Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 9 March 2026
HOME & AWAY
The travel week has, of course, been dominated by the inability for many people to be able to travel. The Middle East is very much the bottleneck between us and the rest of the world. As I write this, nearly 15,000 flights have been cancelled since the US and Israel attacked Iran and it retaliated, and tens of thousands of people are stuck here or there. I have readers away who can’t get home, readers at home who can’t get away and (frankly worst of all) some stuck in the middle. I’m staying in touch with lots of people.
Yes, it’s been a tough week in the world. We give advice on page 6. But, while understanding the gravity of the situation, I’m also aware that you have just leafed through pages of that in the early part of this newspaper, so lets start with some happy stuff . . .
JUSTIN FLYING
Last week, I introduced my carry-on, Justin Case. Justin is a backpack with lots of places to pack possessions, two wheels and a single handle to trundle him along but a full backpack harness for the times when I want to hoist him on my back and get going.
Reader Graham Sandy went into research mode: “As I am in the market for a new carry-on bag this was a perfect road test.” And he found Justin’s siblings on the Samsonite website.
Justin is a Guardit 2 laptop backpack 15.6 and currently $134.50, as there is a sale with 50 per cent off. (Yay.) samsonite.com.au
HOMEWARES SUPPORT
And, even though I faced a backlash at home for bringing tea towels as a gift, supportive reader Judith Kerr writes: “Loved the blue wren tea towel . . . my favourite bird. I often bought a tea towel on my travels as a souvenir and smile when I take one out and remember.”
GAFFer GAFFE
And reader Mike (who prefers to keep his surname to himself) joined in on the Gaffa tape discussion. I mentioned in our Travel Essentials Guide that I always carry a roll.
Mike writes: “A friend of ours had a suitcase disaster and a kind fellow traveller repaired the case with Gaffa tape. This friend had been a Girl Guide so, to be prepared, she put a roll of gaffer tape in her hand luggage. This was promptly confiscated before she could depart Perth Airport. It seems it is prohibited because you might use it to tie up someone.
She then asked the security officer, ‘So what about all the men wearing ties? I mean, the clue is in the name, isn’t it’. He did not answer.”
INCREASING ORBIT
Singapore Airlines is planning to introduce next-generation long-haul cabin products, an all-new KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system, even better food and beverage options, new amenity kits and other in-flight offerings in 2026.
It is also progressively introducing high-speed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity for enhanced in-flight wi-fi across its long-haul fleet.
As a single LEO satellite only covers a small area for a short time, they are to be deployed in “constellations” — hundreds or even thousands of them connected to give continuous, unbroken, global coverage.
And AirAsia has been busy restating its commitment to Australia, and increasing some of its services into and out of the country. It flies between Perth and Bali four times a day, year round, and to Kuala Lumpur twice a day, increasing to three times a week in peak periods.
TINSMITHY REBORN
What was once a tinsmith factory opened on Tuesday as the Mercure Melbourne La Trobe Street. The $90 million, 18-storey, 125-room property is the biggest purpose-built hotel to debut in the Victorian capital’s CBD this year.
It includes a 130-seat restaurant called Foundry, with enough copper and brass to remind visitors of the building’s history. It champions Victorian wines and regional produce. I found prices for April from $178.70 in a standard room with a king bed. all.accor.com
TRACK FOCUS
Bookings for New Zealand’s 2026/2027 Milford Track season (from October 2026 to April 2027) are set to open in May 2026 on the NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) website. The specific date that bookings open will be announced in April. Walking permits for the track are snapped up, so this is just some early warning. doc.govt.nz/
HYROX EVENT
We recently wrote about how Hyrox is driving some travel. Forecasts are for up to 1.5 million participants in the current season. Hyrox is a physical program that tests threshold running, sled work, ergs and strength under fatigue. There are events around the world. The Hyrox Brisbane event from April 9 to 13 will host the APAC Regional Championships.
PLUGBUG
On techy stuff, the PlugBug appears to be the world’s first power supply with “Find My”. If a PlugBug charger is misplaced, borrowed or buried in your suitcase, an owner with an iPhone or MacBook can launch the Find My app and trace it, anywhere in the world. There is a 50W charger ($139.95) that can power up two devices simultaneously, or a 120W option ($219.95) that has four ports. It includes international adapters and is $219.99. twelvesouth.com.au/ products/plugbug- with-find-my
PlugBug charger is slim, too, to fit in tight spaces. Yes, we’ve all had to move the bed in a hotel room to get to the bed’s side-light socket.
‘TAKE PHOTO’
I recently had the need to tell my iPhone to take a photo, rather than using the timer. It’s more convenient, sometimes, to set the phone up and then just talk to it. Here’s how . . .
Go to Settings, Accessibility, Vocal Shortcuts (and turn this on). If your IOS is up to date, you may see that Take Photo is already set up (as an example) but you can set up other actions. If you don’t see it, set it up, saying the words “take photo”, “click”, “cheese”, or whatever you prefer.
GLOBAL ROAMING
“Your travels exhaust me,” writes Carole Kagi, adding: “Can you take me in your luggage to Antarctica?” Rather than signing up for Telstra global roaming which, at $10 a day, “can add up”, she asked for alternatives. Carole explains: “They put me on a prepaid plan (much cheaper than the cheapest plan they had) and they introduced me to another version of Global Roaming on the Telstra App.” A 14-day “Travel Pack” is $25 for a 4GB data allowance, 50 text messages and 50 minutes of calls in 38 eligible destinations.
I use this on one of my phones but you just have to watch that it covers the countries you are visiting, of course.
I also use Airalo, on another phone, for an eSIM, which I have on a 365-day plan — and that works well.
VISA STRAIGHTENER
And an apology from me. Earlier this year we published information about Zambian visa fees. But, to clear this up, Australian passports don’t require a visa for stays of up to 90 days in a 12-month period. My apologies to anyone misled.
STAY CALM
And finally, back to the elephant in the room — the world’s travel challenges.
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is urging travellers not to cancel travel arrangements without first seeking professional advice.
A spokesperson adds: “Importantly, do not contact your travel agent unless you’re travelling in the next 48 hours and have not been contacted in order to allow passengers who are immediately impacted to be supported.”