Letter to the Editor on Spirit of Tasmania ‘recliners’

I wish to complain vociferously about the much-touted recliner seats on the Bass Strait ferries.

They might have been designed to torture those sitting on them all night.

The smart travellers wait until the lights are dimmed and then get down on the carpet for a decent sleep.

Because of my bad back, I was silly enough to get down down on the floor while the lights were still up and incurred the wrath of two security guards who reminded me berths were available (at another $120).

I was lucky enough in the 1950s to travel to Melbourne from the city of Launceston on the Taroona, which had abundant couches that the passengers were encouraged to use as they wished. Not the present ferries!

Any decent recliner chair keeps the back and the bottom at the same angle as the back reclines and the leg support comes up, There is always a foot rest to stop sliding down.

Do the back and seat become a straight line? Oh my very word yes! So you slide down them? I should say so!

Do the ferry seats have foot rests? Not on your nellie!

It is painfully apparent that the shipping line does not care about the comfort of the less affluent. All it cares about is the bottom line, the moolah, the dough, the gelt, the money,.

What a great incentive to fly!
Hugh Dell, New Norfolk