We recently flew on QF82 from Singapore to Sydney and had booked and selected our seats nine months earlier.
asserted
We → fly → seats
The day before the flight, we received an email from Qantas confirming our seat numbers, but when we got our boarding passes we found we had been reassigned less comfortable seats near the rear of the plane.
asserted
we → receive → plane
No explanation and no alternatives were offered.
asserted
explanation → offer → ?
After complaining to Qantas later, we received an apologetic email, but we are still none the wiser why our seats were given to someone else at the last minute.
asserted
seats → complain → minute
Peter Beveridge, Drummoyne, NSW
Fool’s gold
We booked return Qantas flights in March to Santiago, with the return flight on LATAM codeshare in October.
asserted
We → book → October
We are both Qantas Gold and, despite numerous requests to Qantas and LATAM, we could not make seat selections or upgrade – we had to wait until the day before flying to find we were jammed in down the back of the plane for the 15-hour flight.
uncertain
we → make → flight
However, at check in, the LATAM staff helpfully moved us forward.
asserted
staff → move → us
Our joy was short-lived when we went to the LATAM lounge, only to be told they no longer honour Qantas status even though the LATAM boarding pass had a QF number.
asserted
pass → live → number
Last week my husband and I stayed at The Tasman in Hobart.
asserted
husband → stay → Hobart
On check in, our host enquired as to the reason for our stay.
asserted
host → enquire → stay
I replied that it was for my husband’s mum’s funeral.
asserted
it → reply → funeral
Immediately we were advised that breakfast would be complimentary to make our stay more comfortable.
asserted
stay → advise → ?
Each morning, we were warmly greeted by the staff.
asserted
we → greet → staff
The fresh produce sourced from local producers was just what we needed to start the day.
asserted
we → source → day
That small gesture from the team at The Tasman epitomises the spirit of hospitality.
asserted
gesture → epitomise → hospitality
Amanda Cenin, Brunswick, Vic
Floating an idea
Your recent story on Romania set me thinking.
asserted
story → float → me
I recently went on a Ponant cruise of the US Great Lakes passing through several canal lock systems and ending up in Milwaukee with its many moveable bridges.
asserted
I → go → bridges
I am not an engineer but found the “mechanics” of the trip very interesting.
asserted
mechanics → find → trip
The ship’s hull was cast in Romania and fitted out in Norway.
asserted
hull → cast → Norway
Your article on Romania covered some of its political background, but is there a tourist path to the industrial part of the country, so one could learn more about ship hull casting?
uncertain
one → cover → casting
Diana Blom, Turramurra, NSW
Unbearably scenic
Seeing magnificent brown bears in the Carpathian Mountains was the highlight of our Romanian holiday.
asserted
Blom → see → holiday
Organised through a local guide, we drove into the mountains and then a short walk led us to a remote bear hide where we watched a sleuth of bears in their natural habitat.
asserted
we → organise → habitat
Another highly recommended side-trip is the overnight sleeper train from Bucharest to Chisinau, Moldova – a truly beautiful, interesting city.
asserted
trip → recommend → Chisinau
Annemarie Casey, Woolwich, NSW
Making a splash
Regarding ocean pools, my swim buddy, Maree, and I have swum kilometres up and down the coast in our state’s beautiful ocean pools.
asserted
buddy → make → pools
We have glided through Sydney’s diverse pools, Newcastle’s mix, including The Bogey Hole, and those north of Wollongong.
asserted
We → glide → Wollongong
This easily accessible 50-metre ocean pool has stunning vistas to beaches north and south.
asserted
pool → have → beaches
Dawn paints a canvas of oranges and reds and is a magical time.
asserted
Dawn → paint → oranges
After a sunrise swim, a welcome coffee on the gentle, grassy slope above the pool completes the experience.
asserted
coffee → complete → experience
Sally Spurr, Lane Cove, NSW
No safety net
I recently went through the usual, wholly unsatisfying task of organising travel insurance.
asserted
I → go → insurance
I approach this with the same trepidation as jumping out of an aircraft.
asserted
I → approach → aircraft
I know I need a parachute, but what if it doesn’t work?
asserted
it → know → parachute
Which brings me to my point: what is the point of all those comparison websites?
asserted
point → bring → websites
They’re replete with reviews praising how helpful insurers are when extracting money but what I’d really appreciate is a comparison website based solely on people’s experiences with the claims process.
uncertain
appreciate → ’re → process
What matters isn’t how helpful an insurer is when taking your money, but how helpful it is when you’re trying to get some back.
asserted
you → matter → some
David Fox, Beaumaris, Vic
What makes the best hotel breakfast?
We invited readers to share their thoughts on hotel breakfasts.
asserted
We → make → breakfasts
Here’s a selection of your responses.
asserted
selection → ’ → responses
The best hotel breakfast makes you feel deliciously rebellious because it consists of everything you crave but wouldn’t dream of eating at home.
asserted
you → make → home
In Istanbul recently, I ate the sweetest melon, then an array of medjool dates, olives, gozleme, and a salad of juicy tomatoes, cucumber, marinated eggplant and capsicum topped with mint and cucumber yoghurt and hummus.
asserted
I → eat → yoghurt
To finish, I had home-made Turkish delight and baklava and either strong Turkish tea or coffee served in a traditional Ottoman glass.
asserted
I → finish → glass
Jennifer Taylor, Pymble, NSW
What makes a good breakfast?
asserted
What → make → breakfast
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
