Each week Traveller publishes a selection of rants, raves and travel tips from our readers. See below on how you can contribute.

January 3, 2026 — 5:00am

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On a recent seven-week trip to Europe and the Balkans, we flew twice with Croatia Airlines and were amazed by their simple solution to an issue that is becoming increasingly frustrating for travellers.

Croatia Airlines has found a solution to fight for overhead bin space for carry-on luggage.iStock

Before mounting the stairs to the plane, passengers with small carry-on cases were directed to place them on a trolley. This was then loaded into the bottom of the plane for the journey. Once we reached our destination, the trolley was unloaded and positioned at the bottom of the stairs, allowing passengers to quickly retrieve their case and walk through arrivals without the need to wait for checked-in luggage. The result – a much faster boarding process, overhead bins that had plenty of space for smaller bags, and coats that weren’t crushed by small suitcases.
Mary Alexander, Camperdown, Vic

Letter of the week: Idyll time

Leonard Cohen, the Canadian singer and poet, lived on Hydra, one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, in the 1960s.Getty

My heart skipped a beat as I read Lee Tulloch’s piece about the Greek island of Hydra (Traveller, December 6). We, too, fell in love with this Bohemian paradise, retracing former resident Leonard Cohen’s footsteps by seeking out restaurants, bars and beaches where he once searched for inspiration and love. One day, as we rested in the shade of a tiny church, the caretaker unlocked the wooden doors and gestured for us to explore inside. When leaving, he picked a bunch of rosemary for me. Get lost as you walk Hydra and you’ll feel its magic.
Roxanne Le Blanc, Croydon, Vic

Poorly handled

During a recent two-week overseas trip flying with Singapore Airlines my bag did not arrive at my final destination. I received no proactive contact from their customer service staff or the baggage office handling the case for a full week, and then more silence until after I returned home. Despite repeated promises of daily updates, I was left in the dark and spent hours on hold, sending emails, and chasing answers. I was ultimately forced to contact third-party ground handlers in Singapore and Brisbane myself to even learn where my bag was last scanned and whether a search was ongoing. Instead of meaningful communication or evidence of an active search, I was repeatedly pushed to submit a compensation claim, so the case could be closed. As of the time of writing, the bag has still not been found, five weeks later. For a brand that positions itself as a premium airline, this experience felt anything but.