The new HFP chat thread – Tuesday 24th March

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• The Original David says:

  24 Mar24 March 02:50

  The swimming pool at my hotel in Thailand is now closed. This virus is really starting to bite… 🙁

  • Keith says:

    24 Mar24 March 03:39

    Did you really want to be stuck in Thailand during this crisis…?!

    • The Original David says:

      24 Mar24 March 03:49

      I did! That’s why I came here 6 weeks ago… I live outside the UK, so the helpful FCO advice to both go home and also not to re-enter the country where my home is leaves me somewhat in limbo…

    • TGLoyalty says:

      24 Mar24 March 07:15

      Can we stop with every post when some says they aren’t in the uk being followed with “don’t you really want to be stuck” and “get the hell out”

      You don’t know the situation and it’s not your business.

      • Keith says:

        24 Mar24 March 07:19

        I was intrigued and it sparked a good debate about thai healthcare… so get off your high horse pal. Back in your box

        • TGLoyalty says:

          24 Mar24 March 07:29

          It’s not a high horse it’s a simple understanding that not everyone that posts here has the UK as “home” and not everyone wants to go back home to sit in their house.

          I’d be very happy on a nice beach in the Far East right now and would’ve been far preferable for WFH

  • Tommy Gunn says:

    24 Mar24 March 05:22

    Thailand is the place to sit this out.
    Super cheap as well.
    I have a private pool villa in a 5* resort for less than a £80.00.
    Better to be here than with the wife & kids back in London.
    Plenty of company here as well 😉.
    You can get tested here immediately if you have the money as well.
    So you can all stay safe.

    • Shoestring says:

      24 Mar24 March 05:27

      it’s a good strategy, esp if you are 60+, ie older than the cutoff point for treatment when the sh!t hits the fan re: NHS numbers

      just keep your social distance and try not to catch it as Thailand is not exactly an island of no Covid-19

      • Tommy Gunn says:

        24 Mar24 March 05:37

        If you have the money the Thai hospitals are world class just have to be careful to chose the right consultant.
        Also with the the money & connections things can get done immediately.
        Also they just won’t let you die if you are past 60.

        • Bonglim says:

          24 Mar24 March 06:24

          Critical Care Beds per 100 000
          UK: 6.6
          Thailand: 10.4

          I imagine as well that the UK will base access on the most effective treatment (which means low priority if you have health problems or are frail and moderately low access if you are over a certain age and otherwise well; i.e. they will be most cost effective at saving lives in healthy 20 year olds, then healthy 30 year olds and so on.)
          That means the OP sounds like he might not be at the top of the list.

          In Thailand, although I may not agree with the ethics (and I don’t actually know if it is true) you are probably competing for beds with the top quarter of the country wealth wise. That changes it to 40 critical care beds per capita with enough money to get in.

          Remember with the best of circumstances and loads of money you are still likely to get the virus and can judge your own risk, which is probably at least moderate. There is a pretty sad but real risk that you could just die on the other side of the world leaving your family back home with a lack of information and lack of ability to contact you or know how well you are.

        • Lady London says:

          24 Mar24 March 13:37

          Just like miles, avios and points, being able to view this conversation is informing us a d giving us something to aspire to.

  • Lewis King says:

    24 Mar24 March 06:25

    Also out in Thailand at the moment. Just seen the British consulate are extending Visas for another 30 days if you need (past the normal 30 day extension) – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-thailand#covid-19-visa-extension-applications–support-letter

    So that takes me to 120 days, very helpful to ride it out. Cheap country, good healthcare, friendly people, nice weather. Not a bad place to be stuck, IMHO….

    • Shoestring says:

      24 Mar24 March 06:34

      visa run into Malaysia would give you another 90-120 days?

      • Aarom says:

        24 Mar24 March 06:37

        No one in or out of Malaysia at the moment.

        • BJ says:

          24 Mar24 March 07:56

          And, even if it was, the stamp for a land border is still only 15 days AFAIK.

      • Lewis King says:

        24 Mar24 March 11:32

        No one is getting back into Thailand, realistically. You need some insane medical insurance and a letter saying you don’t have COVID (good luck getting a test).

    • Tommy Gunn says:

      24 Mar24 March 09:27

      @Lewis King

      Not a problem with visas at the moment.
      Little birdie tells me they will be extended again in the future without leaving the country.

      • Lewis King says:

        24 Mar24 March 11:32

        Can you expand on this? Interested to hear. I don’t need to get my first extension until before 16th May.

        • Tommy Gunn says:

          24 Mar24 March 12:57

          @Lewis King
          You will be able to get 30 days from 18th May & if needed other 30days when the first 30days expires.

        • Tommy Gunn says:

          24 Mar24 March 12:59

          @Lewis King
          I meant 16th May

  • Marcw says:

    24 Mar24 March 07:46

    From Thursday onwards, state of emergency in Thailand.

