The new HFP chat thread launches – Sunday 22nd March

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• makrxx says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:03

  I’m looking to fly from LHR-SIN on BA, and one of the OTA (which seems quite reputable) on Skyscanner is offering it for a bit less than BA directly.

  In times like these, ok to go ahead to book on the OTA? Will it be all ok as it is likely I’ll have to move the date of my return flight

  • ChrisBCN says:

    22 Mar22 March 13:22

    What? Why are you planning to travel anywhere? You know things will be in flux for many months? Don’t bother until we have a clearer view of how things will pan out. I know it’s nice to have a trip to look forwards too though.

    • makrxx says:

      22 Mar22 March 13:25

      I’m returning home. Not travelling for leisure.

      • ChrisBCN says:

        22 Mar22 March 13:36

        You mentioned a return flight which implies there and back. A one way flight to get home is a different matter – I’m always cautious about using OTA’s as you lose an element of control over the booking, and would always advise against it. But I guess that depends how much the price difference is to you.

        • makrxx says:

          22 Mar22 March 13:52

          I don’t wish to disclose my personal circumstances any further.

          So my question is: as long as I get a confirmed booking reference which I can look up on BA.com, does it matter whether I book through BA.com or the OTA? I assume with a booking reference I can then change my flights etc without any issues?

        • Andy says:

          22 Mar22 March 14:07

          If you want to lose flexibility of your booking over a few pounds then feel free…

        • ChrisBCN says:

          22 Mar22 March 14:08

          Same advice stands, easier to deal with the airline direct than with an OTA. So it comes down to how much that flexibility is worth to you.

        • makrxx says:

          22 Mar22 March 14:11

          Got it, thanks all. Will book directly.

          Was just under the impression that if my itinerary is confirmed on BA.com, there wouldn’t be a distinction between BA.com or OTA when I make the change.

        • marcw says:

          22 Mar22 March 14:35

          @makrxxx essentially, all changes has to be made through the booking agent. If you booked on the airline, then it´s literally very easy. If you booked with a travelagent/OTA all changes you want to make need to be done through the travel agent/OTA. Some OTA will do it for free, others will charge,,… but usually it´s a much slower process.

        • jc says:

          22 Mar22 March 14:35

          makrxx, I don’t know why so many are chipping in points that aren’t what you’re asking 😆 There are many valid reasons to book a flight at the moment.

          To your question: there are definitely benefits to booking directly. Read the coronavirus flexibility pages for the airline — you’ll see that many points only apply to direct bookings, and that the TA’s own discretion applies for TA bookings as your contract is with them.

        • Shoestring says:

          22 Mar22 March 17:29

          I’d rather be here where we have a family house and 4000 sq metre garden than shutdown in Cornwall where my wife would no doubt file for divorce on Day 2

          stir crazy here we come

          plus it’s a somewhat remote village where I can get grocery deliveries from next Saturday onwards (got 2 booked already) – and no need to get closer than 2 metres to anybody

      • Reality Check says:

        22 Mar22 March 14:40

        @jc Thousands are dying around the world daily, in part due to people ignoring government advice to travel. It’s not unreasonable to question why someone is travelling before helping enable them to spread the virus even further.

        • Subject Matter says:

          22 Mar22 March 14:53

          And the people on here are the right people to make an evalution of the need? Are we going to demand all such info from everyone?

          And will we hold back our subject matter advice if it doesn’t meet our own personal evaluation?

        • Reality Check says:

          22 Mar22 March 15:18

          “And will we hold back our subject matter advice if it doesn’t meet our own personal evaluation?”
          I would sincerely hope so.

        • Shoestring says:

          22 Mar22 March 15:37

          @Reality Check – when the hurricane is coming, if you’re at medium to high risk, get out of the way of the hurricane if that’s easy enough to do & doesn’t harm others

          I did it 🙂

        • Reality Check says:

          22 Mar22 March 15:41

          Last I heard, hurricanes couldn’t be spread from country to country by people travelling and infecting others along the way. But maybe I missed the government and WHO advice to ‘get out on the first plane with no regard for anyone else’.

        • Shoestring says:

          22 Mar22 March 15:47

          a plane is just a bus ride, no more important or risky for people you might encounter

          airport was nice & quiet as well plus once we got through Security (some discussion, all good) – luggage was waiting for us very timely on the belt, taxi came 5 mins later, very smooth

        • Reality Check says:

          22 Mar22 March 15:55

          Yeah, I mean, it’s almost as if you know better than the government and the doctors about how safe travel is. Your last prediction wasn’t too accurate though was it. Still all that social isolation to prevent others getting infected is for other people right, after all it’s pretty mild for 99.9% of people. Your selfishness is only surpassed by your stupidity 🙂

        • Reality Check says:

          22 Mar22 March 16:12

          You know why the airport was so empty? Because when the government and doctors said, it’s everyone’s responsibility to socially isolate, and that we need a collective effort from everybody to stand a chance, most people did their bit, not washed their hands and headed for the airport.

