A cancelled Jetstar flight cost me 60,000 Qantas points

Dodgy weather

My son’s Jetstar flight back to Sydney from Brisbane scheduled for 3.05pm, Sunday, November 1, was cancelled due to “weather”. Advised by text message at 6.30 that morning, he was not offered an alternative flight with Jetstar or any other airline and no overnight accommodation or other expenses. Out of 25 flights that left Brisbane for Sydney after 12pm on that day, only two had been cancelled. One, a Virgin flight, and the other my son’s flight.

Jetstar provided a credit of $168 to be used within 12 months but since my son had to be back in Sydney that Sunday for work, I had no choice but to find him a flight on Qantas, which cost me $58 cash and 60,000 Qantas frequent flyer points. Based on the points being conservatively valued at 1.5c each, the substitute flight effectively cost us $958. Hopefully, the long-delayed airline ombudsman promised by the federal government may have some authority to force Australian airlines to engage professionally with their customers.
Bruce McCarthy, Wahroonga, NSW

Letter of the week: Pour experience

I’m just back from eight days on Queensland’s Gold Coast. With sandy beaches, lush hinterland forest, quirky markets, women’s Asian Cup football and 50c public transport fares, what wasn’t to love? Gold Coast Airport in a downpour. Not an air bridge was in sight, leaving passengers to shuffle through the rain, queue to clamber up slippery staircases, then shiver in the air-con during their two to three-hour flight. The Gold Coast isn’t Woop-Woop – it’s a premier tourism hub with an airport that handles more than 6 million passengers yearly. It wasn’t good enough and made for a disappointing end to our visit.
Andrew Dye, Prahran, Vic

Editor’s note: The best airports in the world were named this week at the World Airport Awards. Among the major international airports in Australia, Gold Coast Airport was ranked the lowest, at No.80 in the top 100 – perhaps this is one of the reasons.

One’s not enough

I read again in Traveller (Traveller Letters, March 7) of another fob off from booked seats, this time by Virgin. It appears that every week there’s a similar story. Isn’t it about time that travellers had some reliable method of settling a dispute with any carrier? Would it be possible to have an ombudsman dedicated to the airline industry? However, come to think of it, one person would not be able to cope.
Paul Sullivan, Northbridge, NSW

Vegemite spreads

Further to Australia-related sightings abroad (Traveller Letters, March 7), here in Palermo, Buenos Aires, there is a popular Australian-run cafe named “Casa Dingo”. Vegemite toast is sometimes on the menu, and, of course, great coffee.
Andrew Verlei, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Sew good

When we were in Helsinki a few years ago, just at the end of the street from our hotel was a large building with a sign reading “Eurokangas”. Had to be a connection to Australia, right? Therefore, we went to investigate. When the lift doors opened to Eurokangas, what do we see? An enormous and fabulous fabric store, like an up-market Spotlight in Australia. For someone who sews, it was heaven, though not so for my long-suffering husband.
Sandra Beckett, Hastings, Vic

Room for Broome

When beginning to recently plan for one of Australia’s iconic road trips, Western Australia’s Coral Coast, I inquired about a self-drive itinerary I’d seen online. The quoted price for a 12-day trip from Perth to Exmouth that included return Sydney to Perth flights, car hire, one tour and National Park entry fees was more than $9000 a person, which, I think, is quite exorbitant. Not to be deterred, I’ve just finished booking the trip myself. Taking 14 days to do this wonderful drive, it has ended up costing about $8000 for both of us, including flights, car hire and accommodation – cheaper by a long shot, and the itinerary isn’t hugely different from the tour company’s. We’ve even been able to squeeze in a brief visit to Broome. While I know that the extra cost is due to convenience and company costs, an asking price that’s more than double what the trip actually costs seems to me to simply be self-defeating price-gouging.
Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown, NSW

Flight bookings

In my 66 years of travel to myriad destinations, I have always read books on a plane. Not once since the introduction of in-flight entertainment many years ago, have I watched a movie or used the headphones. As soon as the announcements are over, I turn the screen off and read. There are always two books in my shoulder bag and two more in my booked luggage, plus many on my iPad. Long flights provide an uninterrupted opportunity for quiet reading while on early domestic flights I read the newspaper, do the crossword then open a book. Bliss.
Jennifer Dewar, Double Bay, NSW

Now hear this

I wish to reinforce the advice for the “Snap, crackle, pop” letter by Bruno Yvanovich (Traveller Letters, March 7). Terminal announcements are nearly always unclear. They need to be made slower as Bruno advises. Ditto, the announcers need to be trained. I would add that there should be regular real-time announcements by someone, simply to ensure all is adequately clear.
Akos Gyarmathy, South Perth, WA