    • Tommy Gunn says:

      24 Mar24 March 09:32

      @Marcw

      This will effect Bangkok the most & moving between provinces.
      But if you stay where you are not really an issue.

• PFBP says:

  24 Mar24 March 04:29

  Edinburgh lounges all now closed. Wetherspoons in the main area of the airport remained open on Sunday despite being told to close (shame on them). Very few flights now

  • BrightonReader says:

    24 Mar24 March 08:30

    Airport should have just shut them down. Put a few luggage trolleys across the entrance etc etc

    • Sunguy says:

      24 Mar24 March 10:31

      Come on folks – Its Edinburgh Airport management plus Wetherspoons – thats never going to happen – the airport make too much money from the pub – just remember, Edinburgh charges more to park than any of the London airports (Luton and Heathrow included) – they are purely money based and not airline or passenger focused – if it makes them money they are absolutely in!

• Tommy Gunn says:

  24 Mar24 March 05:50

  The U.K. won’t close the borders.
  You will will only be stranded if you are poor.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    24 Mar24 March 07:21

    The warning was because Large airlines like emirates are stopping flight and borders are closed to people blocking the ability to take other indirect routes.

    • guesswho2000 says:

      24 Mar24 March 08:56

      Ways and means…QF have moved their QF2 SIN transit to DRW (admittedly that only works if you’re allowed back in this end, since Australia’s border is closed to non-Citizens/PR)

      • guesswho2000 says:

        24 Mar24 March 08:57

        Oh, and I was forgetting QF9/10 via PER, which already existed 🤦‍♂️

      • marcw says:

        24 Mar24 March 09:47

        It will be a matter of time (days, 1-2 weeks) that Qantas will suspend UK operations.

        • Lady London says:

          24 Mar24 March 12:37

          Think they said ceasing March 30 last flights?

• BJ says:

  24 Mar24 March 06:01

  Given the article yesterday about the government potentially underwriting ATOL I am wondering if if the BA vouchers or keeping far out redemptions might actually turn out to be better than we thought. I know they are different situations entirely but if there is a willingness to support the industry generally then things might work out ok. Thus , I’m contemplating taking a chance and keeping our Xmas/ny redemptions as opposed to refunding them in light of the fact we don’t know future shape of avios (assuming BAEC and indeed BA survives) or what cash fares might be ike on BA and other carriers 8-9 months from now. What do readers think, is it worth the chance keeping the redemption or best to get the money back now?like

  • BJ says:

    24 Mar24 March 07:32

    I think it is unlikely to go bust but my guess ( and it is just a guess) is that, like many other airlines, it will emerge in a (very?) different shape from what it is now. Hence, all the usual rules by which we play our hobby may be ‘up in the air’ and the game may be reinvented to some extent.

    • Keith says:

      24 Mar24 March 09:38

      So it’s now unlikely to go bust…

      The extension of the Amex voucher is evidence to the contrary. If anything they will be encouraging people to fly again (particularly in the absence of a vaccine) and we may benefit good deals and plenty of redemption availability unless you have any other good guesses?

      • Lady London says:

        24 Mar24 March 12:43

        BA not going to go bust Keith.

        The voucher problem is they are issuing them for cash value that does not guarantee you can buy same trip in future. T
        When you come to use it you are forced to spend it with BA by a certain time and they can charge what they like.

        For goodness sake take cash over a 100% flat rate voucher while you have the legal right to.

        See my other comments and agreement with BJ about when you might want to ‘stick’ or use your other right to keep same itinerary but take the option eu261 gives you to request same travel later date instead.

    • BJ says:

      24 Mar24 March 10:02

      @Keith, I never suggested at any point that I thought BA was going to go bust. I too took the extension of the voucher as a positive sign.

  • Lady London says:

    24 Mar24 March 12:35

    Keep till you have to change.
    If it’s a good one.
    If capacity comes back as it ramps up (and for a very long time) the airlines will be interested in maximising the marginal revenue every seat. Also the costs of all this are surely going to be socialised to everyone who pays any form of tax. Different forms of tax, such as APD, may be required to make a greater ‘contribution:.

    Personally I expect to be only able to afford to travel where i need to in future if I can swim there.

    This is why, if you still want to travel, trying to force a reroute option – or you keep same itinerary but use your eu261 rights to request them to ticket you same itinerary at a later date – makes a lot of sense. If flights are running, say, in early December than I expect what coat you £1200 to buy to cost £5200 or more.

    Ditto the £200 fares to Oz that a few people got – no reason to cancel – try for a reroute much later date, this means you are not obliged to pay the difference.

    What do you think BJ?

    • Lady London says:

      24 Mar24 March 12:51

      Note it’s *your* Option under eu261 whether you choose refund or reroute, you do have the option to request same itinerary on a later date that suits you.

      Not sure if airlines can refuse to confirm any later flight, say, in December if you were going to Oz – so get in quick whike later flights are still showing in their schedules as then I’m sure they could not refuse.