        • Shoestring says:

          22 Mar22 March 16:19

          it’s the same as a bus ride, not more risky for other people

        • Shoestring says:

          22 Mar22 March 16:49

          I’m higher risk ie in the 0.1% – hospitalised with danger-of-death pneumonia 2 years ago, somewhat compromised lungs, 57 – plus Cornwall ICU was already overstretched before this came along so the chances of an old guy like me getting the best care in a month’s time were pretty poor

        • Reality Check says:

          22 Mar22 March 16:59

          And yet doctors and nurses are dying everyday now despite the fear they have, because they have the general human decency to work extra hours to treat patients instead of running away to their holiday home to avoid all contact. They say a crisis brings out a persons real character. Seems it’s true.

        • ChrisBCN says:

          23 Mar23 March 00:22

          More dangerous misleading shoestring nonsense – please nobody reading take notice.

  • Nick_C says:

    22 Mar22 March 13:35

    If you have problems, it is much easier to deal with the airline than an OTA. Worth paying more for IMO. Depends how much more of course.

  • AndyGWP says:

    22 Mar22 March 14:49

    As others said, I’d probably go with BA rather than an OTA

    Does BA Price match guarantee still work though? – have a read here and see if you would benefit from it:
    https://headforpoints.com/2018/09/23/changes-british-airways-price-guarantee/

  • Lady London says:

    22 Mar22 March 21:40

    Strong advice book with airline directly
    Even when there’s not world chaos that’s the safer strategy.

    Bad enough trying to manage irrops alone through an OTA. And you’re thinking of putting yourself in a position where you could have to manage the constantly changing impacts of world chaos through an OTA as well. A few are OK, many of them are a nightmare just with irrops.

    Book with airline directly if you possibly can. Slightly better that it sounds like you may only need to travel one way and soon but too much can change right now and on that case I’d advise you to keep the right to deal with the airline directly by booking direct.

• takke says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:15

  Anyone else having trouble getting a refund out of Eurostar? They’re currently just offering vouchers to everyone even where trains are cancelled and my reading of the Ts and Cs suggests they have to offer a refund. Not really sure what to do – may be worth a s75 claim? Appreciate that their CS teams will be swamped but they seem to be unwilling to offer any cash.

• Waddle says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:44

  Emirates suspending all passenger flights from Wednesday.

  Source: Sky News, Associated Press newswire

  • TGLoyalty says:

    22 Mar22 March 19:42

    Sounds like Emirates have made a u turn and will fly as long as borders are open and there’s demand.

• Kai says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:45

  Check your Marriott status – many people (including me) have just been downgraded and NO SOFT LANDING. Great job Marriott that’s great help to this year’s travel situation.

  • Dominic says:

    22 Mar22 March 13:54

    Damn – meanwhile, Radisson has given me another year of Platinum without any strings attached. I was already half way there for the year, so glad to now have it through to 2022.

  • Henry says:

    22 Mar22 March 14:40

    First world problems

    • Dominic says:

      22 Mar22 March 16:22

      To be fair, I’m pretty sure every single post on here is pretty much a first world problem…

  • Steve says:

    22 Mar22 March 15:07

    +1 demoted from Titanium to Gold (Amex Platinum, didn’t reach the 50 nights required – would have otherwise landed in Silver) I’d spoken to two different Marriott CS agents back in January, they both said Marriott operates soft landings and I would be dropping to Platinum

  • TGLoyalty says:

    22 Mar22 March 16:33

    In other Marriott news I’ve just seen my 15 nights from my amex have arrived. Another card to cancel after I sort out all my missing points.

• Russell Gowers says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:49

  OT (if that’s relevant any more!)

  I had a flight booked with Jetstar SYD-SGN in May, which they have obviously now cancelled. The website says you’re entitled to a credit voucher, but the customer services staff will issue a cash refund if you ask for one. Simply log into the web chat, turn your volume up loud, and wait about 2 hours for an agent to become free – bob’s your uncle.

  Better cash in hand than a voucher for an airline that might not survive the summer, I’d say…

  • guesswho2000 says:

    22 Mar22 March 13:58

    Jetstar are unlikely to be going anywhere, since they’re owned by Qantas.

• Dominic says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:49

  I feel like I saw it before, but has HFP provided an article detailing airline change policies? Looking to book next years trips, but conscious travel insurance is not applicable for new bookings (well, mine isn’t).

  Thought I could get around this by booking with an airline with no change fees, and using credit card in case the airline goes bust…

  • Rob says:

    22 Mar22 March 15:47

    Not in one place, no.

• rams1981 says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:52

  Avanti west coast advance fare train bookings.

  They were offering changes for free which is of limited use given we don’t know when it’s safe to travel on trains again. Workaround is to book a flexible fare with the change and then apply for a full refund.

  Hopefully helps someone.

  • AndyGWP says:

    22 Mar22 March 14:51

    It does indeed! Thank you!

• rams1981 says:

  22 Mar22 March 13:53

  Lloyds upgrade voucher. Has anyone without any flights booked had theirs extended? If so by how long and how did you do it?

  • BigSi says:

    22 Mar22 March 15:43

    yes, asked on chat the other day and got extension from 31/3 for 6 months. Was quite painless just had to wait a while for the chat to start but kept open in a separate window.

    • rams1981 says:

      22 Mar22 March 17:42

      Thanks

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