How to deal with lost luggage: Always take this photo before flying
On a recent holiday, our luggage was mistakenly sent to another city where it remained for five days, but our claim for compensation for out-of-pocket expenses has been denied by the airline. What are our options?
I was quite annoyed when I read your email. There's nothing worse than 'Sorry, but there's nothing we can do' from a service provider. So annoyed, in fact, that I emailed my contacts at the airline right away to understand why your claim was denied. Long story short, it seems wires were crossed during communications between the two airlines operating the codeshare, but you'll be happy to know that the issue has now been resolved and they will be in touch this week to reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses.
Contacting the airline in question is always the first step in situations like these, but it's helpful to remember that travellers can also make a claim for delayed luggage through their travel insurance, provided this is included in their policy. A claim can usually be made 12 hours after a bag first goes AWOL and this type of benefit (designed to cover the cost of day-to-day essentials such as toiletries and underwear) is generally excess free. Of course, you'll need to show your insurer you've first tried to resolve the issue with your airline and provide them with any relevant documentation that you've shared with the airlines. You'll also need to provide copies of the receipts for any essentials you wish to claim.
If reimbursement through your insurer remains fruitless, you can take your complaint to the Airline Customer Advocate which provides a free and independent service to eligible customers of major Australian airlines by facilitating the resolution of unresolved complaints about airline services. You can also file a report with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The ACCC will not resolve individual complaints, but the collective data from such reports informs what they investigate and what enforcement action they'll take. Yep, filling out the form is all about playing the long game.
This is a timely reminder to photograph your open luggage before checking it in. You're always going to be asked for descriptions and/or proof that you own, and were travelling with, the items you are claiming (in lost baggage claims), so taking a few snaps can take a few stressful steps out of the equation.
It's about an hour's drive from Rotterdam Cruise Terminal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
I'm taking a cruise that ends in Rotterdam. Is it better for me to fly to London to get back to Sydney? I'm not young and don't want to take my luggage on a train to a more major airport to get home.
No need to fly to another major airport; it's about an hour's drive from Rotterdam Cruise Terminal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, or with a direct high-speed train from Rotterdam Central Station, it takes just over 30 minutes. I know you said 'no trains please' but it could actually be the easiest option for you because the Dutch rail operator NS International offers a variety of services for passengers with limited mobility, including luggage assistance and help boarding and disembarking. You'll just need to let them know you need help at least 24 hours before boarding the train by calling 030 235 78 22.
Don't forget that your cruise line is likely to offer either a straight shuttle service to Schiphol, or a shore excursion which finishes at the airport too. Holland America, for example, has an Easy Rotterdam with Airport Transfer shore excursion you can book which will take in the city's top sights before getting you to the airport in time for your flight. Private transfers are also available to book (check out Transfeero and Suntransfers), although prices vary widely depending on the company you book with.
You also have the option to spend a few days in London before making your way home.
If you're keen to avoid travelling to nearby Amsterdam altogether, you can fly to London City from Rotterdam The Hague Airport where you can catch the train across to Heathrow (the Heathrow Express makes the journey in around 50 minutes, if you're pressed for time). You also have the option to spend a few days in London before making your way home.
If you'd prefer to tack on a few extra days of holiday time but would prefer a somewhat cheaper destination, you could also consider flying from Rotterdam The Hague Airport to either Lisbon or Istanbul. Both cities offer plenty of sights to see at a significantly lower price point than London and flying with Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines is always a wonderful experience. Something to think about.
Need help?
Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email docholiday@news.com.au. Personal replies are unfortunately not possible.
Originally published as Doc Holiday's expert guide to dealing with lost luggage
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ABC News
27-06-2025
- ABC News
Does travel insurance cover cancellations due to war or natural disasters?
