The new HFP chat thread – Wednesday 8th April

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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.

By default, HFP shows the last page of comments under the article. If you want to see the first page of comments and read them all from beginning to end in order, click here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/04/08/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-wednesday-8th-april/comment-page-1 The page will refresh with this article but the comments will now show the first page and not the last page.

We will continue to monitor how this is working:

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. Take care!

Category

General

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

Secret Squirrel says:

8 Apr8 April 17:04

Datapoint:
VA transfer to Hilton – 29/03
Points received today.
Clive Watts says:

8 Apr8 April 18:13

BA Travel voucher from Avios Redemption
I have just rebooked my Avios redemption for later in the year having reluctantly taken the “future travel voucher” because I cuold not get to speak to anyone to trigger a refund.

Note, I was told that that new flights are “non-refundable”. Presumable this is to stop us cancelling the new bookings and getting our Avios back this was,, even with the £35 cancellation charge.
Does anyone else know anything about this? It seems to be in breach of the Avios terms and conditions.
The agent conformed that I can change the flights in the normal Avios way.
Thanks
- Anna says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 18:52
  
  Who told you it was non-refundable if the agent said otherwise?
  - Rob says:
    
    8 Apr8 April 19:14
    
    Change is different to cancellation.
    
    It makes sense, for the reasons given, but sneaky.
- Lady London says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 23:24
  
  I dont think I would have accepted that. That’s sneaking in new terms to use the voucher.
  
  If they tried it I would have said ok in that case I was conned into having a voucher foisted on me. So now I want a full avios and cash refund on the original booking since you conned me. Then I’ll take those refunded avios and cash and make a new booking which is still refundable for a fee, as per my usual rights with an avios booking and under my breath “you cheeky b*5t*fds”
  
  Watch out though I am certain BA will do a vast hike on overt fees as soon as they can, in addition to the covert (Japan, USA) fees they’ve already hiked.
  - Lady London says:
    
    8 Apr8 April 23:27
    
    Is everyone aware there’s now a class action against United Airlines for not providing refunds?
  - Clive Watts says:
    
    9 Apr9 April 17:41
    
    BA’s standard response to this kind of objection is “I can’t deal with that, you’ll have to contact Customer Care” which of course will never happen.
Liam says:

8 Apr8 April 18:19

OMAAT reporting that Bonvoy is extending elite status: https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-bonvoy-extending-elite-status/

N.B. I can’t see any other sites reporting this yet or any official notice on the Bonvoy site.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 18:36
  
  Was just about to post everyone who earned status last year will have it ended to end of Feb 2022
  
  “all elite statuses earned based on 2019 activity have been extended through February 2022”
  
  Good for me as I’ll diversify this year.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    8 Apr8 April 18:37
    
    Also important SNA’s will last now expire Dec 2022.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      8 Apr8 April 18:38
      
      *Dec 2021 for SNAs. Bloody fat thumbs.
  - Jordan D says:
    
    8 Apr8 April 19:33
    
    Just read the above in a message from the Marriott President/CEO – so it is accurate.
chef says:

8 Apr8 April 19:10

same here, 130K moved 29th arrived just now.
- Harry T says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 19:11
  
  Likewise, literally now!
Chris says:

8 Apr8 April 20:57

Just sharing my experience… it’s been a year that I canceled my gold card and I thought I should give it a try reapplying for it and see if I get 22k points…

Nope… no luck. The bonus goal is not there so system “saw” that I had a gold card in the last 24 months..

Have you encountered the same?
- Doug M says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 21:08
  
  Why would you wait a year, seems odd. Chancing it I’d do 6 months and a day, if not wait the 2 years. Waiting a year seems an odd time gap unless you just wanted the card, which would be the action of a normal person, not a HfP type 🙂
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 21:20
  
  Missing counter means nothing. Tbh having a counter means nothing too
- Rob says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 21:42
  
  I had no counter when I got Plat Business last year. Still got a bonus …
Spaghetti Town says:

8 Apr8 April 21:19

Anyone stayed in either of the Hiltons at Ras Al Kaimh in the UAE? There’s a double tree which looks fairly nice, and a hilton resort too.

Sadly, the budget doesn’t strech to the Jumeirah resorts like it did when i was in my teens!
- fivebobbill says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 21:41
  
  Both ok if you like kids, think Butlins… 😫
- Rob says:
  
  8 Apr8 April 21:41
  
  I’ve stayed in the Waldorf Astoria next to the Hilton – we did 3 nights there last October in a 2-bed suite. Here is an older review from 2016 – https://headforpoints.com/2016/03/17/review-waldorf-astoria-ras-al-khaimah-hotel/
  
  I’ve also done the Ritz Carlton Al Hamra Beach on the other side of the Hilton – https://headforpoints.com/2018/10/29/review-ritz-carlton-al-hamra-beach-hotel-ras-al-khaimah/ But not the Hilton in the middle!