people may be required to stand just to enable her E-bike to travel with her. If she is so enamoured with bike riding perhaps she should get a proper bike which may require a bit of effort to ride.
Mike Weiss, Vermont South, VIC
Natalie Cleary wants seats removed from regional NSW trains to accommodate her large E-bike. Rather than reducing the capacity of the train, perhaps she might consider buying a seat for her bike.
Kevin Ford, Little Bay, NSW
MAJOR (EVENT) OMISSION
Ben Groundwater's story on the year in travel (Traveller, January 15) failed to mention the 2022 UCI World Cycling Championship which will be held during September in Wollongong, NSW. I believe this is only the second time this world event has been held in Australia.
Rob Dela, East Corrimal, NSW.
WIN A SET OF THREE HARDIE GRANT TRAVEL BOOKS
The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100, including Undiscovered Tasmania by Rochelle & Wally Dare; Emma Shaw's Ultimate Weekends Australia; and Vantastic by Kate Ulman.
See hardiegrant.com
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