Letters to the Travel Editor
Have wheels, will be cared for
I had a torn Achilles tendon caused, a week or two earlier, by a reckless short-cut being taken over a water feature, when I should have known better. Wheelchair-bound, I headed in trepidation to Auckland Airport. I needn’t have worried as from the moment I arrived at the Virgin reception desk I was treated splendidly. The same applied on my return flight with Air New Zealand, when everything possible was done to assist me on my return flight. Regards, Morrie Jalfon
The Travel Editor replies: It’s great to know that airlines and airport staff go out of their way to help passengers needing extra assistance.
Losing your bottle
Having read about Marriott moving to dispenser bottles in showers and doing away with little bottles, I feel compelled to say I wrote a long and detailed response to the usual customer survey in hotel rooms when I stayed at some Marriott hotels in the USA, in January 2015, outlining the case for a move to dispensers. Obviously, what a saving from throwing away millions of tiny bottles to simply filling up insitu dispensers, not to mention the bonus of no longer having to juggle how to put the top back on the bottle without dropping all the product on the floor before you get it on your body. As it was anonymous, who knows if it was me that caused this sea-change — one thing is for sure though: if you want change, writing a letter surely helps and the more who do it, the more change is likely. Cheers, Fiona Edgar The Travel Editor replies: Good on you, Fiona! And good on the hotel trade for recognising a simple thing they could do to reduce waste. Got something to say? Send your letters to the Travel Editor
Beached as
Thank you, Elisabeth Easther, for your article on New Zealand beaches [‘In praise of Kiwi beaches’, Travel, May 18]. I have not been able to put the magazine in the recycling — it has been on my dining table for quite a while and I have read it many times. Today is the time to tell you why. It was beautifully written and the fact that you chose to share the passing of your father was very brave and touching. I agreed the sea and beach make for great reflective places, together with water activities and we are certainly blessed in New Zealand with many of them and all quite different in their own way.
As a South Islander originally, it has been wonderful living in Auckland for the past 34 years where I get a great deal of pleasure having the coast at such close proximity. Our children, now in their 20s, grew up having holidays at Red Beach.
I’m a stranger to you, Elisabeth, but please accept my sympathy for the loss of your father. Thank you so much for your article.
Kind regards, Anna Crook
The Travel Editor replies: Elisabeth’s piece was lovely and a pleasure to publish. Clearly a good idea
I always pack my shampoo and anything else that may leak into a see-through, clip-top lunchbox — it packs neatly into the bag and it is easy to identify toiletries when needed without having to rustle around in the bottom of a toilet bag. It also saves on using plastic bags to put things in. I would like a container such as this for a wine bottle (or bottles), is there such a thing?
Patience Walker
Playground or airline lounge?
I recently returned from my trip overseas. My husband and I travelled Business Class over four long-haul sectors on Air New Zealand. Unfortunately, this experience was marred by young children on every sector. A couple of young girls jumped repeatedly between their seats and this went on through most of the long haul. Another time, a young boy got up repeatedly to go to the “loo”, banging on my feet as he put his shoes on and off.
I wish parents would actually look after their children on flights. Most seem content to let them run wild as they themselves sit happily watching their screens or even sleeping peacefully. Perhaps Air New Zealand could either have a special area for young children or ban under-10s from Business Class! I know I am a grumpy old lady, but when you pay for the privilege of flying Business Class, you expect a better environment.
A. Bell, Auckland
The Travel Editor replies: Safety instructions — light fuse of public opinion, then step well back. Water bugs
I was reading Tim Roxborogh’s piece about being charged for sparkling water [Travel Bugs, Travel, June 5].
This happened to us recently when we went out to lunch. We were asked if we wanted still or sparkling water — I only drink still water but my husband said he would like sparkling.
He was brought a bottle of Antipodes sparkling water, which surprised us but it was opened at the table, by the waiter, who poured it into the glass.
There was no mention of a charge and, when I came to pay the bill, I refused to pay the charge for the water and said that, if there was a charge, we should have been told when we were asked what type of water we wanted as my husband would have had still water had he known of the charge.
I was let off the charge and the restaurant apologised.
Anna Kofoed
Plane food
In defence of airport food, try the Botanist Bar and Cafe, level four, Brisbane Airport. This is before you go through passport control. I have eaten there many times over the years, most recently a couple of weeks ago, early in the morning having just got off the red eye from Darwin. Try their eggs Benedict for $18.40. Sensational. Best ever! All four of us in our family group ordered the same.
Cheers, Caroline Davidson
The Travel Editor replies: Discovering a little nonlounge culinary treat at an airport is a real delight.
Who checks the checkers?
Being a regular reader of the Travel magazine I would estimate that 40 per cent of the international Flight Checks are related to Business Class travel. Only 5 per cent of air travellers travel Business Class so the articles don’t relate to many travellers/readers. Business Class travel is hard to fault I would suggest on most airlines. No doubt the travel writers have to have a round trip so could we have a review of the Economy Class trip as a back-to-back appraisal on the same route.
Bruce Clements
The Travel Editor replies: Thanks for reading, Bruce! We’ve been asked this one a bit in the past. Here’s what I generally say: We aim for about a 50/50 split on the Flight Checks between outlandish flights (First Class, Business Class or something that's just a bit unusual) and everyday flights (mainly domestic and transtasman services, low-cost carriers and, of course, longhaul in Economy).
Yep, fewer people fly at the front of the plane, but airlines make more of their money up there and we know (from what people click on when reading online) that the interest in premium seats is high. We might sit in Economy, but we all dream of First Class.
Wherever our writers sit on the plane, we hope the Flight Checks tell you something interesting about the airline and the airline industry. Many of our Flight Checkers are hardcore plane nerds. We enjoy writing these things.