Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 6 May 2025

PREMIUM FLYING

Emirates introduces 56 premium economy seats on its 10.20pm EK420 (and EK421) service between Perth and Dubai from October 26, 2025. Its A380 also has 76 business class lie-flat seats, 322 in economy and 14 first-class suites. emirates.com/au

The A380 will also carry 105 tonnes of freight a week between Perth and Dubai, supporting local exports of perishable goods, pharmaceutical products, mining equipment and general cargo.

LEFT TO WAIT

Reader Vivienne Bentley Walker kindly says: “I love reading your Travel section.” But it goes downhill from there. Vivienne says she recently flew with Batik Air to Vietnam via Kuala Lumpur. “With no reason we were informed our flights had changed, which meant we had a six-hour stopover on the way out and seven on return at KL airport. We went to the customer service desk to ask if there was any compensation — a drink and snack. They were so rude and almost laughed at us. We got nothing. Needless to say won’t be flying them again.”

SILKY TREAT

About a year ago, I recommended a silk eye mask and a reader who took the hint and bought one says she “loved using it”. She adds: “Unfortunately, on our last plane trip recently, it must have slipped between the seats and I didn’t notice so I have lost it.” Don’t ya hate that? The mask I really like is by The Goodnight Co., an Australian company — it has a beautiful silk eye mask for $50. The mask, left, is a 22-momme, 100 per cent mulberry silk sleep mask, and filled with silk floss. It ensures total darkness, has natural anti-absorbent qualities to reduce moisture loss, and won’t absorb skin cream. It comes in a range of colours. thegoodnightco.com.au

For those keeping costs down, Kmart has a satin eye mask for $4.75. And it comes in pink so should be harder to lose! kmart.com.au

SIMPLE SIMS

I mentioned Airalo eSIMs last week and a reader asks: “Can you use the Airalo eSIM in your existing phone or do you need a separate phone?” An eSIM is the digital SIM built into most current phones, which eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. You can use it on most up-to-date(ish) phones, but the SIM and eSIM will have different numbers. As the SIM and eSIM have different service providers, the phone must be unlocked (you have to “own it”). There’s more information on using your SIM and eSIM at the same time at airalo.com, if you scan the QR code.

ETA APP SAGA

The UK ETA saga continues. The ETA is the electronic visa which is now needed by Australian passport holders, and some readers have been having problems getting theirs on their phone. Last week it looked like iPhones were working better than Android phones, but a reader reports: “I helped a friend apply for the ETA using their Samsung phone but they were unable to proceed and attempts with my Samsung also failed. I then used my Motorola phone and was successful in completing the application for them. I believe the problem may possibly be whether the phone has Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality. My Motorola phone does have it whereas the Samsung does not. I think that this function is utilised when placing the phone on the passport to scan the chip. Without it the application just times out.”

Another reader says: “My wife and I have identical Samsung phones and she applied and it went straight through, I applied a few minutes later and had the same problem as reported by others. I made about six attempts with no success, so I did it through their website with no problem.” gov.uk

READY TO SKI

The ski fields around Queenstown, in South Island, New Zealand, are getting ready for winter.

Cardrona will become the country’s biggest ski area with the opening of Soho Basin, which adds 150ha of new terrain. And there is a new six-seater chairlift.

The Remarkables celebrates its 40th anniversary. There are 47ha of extra terrain and 40th birthday party activities between September 26 and 28.

Coronet Peak will offer fresh groomed runs with First Tracks, available every morning from 8am between July 1 and September 15. And ski under the stars at Coronet Peak Night Ski from 4pm to 9pm every Wednesday, Friday and some Saturday nights from June 26 to September 1. Expect outdoor fires, DJs, and hot pizza.

Treble Cone is planning value-focused first-timer packages.

FINDING THE LIMIT

Authorities in Nepal are planning to issue Everest permits only to people with experience of climbing at least one of the Himalayan nation’s 7000m peaks. The plan is in the draft of a new law which aims to cut overcrowding and improve safety for climbers on the 8849m peak.

ALCOHOL CHANGES

News agency Reuters reports that Sweden is planning to allow microbreweries, vineyards and distilleries to sell drinks direct to visitors. That will come with the relaxation of strict rules for the sale of alcohol, which have been in place since 1955. Visitors on a paid tour first listen to what the law describes as a lecture “with real content” about the drink and the negative effects of alcohol consumption.

Under current regulations, shops in Sweden can sell drinks with up to only 3.5 per cent alcohol. Stronger drinks are only sold by Systembolaget, the state-run alcohol chain which has 450 outlets. It has limited opening hours and doesn’t advertise alcohol or discount drinks.

APT IN SOUTH KOREA

There is $700 off a 10-day APT tour called Impressions of South Korea, bringing the price to $10,195 per person. The luxury journey delves into culture and history. It starts with days in Seoul. Guests visit the Museum Kimchikan and learn how to make the popular fermented dish, and visit sacred temples and the demilitarised zone on the North Korean border. The journey continues to the city of Yongin, and a chance to learn how to make bibimbap, above, South Korea’s most popular dish. Guests visit Gayasan National Park and Haeinsa Temple, before travelling on to Gyeongju and Busan, where there’s a walking tour of Gamcheon Culture Village. Trip code KA10. aptouring.com