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A Jetstar passenger suffered neck and shoulder injuries when a fellow traveller dropped a bag on his head during disembarkation in Cairns, and the couple say the airline has not responded. Traveller letters also warn about immigration scam sites, a used hire car tyre repair kit and praise Fairmont's care during the Jasper wildfires.
A passenger on a Jetstar flight from the Gold Coast to Cairns suffered neck and shoulder injuries after another traveller dropped a bag on his head during disembarkation in August.
Jetstar passenger injured by dropped bag
The couple reported the matter to a flight attendant and ground staff, who took details of the incident. So far there has been no response from the airline. The incident occurred when the flight landed and the usual rush of passengers stood in the aisles to retrieve baggage from overhead lockers. In the scramble, a passenger somewhere behind the couple grabbed his bag from a locker above them, lost control of it and dropped it on the still-seated husband.
There was an audible gasp from people nearby. The passenger did not stop, just said sorry, grabbed the bag and exited. The husband was left with bruising to his arm and injury to his neck and shoulder, which has resulted in the need for physiotherapy and chiropractic sessions. The account was one of several reader letters published by Traveller, covering travel rants, raves and tips from readers.
Other letters warned about scam websites charging fees for immigration entry forms that are actually free. The UK now requires an electronic form, the ETA, to be lodged ahead of arrival, for which one pays almost $40. But travellers may not be aware of the number of dodgy operators who have cottoned on to this as a way of charging fees.
One reader advised using only gov.uk/eta and to be prepared for frustration, as their requirements for a photo of your face are taxing. The reader was on the verge of cancelling two lectures in the UK when a neighbour came to the rescue and took a photograph that apparently satisfied whichever bot was considering the application. Visit Japan Web is a service that speeds up clearance times at major airports like Haneda, replacing the paper forms for immigration and customs.
But there are similar sites that provide this service where, at the last step, you are guided to easy payment, a fee of about $60. Only use the real Visit Japan website, www.vjw.digital.go.jp, which is free. It is an easy mistake to make. It is only about $60, but that is nearly 7000 yen you could be using on your trip, wrote Margot Pope of Lewisham, NSW.
Avoiding immigration form scams abroad
An editor's note added that as the two preceding letters indicate, scam sites that charge fees for immigration entry forms that are actually free are rife. Be sure you are using the official sites, usually identifiable by .gov addresses. Another letter praised the care given to staff after the devastating 2024 wildfires that led to the sudden evacuation of the town of Jasper in Canada.
The reader's son was working at Jasper Park Lodge, which is undergoing a $100 million renovation, at the time of those wildfires. As a parent in Australia, the reader was impressed and comforted by the care given to her son and fellow Fairmont staff after their evacuation. The communication, accommodation, food and care provided to all staff during those many weeks of displacement and uncertainty were impressive. Kudos to Fairmont.
A further letter said that over 40 years of travelling to New Zealand, the writer had watched prices rise and everyday items and meals become more expensive. Not any more: New Zealand is now a very affordable destination. On a recent trip there, the reader noticed prices were very reasonable and with an attractive current exchange rate, you could do worse than enjoy the magnificent offerings this beautiful country has.
Affordable New Zealand and airport lounge tips
One reader said advice about using the pay-to-access IGA Lounge at Istanbul Airport was spot-on. They recently had nearly six hours to wait at the airport and used this lounge. An added bonus is that the $185 entry fee is half price for those over 65. The reader especially enjoyed the musical quartet, the delicious buffet and the refreshing gin and tonics.
A letter about the listing of the top UK cities argued that Bath should score highly. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and built in honey-coloured Bath stone, the city's ancient Roman history and Georgian architecture should give it a high score. The reader admitted to being only a little bit biased, having come from there, but said it is chockers with bookstores and fabulous restaurants, bars, theatres, museums and a stunning 1000-year-old abbey.
You can swim on the rooftop at Thermae Bath Spa next to the Roman Baths, join the best comedy walk in the UK, Bizarre Bath, or steep yourself in Jane Austen's world at the Royal Crescent. Next, get out of the city and take the Bath Skyline Walk, wrote Judy Hungerford of Narraweena, NSW. An editor's note said there had been quite a bit of correspondence about which cities should or should not have been included in that story.
Bath attractions and hire car safety
For the purposes of the list, the writer looked at only the 20 biggest cities in the UK and ranked those in order, rather than including every city in his assessment. Finally, a reader warned about hire car safety after collecting a vehicle from Europcar at Milan's Malpensa Airport in Italy. Shortly after, they noticed the tyre pressure warning light and assumed it simply needed air.
Then the tyre went completely flat. The repair kit had already been used. On returning the car, the reader asked if Europcar checks the kits and was told no, it is up to the customer to tell them. Guess what?
They do not, as it will cost them money, the reader wrote. Europcar claimed the reader drove on unsealed roads, which they denied. The company said the reader was in charge of the car when the puncture happened, which the reader doubted. Logic suggests the kit had already been used, and they were driving on that repaired tyre.
They had been driving up to 130km/h on a tyre that should not have exceeded 80km/h. They were fortunate not to have had a serious accident. Only after emailing the CEO did Europcar refund the taxi fare to collect another car. They still charged 238 euros, or $386, for the tyre.
My advice: when collecting a hire car, inspect the tyre repair kit before leaving.
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brisbanetimes:A passenger dropped their bag on my husband’s head, injuring him 
theage:A passenger dropped their bag on my husband’s head, injuring himThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Travel Scam Warnings Jasper Wildfire Staff Care New Zealand Affordability Hire Car Tyre Safety Jetstar Passenger Injury Traveller Letters Immigration Scam Sites Europcar Tyre Repair Kit Jasper Wildfires Fairmont
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