The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 9th 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/2020/04/09/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-9th-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.

mark2 says:

9 Apr9 April 16:08

Today I cancelled my Bonvoy card as it costs £75 per year and gives two points per £ whereas my Gold card gives 1.5 Bonvoy points per card and is free.
Have I missed something or is Amex and/or Bonvoy trying to run this card down?
I know that large use can give a free cheap room and Gold status.
- Doug M says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 16:26
  
  The Gold is £140 after the first year. Also if you can spend £15K on the gold you’ll get a 10K MR bonus. So the calculation varies depending on several factors. You’ll need to pay for at least one month of the second year when it’s £140 to get the bonus.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 17:50
  
  Great if you’re staying at Bonvoy properties a lot as still 6/£1
  - Harry T says:
    
    9 Apr9 April 20:36
    
    And if you’re chasing Platinum, getting 15 status nights for £75 is a steal. Plus it’s easy to recoup a £75 card fee even with casual interest in amex offers.
Tracy says:

9 Apr9 April 17:23

Just a data point. I cancelled my June BA flights , 241 Avios flights on 18th March over the phone. Received refund of taxes on 6th April so taking almost 3 weeks to refund.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 18:33
  
  Thanks. Still awaiting the cash for mine online cancellation – Avios appeared last Saturday after about 2 weeks.
Spaghetti Town says:

9 Apr9 April 18:06

One question that’s confused me about this site.

How come, some commentators have photos?
- Rob says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 18:30
  
  Go to gravatar.com and create a free account using the email address you use in your comments. The picture you upload there will appear here automatically. The same will happen on any other WordPress based website you comment on.
  - Spaghetti Town says:
    
    9 Apr9 April 18:55
    
    Interesting. thanks
Lord Flyer says:

9 Apr9 April 18:07

Dear Lord Flyer

For only the second time in our 100-year history, (the first being during the Second World War), the majority of our British Airways aircraft have now touched down in London, leaving just a small fleet flying to bring people home to their loved ones and to deliver critical supplies to countries and people in need.

As borders continue to close and the world comes to a temporary standstill, we wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to you for your incredible support of British Airways and our crews, and to send our warmest thoughts to you and to those who may be suffering at the hands of this unexpected crisis.

As difficult as it has been for our teams and our customers, we stand together. Our business stands on strong foundations. At its heart are many thousands of colleagues who care passionately about the airline, Britain and the nations and customers we serve.

An incredible new global community has emerged from the situation we find ourselves in and that is something for us all to feel proud of. Hundreds of thousands of people have volunteered their services to help organisations around the world, so too have many of our own people, and for that we are proud and grateful. While many of our aircraft remain on the ground, we will take inspiration from the heroes who are working on the front line and we will continue to serve Britain as best we can.

Sadly, we know that now is not the time to travel. We don’t know when it will be, but we do know that when our aircraft are cleared for take-off once again, it will be epic. Families will be reunited, the wheels of industry will start turning again and when they do, we’ll be ready, to fly and to serve.

Until then, from our family to yours, thank you and we wish you well.Thank you,

Alex Cruz
Chairman and CEO,
British Airways
- ChrisBCN says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 22:37
  
  And no, you are not having a status extension 😂
  - paul milligan says:
    
    10 Apr10 April 00:08
    
    This email was a slap in the face
    Given their outrageous behavior with refunds the very least now is an automatic extension to status for all for 1 year. Anyone with status that expires this side of Dec 2020 gets it extended.
Rob says:

9 Apr9 April 18:31

The penalties are VERY strict if you mess about refunding holiday bookings. Sadly the rules on flights are less strict.
- Anna says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 20:38
  
  And car hire, see my post below!
- Alan says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 22:52
  
  Wish my parents’ cruise company were taking the rules at all seriously, instead they’re just lying through their teeth saying they don’t need to refund!
Alex Sm says:

9 Apr9 April 19:33

Guys, I got really sick of Opodo and SWISS making a fool of me, despite public reassurances that they are happy to do a cash refund. What should I do?

Check these two Twitter threads with them:
https://twitter.com/FlySWISS/status/1247391029428391936
https://twitter.com/win_and_fly/status/1241191266173554688
- meta says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 21:53
  
  Plain and simple, S75 claim.
- Harry T says:
  
  10 Apr10 April 00:00
  
  Initiate a chargeback on your credit card.
  - Alex Sm says:
    
    10 Apr10 April 14:29
    
    It was paid by a debit card, so no S75, I have filled out a chargeback form on HSBC website but no acknowldegment or any other word from them
Anna says:

9 Apr9 April 20:35

Interesting voucher data point. I have been texted this evening by BA who told me they have kindly cancelled my car hire booking for this weekend and issued me with a voucher to be used within 12 months. This was to be confirmed in an email…
The email arrived a short time later. There is no voucher, you book your flight or whatever, then email BA with the booking ref and they will (allegedly) refund the voucher amount back to your payment card!!
I’m sure there must be easier ways of doing this 🙄
- Anna says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 20:42
  
  I suppose it means they can hang onto your money for even longer!
- Mac D says:
  
  9 Apr9 April 22:00
  
  Never ends well with these vouchers, cash is king!
Alan says:

9 Apr9 April 22:50

VS transfer to Hilton posted today after 9 days 👍