Singled minded

I was also rejected when on a riverboat travelling solo (Traveller Letters, February 28). I was refused a place at a table occupied by a group of Australians travelling together, so I developed a successful strategy to avoid this disappointment. I arrive in the dining room soon after it opens, sit by myself at a table for six or more and happily welcome solo or pairs of travellers who come and ask to join me. They are all looking to engage with new people, and we usually have a pleasant dining experience.
Merryn Sterling, Randwick, NSW

Not appreciated

In October 2025, we booked a two-week tour for Japan and paid a deposit. At the time of booking we were informed that, should there be a fall in the Australian dollar against the yen before full payment was required in January, the cost of the tour would be increased in line with the exchange rate. As we now know, the Australian dollar has appreciated considerably against the yen, but the tour company has been silent about the cost of the tour being discounted according to their policy.
Kerry O’Leary, Belgrave, Vic

Tip of the week: Swedes are sweeties

My travel companion and I flew to Sweden’s Gotland Island from Stockholm (faster than train or ferry) last year. After exploring the spectacular medieval walled city of Visby we hired a car to explore the rest of the island. In increasingly torrential rain and seeking refuge, we stopped at the Coop supermarket in Ljurgan, which was in darkness due to a power outage. We were invited in and chatted with the two female workers by torchlight. They were intrigued to meet two Australian grandmothers driving around Gotland on such a foul day. “What are you in need of?” they asked. “Just some lollies, but we have no cash and your terminal is down.” They led us to the lolly aisle and told us to choose a packet each, free of charge. We went on our way armed with advice on what to visit nearby and a smile on our faces at the kindness of Swedish strangers. A visit to this fascinating strategically located island is highly recommended.
Janine Halls, Carnegie, Vic

Easier does it

I am recently back from a trip to Hawaii for an annual conference. The plane arrives in Honolulu early morning, usually following several jumbos from Japan, and the immigration hall is absolutely full. Rarely have I cleared immigration in less than an hour. But now the US has introduced the MPC-Mobile Passport Control system. You download the MPC app before you leave. You can fill in the form up to four hours before arrival. I did it on the plane using Air New Zealand’s Wi-Fi, which was free for all passengers. On arrival, I clicked “submit”, went to the MPC queue and was through immigration in less than 10 minutes. Amazing, and it apparently operates in 35 US airports.

John Hibbard, Westleigh, NSW

Longing for Geelong

Your report on Geelong, lands well at a time of worldwide uncertainty. In times of conflict, when everything seems uncertain, it’s great to be reminded that we can enjoy a safe harbour, good food, great walks and more, just a short train trip from home.
Chris Cook, Essendon, Vic

Room for leftovers

Ever been left with a quantity of currencies after travelling through a number of countries? We recently completed a South Pacific cruise, on which it was suggested to carry more than a small supply of each country’s local currency because the locals depend on cash. We used the local branch of the Bank of South Pacific (which operates in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa and Cook Islands) in order to exchange the local currency for the next country. Any leftover Tongan dollars were exchanged into New Zealand dollars at the Western Union office in the Tongan capital. The leftover notes and coins provided enough to provide a gratuity.
Ross Cook, Bendigo, Vic

Your happy places

Editor’s note: We recently launched a new series, My Happy Place, where Traveller’s writers reflect on the holiday destinations in Australia and around the world that they cherish the most. We also invited you to submit your happy places.

Bangkok is my happy place because it feels like home, even when I’m thousands of kilometres away. From my first stopover in the early 1980s, I was hooked by the heat, colour and unforgettable food. Mortars pounding, chillies flying, coconut milk bubbling, and the perfume of fish sauce and lemongrass hanging in the air. Sitting on a plastic stool by the Chao Phraya, cold beer in hand, watching life unfold. I wander the streets, tasting smoky grills and complex curries, absorbing
flavours, language and culture. Bangkok feeds my soul, my curiosity and my lifelong love of Thai food.
Jeff Piper, Canberra, ACT

Seal Rocks has what so many coastal villages had and lost. Completely surrounded by Myall Lakes National Park, its secluded location and tight development controls have protected it from the fate of others like it. There is little to do but be in this location – swim, surf, paddle, and read. Sitting back in a red plastic chair on the deck of the Seal Rocks General Store, eating a mango Weiss Bar, and casting your eyes across the aqua waters of Boat Beach below is priceless. The longer it remains the same, the more valuable it becomes.
Rachel Jonmundsson, Fairlight, NSW

Swinging on a rope over the palm fringed sands, my body dripping in warm salt water with the waft of spiced fish, fresh hoppers and rice to start my day. My eyes and heart look to the sea with the wonder of the past; spice traders and explorers drifting past. South coast Sri Lanka is my happy place. Always.
Mike Moldrich, Yarraville, Vic

The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. See shop.lonelyplanet.com