Do you really know what your travel insurance covers? This week, passengers faced cancellations and lengthy delays on flights due to the Middle East conflict, with routes to major cities cut off across the globe. While operations in Dubai and Qatar have resumed and airspaces reopened, it's times like these that it pays to know exactly what your travel insurance covers We spoke to the experts to find out what you're entitled to when a conflict breaks out or a natural disaster unfolds. In short, no. That's what Wendy discovered after buying travel insurance for her adult son weeks before the conflict in the Middle East. Stranded at Doha airport after winning a European holiday, and despite getting a full refund for the cancelled flight, Christopher was told he would have to pay the difference for an alternative ticket with another airline. "We were really shocked. I can understand war and unrest is a very top-tier issue, but it's still interesting how they can get around it because it falls under something that's outside of your control," Wendy said. It's a situation insurance expert Jodi Bird from consumer advocacy group CHOICE said was far more common than many people realised. "Pretty much across all policies there's a blanket ban," he said. "There's no policies that CHOICE are aware of that will cover claims resulting from war." It's pretty straightforward, according to Mr Bird. It's all about the bottom line. "Travel insurance generally doesn't like to cover things like war because it costs too much money," he said. "For some reason, they've decided that war is kind of a blanket ban across pretty much all policies." Put simply, it doesn't make a difference. You won't be covered regardless of the premium you're paying, Mr Bird said. Even the most expensive policies don't offer protection when conflict breaks out overseas. "You might find some variation in things like a pandemic — there were a lot more insurers that covered for pandemic before we had one," he said. Unfortunately, timing doesn't help. Wendy's family had no inkling there was a risk when they booked. "In what way, in our wildest dreams … a transit flight through Qatar, which thousands and thousands of passengers are doing around the world every day, would you ever consider that there's going to be a war there?" she said. The Insurance Council of Australia's deputy CEO, Kylie McFarlane, said it doesn't matter when the policy is taken out. If there is no conflict or war at the time of purchase, the fine print still excludes any claims arising from those events. It depends on your level of cover, but in many cases you may be protected. Natural disasters like floods, cyclones or bushfires are treated differently to war or a conflict. "Extreme weather events may be an inclusion," Ms McFarlane said. "It all comes down to the insurance policy and the provider, so if you're concerned, speak to your insurer." Absolutely — and don't give up if your claim is knocked back. "You should not accept that as the last port of call, unless you absolutely agree with them," Mr Bird said. "The first thing you need to do is raise a complaint to the insurer themselves and ask them to revisit your claim. And if they don't give you a satisfactory answer, you can escalate the complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority." Wendy reached out to the insurance company, but they simply directed her to the clause on her policy showing that war or unrest made any claims null and void. "It's not one of those things that they even raise for you in the beginning, and even if you'd looked at the exclusions at the back, it still wouldn't occur to us," she said. Start by looking beyond the top-line benefits on the website and dig into the exclusions. "Every product disclosure statement has a section called 'general exclusions' — that's a bit that is good to read," he said. "That will give you an understanding of what they may or may not cover — big events like war, pandemic, terrorism, civil unrest. That will give you a good idea of what it is that you're actually buying." Yep. "Travel insurance is definitely worth it — especially just for the medical cost line," Mr Bird says. "It's worth it basically all the time for overseas travel. You will need travel insurance to cover the medical and repatriation costs if you have a problem overseas. Those are the kinds of things where you can really get into a lot of trouble financially if you're not covered." While Wendy's son was able to get a refund for the cancelled flight, they weren't able to pay out the difference of a more expensive flight for him to get to Europe. Or the extra costs associated with travelling from a different city to his intended destination. Wendy has a message for other travellers . "Beware, and understand that you can fully pay for your trip and be prepared, and you can buy your travel insurance, and then still you have to be prepared to cover all the costs yourself if something goes wrong," she said.
Courier-Mail
27-06-2025
- Courier-Mail
I got naked in Spa Land in Centum City Busan a South Korean spa experience
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Call me crazy, but I generally try to avoid getting naked in large crowds. Obviously, it's generally frowned upon in the eyes of the law, but there's also a level of… let's call it 'quiet discomfort' that comes with getting down to skins in front of hundreds. Unless, of course, I'm in South Korea and I'm headed to a bathhouse, then all rules go out the window and I can't strip down fast enough. True, being of Turkish ancestry, I'm no stranger to a group bathing experience, but unlike hamams which are positively lawless compared to its Asian counterparts, a Korean bathhouse experience (known locally as Jjimjilbang. or quite literally, 'heated rooms') involves a specific set of rules to abide by. The best place to immerse yourself in the local spa culture? The port city of Busan which has been an international bathhouse destination since the Joseon Dynasty. If you like bath houses, Busan should be on your bucket list. Now, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the choice of spa complexes dotted around Busan. Some may prefer the dazzle of the all-new (and positively gargantuan) ClubD Oasis, a spa and waterpark which can accommodate up to 3,500 people, while others might prefer a 2am bathing option with the 24-hour Hill Spa. I'm a sucker for a multitude of glowing reviews, so I opt for a day at Spa Land, located in Centum City, one of the world's largest department stores. Here, those willing to part with 25,000 Won (around $28) for a four-hour bathhouse adventure can make the most of 18 hot spring baths and 13 themed steam baths drawn from natural hot spring water some 1,000 metres underground. Guests are given these cute head towels. Picture: Dilvin Yasa Spa Land, like most Jjimjilbang, has two distinct areas: the baths, which are same-sex only, and the saunas, which are for everyone to share. First, you have to put your shoes in an assigned locker before collecting your fetching spa uniform of chequered shorts and oversized grey marle t-shirt at the linen counter and then heading back to a locker to decide if you want to put on your uniform to