      Act (or decide to stick if your travel is far ahead) sooner than later folks. Just like easyJet is now using this crisis to downgrade their employees conditions and pay that they didn’t manage to get before, airlines are now lobbying governments and the EU to get passenger protections and options that are provided by EC261 etc, removed.

      • BJ says:

        24 Mar24 March 13:32

        Thanks 🙂 I felt I asked a sensible question so it is good to get a response that gets to the heart of the matter. At the same time this past two years BA Y was £1500rtn so I think I’ll just stick with it and see how it plays out. Refunded our early June trip using the workaround but it was obviously a whole different story. Sad to cancel it but it was already verging on a fantasy.

        • Polly says:

          24 Mar24 March 16:01

          BJ, right to keep it for now. Lots can happen before December. Think BA will survive, but baec may be changed to their benefit, of course, not the punters. Now our 241 has been extended, we were looking at J or F to KUL for end of Jan. Not a thing. Then looked atBKK J, plenty. So may take a punt on that. Whilst paying Tim to get F flights for us. Interesting to be even planning a trip, but hopefully the world will have calmed down by December

        • BJ says:

          24 Mar24 March 17:22

          Thanks @Polly, I just had a look on RFF and cannot see a single flight out to BKK in January in J, and only 20 and 21 available coming back. Ideally I would like to change our out or return date to bring it under a four week trip but I think I’ll leave it as it is and go for five all being well.

  • Harry T says:

    24 Mar24 March 14:17

    @BJ I would keep the Xmas redemptions if I were you. They are flexible and flights could be running then. Plus BA won’t go bust.

    • BJ says:

      24 Mar24 March 17:39

      Yup, already decided Harry, thanks. Good luck getting your brother home. If it proves impossible in the short term maybe he could look for a voluntary role in the meantime, turning a negative into a positive and hopefully securing some place to stay at the sane time.

      • Harry T says:

        24 Mar24 March 18:05

        Thanks! He’s very bummed out because he planned to spend a couple of years travelling and now, if he stays, he would not be able to do anything fun for a long time. I think it’s better he’s home rather than trapped there in social isolation.

        • Fred says:

          24 Mar24 March 21:31

          Social isolation? What age is he? Has he no gumption or social skills himself?

• Brian C. says:

  24 Mar24 March 06:54

  I have a BA holiday to Seychelles booked for May 19th which is due to be fully paid on the 31st March. Paid £800 deposit with £7000 still to pay. Should i cancel now? What are my chances of getting deposit back via BA in either cash or voucher (don’t mind) as i do not want to sink another £7k into a voucher possible. If it makes any difference the flights are Qatar Q Suites.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    24 Mar24 March 07:22

    A comment yesterday said deposits for trips up to 31st May are being returned in exchange for a voucher.

  • MattB says:

    24 Mar24 March 08:00

    I don’t having qsuites makes the slightest difference in this situation!

    • Depop says:

      24 Mar24 March 09:04

      no but you get to tell everyone that you could have flown it! stroke that ego and all

      • BJ says:

        24 Mar24 March 10:37

        Doubt many really care except a few in our own little bubble. Personally I’m always just hapoy to fly in any business class, and not be sitting down the back.

        • Lady London says:

          24 Mar24 March 12:55

          Anything that gets me flat on a longhaul is all I want though given the choice you would hope to take the better business classes.

          However all bets are off now. If you need to get somewhere take it. Your options will be different and liky very reduced unless you have substantial cash in the near and for sure, medium future.

  • Jeff says:

    24 Mar24 March 21:34

    Why why why are people still asking these daft questions?

    There will be no flights, they will be cancelled.
    Don’t accept vouchers.
    You will get your money back.
    Sit tight.

• jason says:

  24 Mar24 March 08:02

  Marriott status…I did’t get a soft landing from Titanium to platinum…straight back to gold.

  • shd says:

    24 Mar24 March 09:02

    +1 am also back to Gold

  • Pangolin says:

    24 Mar24 March 13:49

    According to FlyerTalk, Marriott are now saying that it is not an IT mistake and is official. The hard downgrades won’t be reversed for anyone. They’ve never done hard downgrades before but have chosen to do it now, amidst the corona collapse.

    So now I have to choose between Hilton Diamond and Bonvoy Gold. Hmmmm…….

• Jack says:

  24 Mar24 March 08:13

  Qantas have just emailed me to say that my flights have been cancelled and a flight voucher has been issued. Am I not entitled to a cash refund?

  Flights are LHR-SYD round trip early May, booked with cash 9 months ago

  • Charlieface says:

    24 Mar24 March 12:33

    Yes cash refund. If they dig their heels in then call the credit card company for S75 or chargeback

• blenz101 says:

  24 Mar24 March 08:25

  BA apparently removing buy on board from SH flights and returning to free water, snack and hot drinks on request.

  LH going to dishes which don’t need to be handled / plated on board, Deli boxes all round no doubt!

  • mr_jetlag says:

    24 Mar24 March 08:29

    at least they’re not suspending service entirely which I hear AA is doing.

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