The new HFP chat thread – Friday 27th March

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We have decided to run this new daily chat thread on Head for Points.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the defacto repository for random comments and questions. It is unlikely that the news flow will be so big over the next few weeks that we will need many ‘Bits’ articles, however.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind. At this tricky time, and given that many of you are stuck at home self-isolating, we want the HFP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article. This has long-term benefits as its keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

We will review how this works after a few days:

we could potentially split it into a daily travel and non-travel chat thread

we may install some basic forum software

we may start suggesting potential topics for daily discussion

Let’s see how it goes.

We will do a separate article in a day or so about how we plan to run the site over the next few weeks. Take care!

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Dan says:

27 Mar27 March 12:27

I have (had) a return flight from Amsterdam to Glasgow on KLM over easter to visit my elderly parents. I have been wondering whether this would be cancelled (or whether I should make the trip at all) and the outbound leg now has been, though not the return leg. The email KLM sent me is saying that this is due to travel restrictions implemented at the destination (I know of no UK travel restrictions on flights from NL; indeed, the earlier flight that day is still showing up as bookable).

This is within 14 days of the flight, but I am only being offered the chance to rebook within the next 6 months, or get a travel voucher valid for 1 year; no options to refund, even though its not only KLM cancelling (rather than a gov ban) but within the 14 day window for ec261 claims. I dont mind that its cancelled, and given the circumstances I would be in no rush to claim compensation, but to imply in the email that there is no other recourse is very disingenuous, and frankly makes me want to claim compensation too. I don’t at this stage know of a workaround the way others have found for BA refunds (by disabling javascript). Anybody have any ideas?
- Lady London says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 13:43
  
  NO compo, EVER, NO Compensation for any flight the airline cancels for any reason that is remotely connected to the virus.NO COMPENSATION IS DUE for this under EC/EU261.
  
  You DO have a right under EC/EU261 to your money back. You do NOT have to accept a voucher. You also have a right to same trip at a later date instead of refund, if you wish. This should be considered if you got a good price for those airlines you think will still be flying and will raise finance to keep flying in a way that doesn’t restructure leaving debts including yours behind. Some good airlines, or others that we know governments will support, could be considered to be on this list.
  
  If airline won’t refund cash then get proof if you can from them, or proof of reasonable efforts on your part. Take it straight to cardco for s.75 or chargeback, or your insurance.
  - Dan says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 13:49
    
    Really? I am not convinced without some sort of official proof. My understanding is that EC261 compensation for cancellation within 14 days still applies, UNLESS a country bans travel: https://headforpoints.com/2020/03/19/can-you-claim-ec261-compensation-due-to-coronavirus/ KLM can (and still is) flying between the two cities in question, and neither country has banned travel between the other.
    - Dan says:
      
      27 Mar27 March 14:06
      
      Update: I have checked the dutch aviation authority and you are indeed right, though if I struggle to get a refund and the morning flight goes ahead and so does my still uncancelled return I may file anyway
    - Lady London says:
      
      27 Mar27 March 14:07
      
      Country banning travel, countries banning entry if non-residents, countries banning even transit passengers, and UK FCO and other countries’ government announcements to their citizens not to travel worldwide, not good enough as exceptional circumstances for you, @Dan? 🙂
      
      Airlines do not have too pay compo if exceptional circumstances apply. See above which has been specifically announced by the EU as being exceptional circumstances.
      
      You can choose reimbursement (so no compo, just what you paid) or a rebook if your choice. Luckily that (different) part of EU/EC261 is still working. You also have a right to duty if care under EU261. But the current situation makes it generally not relevant @Dan.
      
