Some years ago my son upgraded using points for a long-haul business class flight on British Airways.
asserted
son → upgrade → Airways
Early into the fully booked flight my son noticed an angry male passenger was causing problems for staff, complaining his entertainment screen didn’t work.
asserted
screen → book → staff
My son’s offer to change seats with him was accepted gratefully.
asserted
offer → change → him
Departing from the flight, a crew member gave him a bottle of French Champagne.
asserted
member → depart → Champagne
My son did not have enough points to upgrade to business class for the final leg to Sydney but was delighted to find he had been upgraded when he arrived at the departure gate.
asserted
he → have → gate
We have travelled to Hawaii many times since 2009 so the recent “My Happy Place” article resonates with us.
asserted
article → travel → us
Our favourite place is Kona on Hawaii island (AKA The Big Island), but we also love Honolulu, especially the iconic Ilikai hotel.
asserted
we → love → Honolulu
We will keep going back and it’s true each time we have a special experience.
asserted
we → keep → experience
I may live on the Gold Coast but Hawaii is completely different.
uncertain
Hawaii → live → Coast
Waikiki is very touristy, but I think people need to explore the whole state including the other islands – it is all beautiful.
asserted
it → think → islands
Lighten the load
Whenever I travel overseas and near the end of the trip, I start to give my clothes away or donate them to charity shops along the way.
asserted
I → lighten → way
This started years ago on my first trip to Malaysia when I made friends with some locals, and they were thrilled to receive some Western-style clothing.
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they → start → clothing
They were happy and so was I – it means you have less to pack when it comes close to departure time and your new friends have something fun to remember you by.
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friends → mean → you
Can anyone top the ATM fee gouge I experienced recently at Istanbul Airport?
asserted
I → top → Airport
I’d never been previously, but I knew that cash was widely used in the city and so wanted to be prepared.
asserted
cash → know → city
Dazed and confused after a 22-hour flight, I readily withdrew 12,000 Turkish lira (about $350) which attracted a fee of 1680 lira, making the withdrawal 13,680 lira in total.
asserted
which → daze → total
On the way in to the city it soon became obvious that there are money exchange shops and ATMs, some with minimal fees, everywhere in Istanbul – so
asserted
it → become → Istanbul
resist the urge to be cashed up before you leave the airport.
asserted
you → resist → airport
The savings can buy you many things in this wonderful city.
asserted
savings → buy → city
Martin Pundyk, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Puffed out
We cop a lot of criticism for Australia’s “nanny state” reputation – mandatory bicycle helmets, smoking bans and a general sense that our government knows best, and that criticism can be deserved.
asserted
criticism → puff → reputation
But, walking past an airport smoking room in Athens, I spotted a young boy playing with his toy car while his father and a dozen other adults puffed away.
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father → walk → car
After my initial shock, I felt something unexpected: gratitude.
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I → feel → something
Back home, this simply wouldn’t be tolerated.
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this → tolerate → ?
We roll our eyes at the rules – until we see what life looks like without them.
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life → roll → them
I travelled to Japan to ski earlier this year and unfortunately had a serious accident, which hospitalised me for almost three weeks.
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which → travel → weeks
In the same hospital, and with a similar injury, was an Australian woman whom I became friends with.
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I → become → whom
We used different travel insurance providers.
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We → use → providers
Hers was one of Australia’s biggest and the difference in the treatment she received, compared to mine, was stark.
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she → receive → mine
She was treated appallingly with her insurer berating her daily about the speed of her recovery and her commitment to her rehab program.
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insurer → treat → program
In contrast, I was given a lovely private room, sympathetic phone calls to monitor my progress and keep my spirits up, and a complete overview of my treatment.
asserted
I → give → treatment
I was also given a full medical evacuation.
asserted
I → give → evacuation
Alan Phillips, Mosman, NSW
Snappy app
Being an older person travelling to Europe for the first time in 40 years, I approached the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) application with trepidation.
asserted
I → travel → trepidation
Unlike Dennis Altman (Traveller Letters, October 3), I found the process quick and easy.
asserted
process → find → Altman
On advice from the UK government’s site, I downloaded the ETA app to my phone.
asserted
I → download → phone
Following the steps in the app, my phone was able to detect and capture the required information and was ideally set up to take a selfie when a photo was needed.
asserted
photo → follow → selfie
My application was approved in minutes.
asserted
application → approve → minutes
While many may not be keen to download yet another app, I can assure you it’s the way to go rather than dealing with the website.
uncertain
it → download → website
Maree Shandley, Drysdale, Vic
Shaken and stirred
I found the article on the German Spy Museum interesting.
asserted
article → find → Museum
I also visited a spy museum in Tirana, Albania.
asserted
I → visit → Tirana
Called “The House of Leaves”, it was the headquarters of the dreaded sigurimi – the security police.
asserted
it → call → sigurimi
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
