I fully agree with Michael Gebicki's review of Japan Airlines premium economy class (Traveller, January 21). I have flown with JAL several times and their premium economy is excellent.

However, I felt his comment "Finally, a premium economy that stands head and shoulders above economy" diminishes other premium economy services on offer.

I recently took my first premium economy on Qantas from Tokyo to Sydney and was blown away by the experience. The comfort was excellent, the service was exceptional, and the evening meal was equal to any I have experienced in Qantas international business class.

You can't go wrong with premium economy on either of these great airlines.

Mark Darcy, Rozelle, NSW

HARD TO BEAR

Your article on Cesky Krumlov (Traveller, January 21) by David Whitley shows the tourist side of a quaint city in the Czech Republic but not the painful sight of brown bears in the moat area of the castle.

These bears, of which we counted four, had only a small space to roam as they were fenced off near to the entrance specially we thought for the tourist cameras.

Yes the whole place is beautiful and well-kept under its auspicious UNESCO World Heritage listing but why do they need to keep such beautiful animals captive purely for the tourist?

John Hart, Bright, VIC

Animal cruelty? Bears are held in captivity at the Cesky Krumlov castle. Photo: Getty Images

LETTER OF THE WEEK

RAY OF SUNSHINE

Thank goodness for the volunteers who run the volunteer ambassador scheme at Sydney's international airport. Somewhere between taxi drop-off and Emirates check-in I dropped my passport. Although I retraced my steps I could not find it.

My wife and I were in a right tizz until an Emirates staffer brought along a man in a blue blazer. "Is this what you are looking for?" he said. "Glad you filled in your departure card, that's how I knew you were on an Emirates flight."

Thanks Ray. Thanks Emirates ... and thanks to the person who noticed it and handed it in.

Barry Denholm, Stanmore Bay, New Zealand

Sydney Airport's volunteer ambassadors to the rescue.

SHOW ME THE MONET

I read with amazement point two of Paul Byrnes' article on 10 things you shouldn't do in France (Traveller, January 21), in which he said don't go to Monet's garden at Giverny.

I went there in September, which is late summer for France, and it was magnificent and a place I will never forget. The crowds weren't an issue and not something we even noticed. Five thousand people there? More like 200, and I have photographic evidence. The queue to get in had all of 10 people.

And no, I can assure everyone the paintings are not better than the garden and the lily pond, even though Paul suggests otherwise. My advice? Just go, do not miss it.

Neale Meagher, Canterbury, VIC

SWISS MISS

The article on the understated, yet significant, site at Waitangi, New Zealand (Traveller, January 7) was interesting and enjoyable. When it comes to understatement however, the Swiss, as in many things, quietly out-do everyone else.

The field at Ruthli, where, like New Zealand a nation was born, is where the oath forming the Swiss Confederation was taken. It remains just that; a field. No museums, visitors' centre or crass hotels, just a small plaque and up the hill a bit, a flag pole.

Perhaps the magnificence of the surrounding landscape and the boat ride from Lucerne or Fluelen is recognised as glorious enough. No, I don't work for Swiss Tourism, but I am biased.

Dr Marie-Louise Dreux, Petersham, NSW

FOLLOW THE LEADER

Thank you to you and the rest of the team for the special touring edition (Traveller, January 14) which featured the value a guided tour can add to any holiday.

As a member of the escorted journeys, we leave this week for Ecuador and Chile where we will be taking four separate escorted trips then some exploring on our own in Argentina. We find it is a perfect mix.

However, it is as a tour guide working in Sydney that I am sending you this congratulatory email. You rightly highlight the competition from apps and unofficial guides who undercut the qualified ones.

In Sydney the professional association which accredits tour guides is the Institute of Australian Tour Guides, which not only sets minimum standards but also provides training opportunities for guides to keep their skills up to date.

Thank you for your support for our industry.

Jennifer Farrer, Castle Hill, NSW

IT'S A WRAP

Wrapping luggage in plastic (Traveller letters, January 14) can do more than keep the suitcase in good condition. In 1992 my wife and I were travelling from Cairo to Tel Aviv.

Airport officials laminated our luggage. They told us that the bags had been inspected, particularly the plastic beading around the outside of the bags, to see whether anyone had substituted plastic explosive for plastic beading.

Once the bags had the all clear, they were laminated so that no one else, for example, baggage handlers, could interfere with them. It was an anti-terrorism tactic. All luggage was similarly treated.

Bob Phillips, Cabarita, NSW

GUIDANCE NEEDED

In his cover story (Traveller, January 7) Ben Groundwater implies that the perfect airport will have a range facilities and creature comforts – all of which the cost would have to be included in our airport taxes and charges.

Surely, the perfect airport would have the safest and most efficient guidance systems available.

After all, the most hazardous part of any flight is taking off and landing, noting that many airports are located in mountainous areas or are plagued by violent weather systems.

Stuart Molony, Mount Martha, VIC

CLAIM GAME

Sixteen weeks after following up an excess baggage charge of $US320 erroneously imposed on us for a flight from Rabat to Melbourne (Traveller letters, November 19), we were reimbursed by Etihad Airways.

It was a frustrating process but we are grateful for the result. Pursuit of claims like these is worthwhile, but not for the faint-hearted!

Robyn Benson, Mount Martha, VIC

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