      If I was a penniless grandmother and I fell on you as a robber snatched my handbag with all my food and rent money for a month you’d still want compensation from me, wouldn’t you, @Dan?
      - BJ says:
        
        27 Mar27 March 14:19
        
        😀
      - Dan says:
        
        27 Mar27 March 14:27
        
        I acknowledged you were right (though as a dutch resident and UK national I still have free movement rights), there was no need to be rude about it. Though I will point out, KLM did not have to wait until 12 days before the flight, the EC notice is already 9 days old, they had plenty of time to cancel this before the 14 day window started
Clive says:

27 Mar27 March 12:29

Well just had a long chat with a legal guy at LycaFly explains to him that under EU261 I can receive a cash refund for my Business flights with SWISS which I am supposed to be on today. He told me that the airline had sent them an advisory stating vouchers only. I asked him to look up the word advisory and also to research EU261.
- Aston100 says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 12:43
  
  What was the outcome?
  - Clive says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 12:47
    
    They said they will get back to me so I said don’t worry I will start a charge back.
- Lady London says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 13:45
  
  And this guy you spoke to is a lawyer? Sounds like an ill-trained phone-answering legal technician (at best) at the beginning of his training.
Joe says:

27 Mar27 March 12:41

Confirmed: BA using Covid-19 as their excuse for (intentionally) delayed refunds / comp payments.

For clarity, electronic payments processing is not impacted by Covid-19 or any associated Government precautionary measures.
- Lady London says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 13:48
  
  Problem is the interval. So long as it’s not paid you are exposed to credit risk.
  
  Try your card or insurance – I think this is a gray area and they might actually require the owing entity to fail first soon if you are being told these kinds of times – which by far won’t get respected.
Aston100 says:

27 Mar27 March 12:53

British Airways on Twitter:
“We are temporarily moving all of our flights at Heathrow Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 from Sunday.”
DMW says:

27 Mar27 March 13:02

BA has stopped wine and experience avios redemptions. Sorry if this is old news, I’m struggling to read all the (very useful!) comments at the moment
- Bill says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 13:22
  
  Avios.com working ok for wine
Steve says:

27 Mar27 March 13:17

I have a standalone car booking through BA.

The flights for the trip were already cancelled on a separate booking. But can anyone tell me if I need to cancel the car booking (and hopefully get a full refund) on the phone, or can it be done on BA.com?

Many thanks

Steve
- Anna says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 13:32
  
  Have a look at the booking, it will say what your cancellation options are. You usually have to call for car hire though.
- BJ says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 14:16
  
  In a similar situation with a hotel booking. ISTR it being nonrefundable so I’m not expecting any joy, BA are not Hilton unfortunately.
Michael says:

27 Mar27 March 13:53

I’ve just instigated a chargeback with Amex for a cancelled EasyJet flight a week on Monday. EDI-TXL. The Amex agent said chargeback could take 6-8 weeks to process. Does that mean I sit tight and don’t do anything else with EasyJet, i.e. don’t need to keep trying to phone them?
- John says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 13:56
  
  If you gave easyjet sufficient chance to refund you as they should have, then just let Amex deal with it now.
  - Michael says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 14:11
    
    John,
    
    Thanks. I’ve been trying and failing like most others to contact them via telephone and social media. Short of carrier pigeon or semaphore I don’t know what else people can do. I would have much rather dealt with EasyJet directly but unfortunately not.
    - Vit says:
      
      27 Mar27 March 16:42
      
      Hi Michael, similar situation — mine was even worse as booked through agent. Cathay Pacific allowed free cancellation since start of March but agency never got back to me after request — then as Hong Kong now is closed to all foreigners, the flight was cancelled on Wednesday. I started the chargeback dispute on Thursday. Got all credit back today (Friday).
      - Michael says:
        
        27 Mar27 March 21:45
        
        Cheers Vit, that’s good to know.
Sam says:

27 Mar27 March 13:59

Hi all, there was an offer not so long ago with Tesco Clubcard – if you automtically convery your points to Virgin Air Miles you get a bonus 1,000 miles – I can’t seem to find the article – does anyone remember when this was and if they did this, have their points landed? (I know some will say given what is going on I shouldn’t care about Virgin air miles but I want to know so iI can take off the auto conversion!) Thanks!
- Sam says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 13:59
  
  Convert* even!