Letters to the Travel Editor

Sparking trouble Dear Sir, I read with interest about Spark's travel package [‘We don’t like’, Travel, September 5]. We had $40 for 100 minutes. All went very quickly with a few short calls. When I finally made Spark tell me where the money had gone, I rang the numbers and they were disconnected ones and nothing to do with us. I am too exhausted with it to try and prove all this although the proof is on my phone. There were calls made on days we didn't use it at all. Paying the 39c a minute is the answer. No package. Regards, Vicki Miller A tip from Big Al Dear Sir, I have been noting the comments in your Travel magazine about tipping. Some time ago I took my first cruise and was horrified to see the daily “gratuities” charged to my onboard account, so I investigated tipping. It originates back to the days of Al Capone where the gangsters stuffed notes down the pants or bras of the call girls. The bigger the tip, the bigger the gangster. So after all these years people are still “stuffing” notes in various places. It is a very unnecessary practice and many places and countries use it as a method of extracting more money from you. On subsequent cruises, I have told the purser upon boarding to make no daily charges to my account, as I will individually show my appreciation to staff. If you think about it 3000 passengers paying US$5 per day for say a 10-day cruise amounts to a huge amount of money [ Ed: It’s $150,000].

Sadly, service staff are paid appalling wages and so tipping is essential for them to make a living. I am aware that service can be shocking if you don’t tip. I am reluctant to tip. If everyone said no way, then industries would change. Not sure how we change the Americans. Noel Pryce North Shore Auckland Much said; little heard Dear Sir, You ask if we have something to say. The announcements at airports have much to say, but it is usually so echoing and with poor- Chicago’s Al Capone, known as “Scarface” but also as a good tipper. Farmhands from afar Dear Sir, Please tell P. Smith that the farming sector employs overseas people because they want to work in the farming environment, are clean and tidy in the houses we provide, unlike the Kiwi blokes, and are not paid any less than the other farm hands. The difference is they want to be there. Thanks, K. Holland The Travel Editor replies: So when farming folk tell us how the sector employs loads of Kiwis we should take it with a grain of salt? I think P Smith’s point was that the face of the Kiwi tourism trade should be a Kiwi face. Seems reasonable to me. travel@nzherald.co.nz quality sound that most don’t hear it. Last year, in a gate lounge at Sydney airport with travellers from four planes heading home to New Zealand after various hold ups, it was almost impossible to hear.

I sent an email to the CEO of Air New Zealand at the time. I suggested an overhaul of the sound system. For what it’s worth, I recommend a more base tone and speakers down at head level on the wall or pods at the end of seat rows in the lounge. I have not had a reply. Do you know if the sound system in airports is under an upgrade? Craig Fraser St Heliers The Travel Editor replies: No idea, mate. Probably better off asking the airport management than Air New Zealand. We’ll put it to them. Letter from the edge Dear Sir, I had a giggle regarding the Koru Lounge lighting in Auckland domestic [ Travel, August 22]. What I don’t like is the fact that a map of the North Island in the upstairs foodcourt at Auckland airport includes my home town of Edgecumbe but it’s spelled incorrectly as Edgecombe. It’s been like this for years and I’m really surprised nobody has picked it up and complained — I should have done so myself years ago. Next time I fly out from Auckland, I will take my marker pen with me … Nicky Collins Thornton The Travel Editor replies: Photo or it never happened. Dear Sir, I recently went to Windsor Castle, England and a Polish guide showed us around. Despite her accent and unpronounceable name, she knew her stuff and was informative and pleasant. Peter Holman Tauranga