Letters to Travel: Brazil and slavery

Vincent Bevins wrote that, “São Paulo was built by immigrants from Italy, Japan, Portugal and Lebanon, among others...” [“Culture by Day, Partying by Night,” March 30]. That is quite an interesting tidbit about the place that received the majority of the slaves shipped to the Americas. I suppose they are the “among others.”

John Anderson

Chicago

Airlines horror story

We recently returned from Amman, Jordan, using Air France business class to Paris, and experienced a new level of disservice.

We boarded an obsolete A320 Airbus and found that the business section was three-across seating with a tray inserted into the middle seat. The aisles were economy-sized as were the legroom and seat width. The big person behind me kneed my back all night long. There was no reclining. The one video was the small overhead screen. The four attendants for the entire plane did little and managed to reuse my juice glass for water. Air France left my wife’s bag in Paris, then refused to deliver it to her hotel in Cairo, demanding that she drive two hours to retrieve it herself.

Jake Holshuh

Long Beach

A happy checked-bag story

I was recently on an Alaska Airlines flight, returning from Portland, Ore. While I was sitting in the departure lounge with my carry-on bag, the airline made an announcement that those who wished to help free up overhead space by checking their bags could do it free of charge. So I did.

My daughter was meeting me in L.A., so when we landed, I texted her about which bag I had, and she had it waiting for me when we met downstairs. A win-win.

Sharon Marshall

San Pedro

New High Roller in Las Vegas

The world’s highest Ferris wheel, the High Roller at the Linq in Las Vegas, is now finished and ferrying paying customers for a 30-minute ride up to 550 feet high before coming down to Earth again.

The cost to rise high in the sky is $24.95 for day rides and $34.95 for a night excursion. The seemingly pricey fee for going around in a slow circle may actually save some gamblers a hunk of change by keeping them out of the casino for a short time.

Of course, there is always a slight possibility of having some miniature slots, a two-person keno lounge and a little blackjack table being installed in the pods just in case.

Bill Spitalnick

Newport Beach