enjoy the sauna facilities (yep, no towel wearing in the saunas here), or if you want to disrobe completely and head to the baths. Towels are forbidden in saunas here. Of course, you also have the option of heading upstairs to the 2nd floor to make the most of the entertainment quarter, which includes a restaurant, a casual noodle bar, a relaxation zone and many massage chairs. I dump my clothes, gather my courage and strut my naked self through the change rooms out to the hot springs (they give you a hand towel, but it is nowhere near enough to protect your modesty). Everyone has to scrub down at a washing station before entering the bath and I do, but the minute I enter a body of 40-degree water some five minutes later, a spa mistress becomes incensed that I haven't washed my hair (which is up in a bun) and starts shouting at me to get back out and try again. The floral decor is a nice touch too. Instead, I run away, taking my time to try all the baths, which range in size and temperature, from cold plunge (15 degrees) to 45 degrees (more my speed). There is, I should note, an option to book in for a scrub or a massage in a room nearby, but I'm so relaxed I can barely move (also, the spa mistress terrifies me). After yet another shower, it's time to put on my spa uniform and head up to the saunas. See also: Why you can't trust reviews in South Korea Will it be a Finnish sauna, a Roman sauna, a salt room, clay room or a hamam? Whatever your preference, you can be sure to open a door to a roomful of locals staring at their phones under a thick cloak of steam. I involuntarily listen to endless TikTok videos in all of the rooms (with the exception of the ice room) and before I know it, I have just enough time for my complimentary ice-cream and yet another shower before my locker key is handed back and I'm back out in the department store. Is a Jjimjilbang experience for you? Only if you're completely comfortable with public nudity. Me? I plan to go back, but next time, I'll be sure to bring ear plugs. Originally published as I got naked in a sauna in South Korea, I didn't expect this
Courier-Mail
26-06-2025
- Courier-Mail
The best Travel Money cards in 2025
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions. For many years I have used CommBank Travel Money card without any problems, but I'm thinking better options may be available. Can you recommend any alternatives? I receive a lot of emails about travel money cards, so it's probably best if I start by addressing some of their key pros and cons. Avoiding exchange rate fluctuations during your travels is a major benefit, since you effectively 'lock in' your money before you depart Australia (helpful when the Aussie dollar is falling faster than the Ozempic supply). X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Depending on the card you choose, you can have easy access to multiple currencies on the same card and you don't have to risk using a card that's linked to your Australian bank account while you're travelling overseas. It also means you avoid multiple currency conversion fees and you don't have to carry large amounts of cash. Of course, the disadvantages of travel money cards are nothing to sniff at. Some merchants may not accept travel money cards, or the currency of the country you're visiting may not be supported. There are plenty of fees associated with using a travel money card (everything from opening and reloading the card to ATM withdrawals and cashing out the balance of the card), lengthy load times where you will not have access to your cash, and limits on pre-authorisations. Comparison sites such as Canstar look at the pros and cons of using a travel money card compared with credit and debit cards and I'd urge every reader intent on travelling overseas to read through their options. Some merchants may not accept travel money cards, or the currency of the country you're visiting may not be supported. For your specific situation, I will say that Choice, too, compared travel money cards recently and found the CommBank Travel Money Card is one of the better options, particularly since it only charges users in one instance ($3.50 for ATM withdrawals overseas). If you were to compare this product with any other, I'd recommend looking at the Wise Travel Card, which lets you hold, spend in and convert 40 currencies – significantly more than the 16 currencies your current card holds. One thing to watch here, however, is that while free ATM withdrawals are advertised, it's only up to $350 a month, before you start attracting charges. You may also wish to look at Revolut Travel Card, which holds 30-plus currencies and remains a popular choice. Airlines such as Qantas are working with banks to find a solution. We booked our family holiday and found we were charged twice by the airline, with the second amount (later cancelled) showing as a 'pending charge', which caused our account to be overdrawn. How common is this practice? I've had this happen to me and it's incredibly frustrating (not to mention anxiety-inducing). Having had a chat with various airlines about 'the double dip', it seems that they're just as frustrated by what is a banking issue that is largely out of their control. Essentially, this happens when the authorisation doesn't drop off at the time of the payment being captured. Airlines such as Qantas are working with banks to find a solution, but in the meantime, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your account balance any time you book a holiday and to contact your bank immediately should you notice an authorisation set to cause financial chaos. You can explain the situation to your bank and ask them to remove it immediately. While banks have varying policies regarding how they go about this, and whether they'll need clarification from the travel provider, you should be able to get this sorted fairly easily. I find pleasantries and a cheerful manner go a long way to getting what you want. Good luck! I arrived in Mongolia a carnivore yet swiftly became a born-again vegetarian. I'm interested in a tour to Mongolia. Would you recommend it for vegetarians? I arrived in Mongolia a carnivore yet swiftly became a born-again vegetarian for the duration of my trip (it turns out that boiled and fried sheep tail is not for everyone) so yes, it can be done. I did it on the fly, popping into supermarkets in Ulaanbaatar and stocking up on canned vegetables and noodles, but it's best to let your tour leader know when you first book that you have dietary restrictions. Where possible, they will call ahead to find vegetarian alternatives to traditional khuushuur, tsuivan and buuz at any stops you make. The one thing that will mean the difference between a digestible meal and one that might even be enjoyable? A bottle of sriracha (or any other sauce you prefer), which you can apply liberally to anything that's placed before you. Mongols might be among some of the warmest people I've encountered on my travels, but they are not known for their love of seasoning. Need help? Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email docholiday@ Personal replies are unfortunately not possible. Originally published as Doc Holiday: What travel money card is best?
