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I don't think calls to boycott Japan, references to wartime, history or DNA are at all constructive here. There are many, many popular tourist destinations where you absolutely do not want to come into contact with the justice system, whether due to systemic issues, minority rights, corruption...

I'm so glad that you're out of this horrendous situation. I know a diplomat who was posted to Japan and has previously described to me many of the workings of the so-called justice system. I'm sorry you had to experience it. I know many young travellers who, over and above the youthful bravado...

Almost the only two-wheeler in suitcase format (rather than duffel) that I've found left in Australia is under the brand Tosca. It was out of stock everywhere for months and prompted my initial question in this thread months ago. Well, it's finally in stock and I went to look at one today...

Yes. The accommodation was nice, actually, but it was the first hotel I'd been to in Japan where some staff (and especially the duty manager) were visibly irritated by requests that were neither demanding nor unusual.

Toyoko Inn was still perfectly happy with desk-check-in last year (I don't even remember seeing kiosks, actually!). Sotetsu Inn were downright coughty when I politely declined the kiosk (especially as you couldn't use the kiosk until you had first collected a bloody code from the human-desk!).

Given how hard it is to find 2-wheel cases now, how bad is the situation with 4-wheelers getting broken? I've noticed lots of crippled 4-wheelers at airports! Does paying more equal a much greater wheel survival rate? Are there brands which are less likely to break or just easier to fix...

Another objector to blanket objections here. As a traveller, kiosks can be incredibly useful to overcome unfamiliar-language friction points if those sorts of things cause anxiety or unpleasant interactions. Supermarket shopping as a tourist has become a much more pleasant experience in many...

And it's symptomatic of so much! In Japan, the constant efforts to minimise human interaction, and in other places the cost cutting (and, it must be acknowledged, comfort for non-local visitors for whom there might be language problems). Kiosks impede so many forms of desirable or useful forms...

Thank you for this. There's wiggle room for them in that the rerouting is "at the earliest opportunity", and the option "under comparable transport conditions" only applies for "at a later date". Nonetheless, with seats available, the earliest opportunity should still apply, so I'll try again!

TK is refusing to release seats on other flights and from other ports for the existing booking, even when visible on the SQ site for redemption. So although there's availability to IST showing from BSL the night before and ZRH/LYS on the original day, SQ says these seats can only be redeemed for...

I noticed about 3 weeks ago that availability far out was thinner than expected. But can't comment beyond that.

Thanks @dajop. As the feeder flights need to be mid-morning or earlier, I think I'd probably have to position myself in ZRH, but I'll check the logistics, thanks.

For a J award on TK in mid-October, I've just had an email from SQ telling me my TK flight BSL-IST on TK1924 to connect to the onward sameday IST-MEL TK168 no longer exists and I've been rebooked on the only remaining BSL-IST flight which is in the evening so misconnects. The longhaul legs are...

Just a note for those of us who have used the Ambassador Transit Hotels in the past: prices are much much higher than I remember from pre-Covid (but my mind might be playing tricks). Six hours is now about A$250, and 12 hours A$375. And that's single occupancy!

Sure do. At least in my cases.

I can confirm that they added a 3% commission for the two June transactions mentioned earlier up-thread and have misrepresented this in correspondence with me. I am threatening them with AFCA action if they remain in breach of the terms.

UPDATE: Coles Mastercard online support claim that the observed "international transaction fee" in my statement transactions is in fact not an actual international transaction fee that has been charged:rolleyes:. I'm going to have to go back and compare prevailing forex rates on all dates to see...

Is that on a statement or just in your online transaction list? As far as I can tell, the online entries do not disclose an included fee, but it is disclosed on the monthly statement.

And now my statement today shows two transactions in late June to which an international fee was already applied. I'm guessing they didn't get their cough together and process those two until 1 July, despite the transaction date. Grumpy message sent. Check your statements!

Part of that is that they are profit-driven entities "cooperating" for commercial reasons. A visit to an SQ lounge as a UA or VA or... ticket holder presumably triggers inter-airline fee transfers. No idea about baggage calculations on award tickets. But yeah, so the various entitlements are...