Cereal and a bread roll: You call this business class food, Qantas?

The Age

a day ago

Uluru dream realised
Owing to a surprise health issue, which has affected both my mobility and confidence, flying seemed like a challenge too far. Through all of these life changes my wife has been magnificent so, when she daydreamed about visiting Uluru to see the drone show, it moved me enough to take a deep breath and see if it could happen. From the moment we arrived at the terminal in Sydney, through Ayers Rock Airport, to be wheel-chaired back to baggage collection in Sydney, all the Qantas ground staff and flight crew were amazing – professional, calm, considerate and friendly.
John Veitch, Burradoo, NSW
Find my iPad
While travelling to London earlier this year, I realised that I had left my iPad at the security check-in gate at Changi Airport. I discovered this about four hours into my Singapore Airlines flight to London and approached the senior cabin staffer who quickly helped me complete a 'lost property' email to Singapore. She also notified customer service at Heathrow. On arrival at Heathrow she personally introduced me to the customer service representative who said that he would take up my case. I was relieved but not too hopeful. Two days later, the CSO emailed me to tell me that they had found my iPad at Changi, and it was on its way to Heathrow. It duly arrived, and I arranged for it to be couriered to my residence in London, again with the CSO's help. Customer service at its finest.
Peter Keane, Eltham, Victoria
Tips included
My wife and I recently inquired about a European tour by coach with Trafalgar. I have travelled with them before and they are exceptional. I tipped as I thought warranted throughout the trip. This time though, I was advised 'all tips and gratuities are included in the tour price'. I was told this amounted to $535. Add-on VAT/GST and 'incidental' expenses suddenly became testing. Involuntary tipping, in my opinion, is a form of automatic theft and should be outlawed.
Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South, NSW
Cabin kindness
I'm a frequent traveller to unusual destinations. On recent Jetstar flights between Sydney and Melbourne, when boarding is via the stairs and not an air bridge, I've been delighted to be offered assistance by young men who take my cabin luggage up the stairs, then put it into the overhead locker. I'm 73 and fit-ish, but white-haired and these kind gestures, while unnecessary, were welcome, and accepted gratefully. There's a lot of goodwill out there.
Fran Kirby, Castle Hill, NSW
Oh, no Canada
I messaged Virgin Airlines via their website about difficulties I was having booking seats on a code-share flight with Air Canada from Vancouver to Melbourne via Brisbane. Within three hours I had a response, and seats from Brisbane to Melbourne were booked at no charge. Air Canada, who we had done the original booking with, were difficult to reach, unhelpful and wanting to charge for the seats. I appreciated the service from Virgin – Air Canada, customer service matters.
Sandy Guest, Yarraville, Vic
Tip of the week: As you wish
Aside from the Louvre in Paris, the Musee D'Orsay is possibly the most crowded museum in the city. It can be difficult to enjoy the fabulous paintings surrounded by hordes of people, many posing for pictures in front of the artworks, but a Carte Blanche ticket provides unlimited visits to the Orsay and the Musee de l'Orangerie and early access to the former at 9am. I filled in the form, available online, took it and a passport-sized photo to the Orangerie (where lines for ticket purchase are much shorter) for immediate entry and the cash desk issued me the card with attached picture, so no other identification document was needed when entering either museum. Being able to view the artworks with only a few other people is such a wonderful experience.
Merryn Sterling, Randwick, NSW
Tap turn-off
Our family is staying in New York City and were advised by an official at the subway to tap on with our mobile phones at the gates, instead of buying a paper OMNY ticket from the machines. It may feel more convenient to simply tap, but all four of us were charged multiple times for a single ride at different times and at different stations. Although we tried to report it, there was no recourse with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. We put in disputes with our banks and fortunately were refunded. Could have done without the hassle.
Sally Polmear, Barkers Creek, Vic
Bath-time
Steve McKenna's report on visiting Bristol and Bath (Traveller, May 19) prompts me to alert readers to the excellent free walking tours of Bath by The Mayor of Bath's Honorary Guides (bathguides.org.uk). Operating since 1934, these tours provide a fascinating insight into the history of this jewel of a city. Highly recommended, and even better, given the never-ending debate about tipping, no tips are accepted.
Brooke Broughton, Leura, NSW
Give Milan a break
I am leaving Milan after a week and heartily disagree with your previous correspondents who have said it is grey and boring. Like all European cities, Milan has been transformed by a huge reduction in cars, replaced by walking, bikes, and excellent public transport. Notably there are no electric scooters. Streets are wide and clean, buildings majestic and beautiful, parks gorgeous and the food fabulous. Milanese are polite and unhurried and the only place a bit crowded was the stunning Duomo and nearby Galleria. Museums are wonderful and user-friendly and the house museums a delight. Every shop window is a design wonder. Take time, relax and enjoy.
Heather Barker, Albert Park, Vic
Flyover wonder
Having been fortunate enough to experience a Qantas scenic flight over Antarctica many years ago, it gave me a vivid picture of the fortitude of those early explorers and the majesty of this untouched continent. Yes, if I had the money, I could actually stand on Antarctica and see its wonders close up, but is this a good idea? Every extra human encroachment of this pristine environment destroys part of its uniqueness, never to be recovered.
Marjie Williamson, Blaxland, NSW
Price watch
On a recent road trip from Brisbane to Sydney and back (down the Pacific Highway and up the New England Highway) I was astounded at how much the price of fuel changed from town to town. The cheapest diesel we found was 162.9 a litre in Coffs Harbour. The most expensive at Macksville (193.9) just 40 minutes down the road. Thank goodness for fuel price watching apps like PetrolSpy. By using the reliable information on the app we made huge savings bypassing towns with expensive fuel, and motoring in to a town where we could save 20 or even 30 cents a litre.
Ed Cooley, Buderim, Qld