Who is that Michèle Callard? She's an example of brainwashed trash that thinks they are the right way. She's also an example of ignorance and an ignorant person disrespecting other lands, cultures and their customs. Why would all of those girls popping all those birth control pills on the other side of the Pyrenees be something to envy about? That is being dependent on a drug and on lust. Oh that's so powerful and liberating, isn't it? It's also funny how she says she helped liberalize Spain, when in fact, she really helped Spain become (like how many other countries have fallen) enslaved to acting like nothing but an unthinking animal - Maria Elena Mendez, via e-mail
October 26
Has British Airways rectified, or intend to rectify its electronic check in system at Heathrow to accept a man and wife with the same initials - my wife and myself both have initials D. R. and were unable to use the facility on a recent occasion. Your help on this matter would be greatly appreciated. - D.R.Batten, via e-mail
A BA spokeswoman said: We are currently looking to improve the self-service kiosk technology to rectify the issue raised by Mr Batten.
I read with interest the article concerning the plans Grand Central Railways has for the east coast line between Bradford/Sunderland and London. It is time some new initiatives were introduced on this line. A few years ago I wrote to GNER following a trip to Munich. Whilst there, my wife and I benefited from what is known as a "partner ticket" where husband and wife travel and pay only one fare. I suggested to GNER that they might think of adopting something similar as middle aged couples could benefit from neither a senior citizen nor a young person's rail card. They replied by saying they had no need to introduce such a fare as their trains were full to capacity. More competition and new initiatives might put a stop to such arrogance and give a fair deal to rail travellers. After all, is it not the intention to encourage travel by public transport and reduce congestion on the roads. I say give Grand Central Railways the opportunity to try out their initiatives. What have we got to lose? - Erik Farr-Voller, Doncaster
October 21
I am working in Hong Kong and persuaded my father to visit for his 82nd birthday, advising him to buy a ticket in British Airways' Premium Economy so he would have more room. He arrived at check-in on October 14, to be told he had been downgraded to economy due to over-booking. He was offered no compensation and told to see his travel agent. The Hong Kong-based agent referred us back to BA, who have not responded to our email complaints. My father arrived in Hong Kong very distraught, and cannot understand why they singled out an 80 year old passenger, in need of assistance, to downgrade.
Lynne A Jones, Hong Kong
BA responds: Our records show Mr Hardcastle was issued with a form to claim compensation for his downgrade when he checked-in. He can present this form at either Hong Kong or Heathrow airports. Alternatively, he can contact our customer relations department to receive his compensation.
I apologise for his downgrade. Hong Kong is an extremely busy route but we usually endeavour to accommodate elderly customers in meeting their seat requests. On this occasion, it looks like this was not possible and once again, I can only offer my sincere apologies.
October 20
I was wondering if you could advise me. We are scheduled to go on a family holiday to Florida on December 10. We last visited the US in January but cannot remember being asked for or handing over any forms on our departure. I am concerned that we may get to the US and be refused entry - is there an easy way of finding out if we will encounter any problems and/or is there some way of sorting out any issues before we arrive in the middle of the night in a foreign land with three small children! - Helen Brian-Davis, Friston, East Sussex
Steve Keenan, Online Travel Editor, writes: Do you have a portion of the green I-94 form still in your passport? If so, the US Department of Homeland Security says that I-94 departure forms can be mailed to ACS -INS SBU, P.O. Box 7125, London, Kentucky, USA 40742-7125. A short explanatory note should accompany the form, and a copy kept with your passport. If you are travelling to the US within six weeks, the form can be handed in on arrival. If there are any other issues, go to the US Embassy's website, where there is a section devoted to frequently asked questions regarding your specific query.
October 19
Having paid the full fare I travelled on a bmi (British Midland) flight last week from Venice to Heathrow. When I asked for a glass of water I was refused it and told the only way to get water was to pay £1.50 for a bottle. The cabin crew were deeply embarrassed and said this was company policy. I have not used this airline before and shall not be using it again. - Dr R.Piper, Durham
A spokesman for bmi replied: "On short haul flights we do sell bottles of water for £1.50 but if a passenger says they just want a drink, the crew could get them a glass of tap water. Obviously I don't know what happened on this particular occasion, but if the passenger insisted, the crew could offer tap water."
October 17
I recently purchased £1,000 worth of euros, online, from Travelex. This was to be collected from Robin Hood Airport (Doncaster) at 4am a few days later. The lady at the desk asked for my passport and the debit card with which I had purchased the euro - I explained that I hadn't brought the debit card as in many parts of Italy it's not accepted, so for security reasons we only take a Visa card & MasterCard on holiday. She pointed to the section on my, self generated, receipt, that stated I needed to bring my debit card to collect my cash. I was clearly in the wrong. But she did off to credit the debit card with the £1,000 and let me have the cash against a credit card. When we returned, we waited for the Yorkshire Bank Mastercard statement to see what the cost of my mistake had been - and I discovered that I had been charged £20.05 for a cash advance PLUS interest of £9.32. I’m sure my rant is too long for the column but I feel better already - Malcolm Drye, Leeds
October 6
I've booked Eurostar to Brussels, along with hotel accommodation, for this weekend - all through the Eurostar website. It was offered as a rail + hotel package. The national strike in Belgium means that Eurostar are not running services to Belgium tomorrow. They are prepared to refund the train ticket price, but not the hotel price (a substantial part of the cost). It's the first time I've booked through the Eurostar site, so I feel terribly let down.
- Daniel Edgcumbe, Christ's College, Cambridge
Steve Keenan, Online Travel Editor, writes: "As a rail provider, Eurostar does not have a tour operating licence and buys in its hotel content from the online travel agent, Expedia. Your contract will be with Expedia - which is not legally obliged to refund you. You would be expected to have insurance to cover for such eventualities. However, on this occasion, Eurostar tells me it has persuaded Expedia to refund you and what is probably several hundred other people who are affected. Next time, make sure you have insurance.
