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.

Harry T says:

27 Mar27 March 14:56

Just wanted to say that I’ve found hotels a lot more reasonable, helpful and professional than airlines. I’ve had two hotels (one Accor, one IHG) reply to me rapidly and refund non refundable hotel bookings. BA and Lufthansa on the other hand…

Must say I won’t be in a hurry to book non refundable hotel rates again, mind you.
- Doug M says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 14:59
  
  Is it not the case that the big chains don’t own many hotels, they’re mostly a branding/booking service. So they’re feeling a lot less pain than an airline when there’s a cancellation.
  - Rui N. says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 15:07
    
    Exactly. It is much easier to refund someone’s else money!
  - Harry T says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 15:50
    
    Yes, I should say I’ve been in contact with the hotels directly, rather than the umbrella organisations.
ankomonkey says:

27 Mar27 March 14:57

Genghis says:
27 March 2020 at 13:11
For a straight guy the pulsating jet of water is surprisingly “kimochii”!

🙂 Comment of the day for me (as another dude who lived in Japan for a minute)
- Genghis says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 15:17
  
  🙂
  - meta says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 16:22
    
    😂 +1
- Brasov says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 19:08
  
  Harry should try it to help him understand those whose preferences differ.
  - Shoestring says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 19:16
    
    I will report back tomorrow morning 7am as that is my next scheduled deposit
    - Brasov says:
      
      27 Mar27 March 19:23
      
      OK. And thanks, by the way, for all your research and contributions here.
Roger says:

27 Mar27 March 15:42

Just tried Amex chargeback for a flight in 8 days which is now cancelled.
Perfectly sensible way to get a chageback.#
1) PDF the email you received from airline (easyjet in my case)
2) Easyjet (original booking email) has a link to get a payment receipt. Click on it and within a minute you will receive an email with your flight details with last four digits of Amex card used.

3) Call AMEX or go inline and raise a claim by uploading the documents listed in 1 & 2.

-payment should be in account in few days.
- Kai says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 16:23
  
  DO NOT use it unless the airline refuses to refund you. You are costing the airline and may end up being blacklisted by them.
  - Roger says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 18:39
    
    If the airline do not give you an option to cancel and get refund either online or via telephone, what are you supposed to do?
    
    Sure the chargeback will only prove that airlines should have been more upfront.
    
    With regards to blacklist I wouldn’t care as it’s likely that airlines may not survive the current ownership structure and may end up merging.
    - Shoestring says:
      
      27 Mar27 March 18:42
      
      they’re hardly likely to blacklist Roger Smellie (man on the telly) just like that, there must be loads of Roger Smellies (man on the telly) around
      
      just change email address etc
    - Stan says:
      
      28 Mar28 March 19:43
      
      Chargeback “works” only after the service or product delivery has not happened. The credit card Company’s liability only kicks in then. Do not apply before then as it only delays everything as you will end up with an invalid claim followed by a valid claim followed by delay due to two claims all for the same “occurrence”.
      
      The fact that your flight has been cancelled still permits the airline “time” to resolve the issue.
      
      The time you have to spend communicating with your airline is not the liability of your credit card.
  - Martyn Ford says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 21:11
    
    What intelligence from the airlines has led you to make that assertion Kai?
- Vit says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 16:39
  
  I did the same yesterday with AMEX but all bookings have been done via agent. I appreciate what is going on — but to not get any response at all after the flight had been cancelled for a week is just frustrating and not a single response from the agency; hence I raised this dispute.
  
  Appreciated what Kai there but some of us are struggling with the balance sheet and in my case it is about ~£1500 in total.
MattB says:

27 Mar27 March 15:51

Got our M&S amex credit today from a purchase last weekend so instore transactions appear to work
Sam says:

27 Mar27 March 15:59

Any data points on Virgin to Hilton transfers? I texted Virgin monday evening, got a reply saying they’re too busy and nothing afterwards. Has anyone received Hilton points yet? Thanks
marcw says:

27 Mar27 March 16:08

Virgin Atlantic set to ask for state aid

“Virgin, which has reported losses for the last two years, specialises in the long-haul sector that is expected to be the hardest hit. Virgin had just £83m in net cash according to its latest available report and accounts, and already leases three-quarters of its 46 aircraft. Leeway for refinancing will be limited.

The carrier must show the government that it is doing what is necessary to qualify for state aid, people familiar with the matter said.”

ft.com/content/c2d817d9-8a73-4bb8-89e7-e5ca67ed41d7
Ian says:

27 Mar27 March 16:15

Hi, We have flights booked using a 2-4-1. I do not know when that voucher was due to end. Is there a way to find this out before cancelling or will I only know the new expiry date, once I cancel?
- GeoffGeoff says:
  
  27 Mar27 March 16:24
  
  The voucher details are still in your BA account. login and go to my Executive Club – Manage My Account – View evouchers.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    27 Mar27 March 16:36
    
    When ever I look at my BAEC account, under Manage my Bookings, I never see the section “View e-vouchers”? Is it under another section?
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      27 Mar27 March 16:42
      
      Does it make any difference if your in a HH account?
    - Ian says:
      
      27 Mar27 March 18:03
      
      Found it, go to Manage my account and then manage my account again.
      At the bottom of that page is a panel that says My evouchers.
      Mine is already showing the extended expiry date, even though it is currently used.
      
      Next question. Has anyone managed to get an extension to the default extension. We were going to California for our 30th wedding anniversary and would like to rebook for the same time next year, the revised expiry date does not take us far enough in the future.
Harry T says:

27 Mar27 March 16:39

Has anyone managed to downgrade their Platinum card to a Gold charge card whilst holding the Gold credit card?

No use for most of my Platinum benefits for the foreseeable future so going to try and get a discount or a downgrade.