The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 16th April

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

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/2020/04/16/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-16th-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.

Lady London says:

16 Apr16 April 12:53

This is why I think none of them, including investment banks like Morgan Stanley (who I’ve normally got a lot of time for), will have the guts to recommend letting the airline currently known as ‘Virgin Atlantic’ fold.
Michael C says:

16 Apr16 April 12:56

Sorry for such a basic question, but BAPP has nothing to do with Amex Plat, right?
Just because I’ve had the former for a while with fairly good spend on it bears no relation to any potential “upgrade” to Plat? (not for now, obviously!)
- Stu N says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 13:45
  
  Completely separate products. You can hold both at the same time and many people do this. The BA PP is worthwhile for companion voucher and Avios earning; Amex Platinum for insurance/ travel benefits and flexibility of membership rewards scheme.
  - Michael C says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 18:11
    
    Cheers, Stu!
Voltron says:

16 Apr16 April 13:13

Does anybody know what happens of you receive a refund to a cancelled AMEX card which you have removed from AMEX app/website account and cant remember card number?

Would AMEX get in touch automatically or would it be down to the customer to get in touch?
- Stu N says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 13:40
  
  They send you a statement by post showing the refund. You’ll need to call to ask for refund to come back via bank transfer or to be moved to another Amex card in your name.
AndyA says:

16 Apr16 April 13:57

Hi all

Apologies if I’ve missed an update on this but just looking for any advice on my options for my BA flights.

We’re due to fly to BOS on 21/5 in First, returning from JFK on 30/5 both using Avios and an Amex 241 voucher.

I don’t want the BA refund voucher so I’ve seen that I can cancel via the call centre or on an iPhone, and pay the fees for the cancellation or wait and hope the flights get cancelled and then request a refund of all my taxes in cash plus my Avios and 241.

I’ve been waiting to see if the flights cancel and today the return from JFK has, but the outbound to Boston is still active.

Do my options remain the same or has anything changed since the return has been cancelled?

Many thanks
- Sean says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 14:22
  
  you can now cancel free of charges
  - meta says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 14:35
    
    You can’t cancel for free unless the flight has been cancelled. So best to wait. Still a long way to 21st and I suggest you wait. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the flight if they don’t cancel by then.
  - Lady London says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 14:44
    
    This applies for the whole booking if any part of it has been cancelled even just the return
    - AndyA says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 18:34
      
      Hi Lady London
      
      Are you saying I can or that I can’t cancel free of charges now? (split opinion above!)
      
      Thanks
      - Doug M says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 20:14
        
        You can, if any part of your booking has been cancelled you can ask for a refund.
- Reeferman says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 20:55
  
  As Lady London has said (and previously advise me too) if the return leg of a r.t. booking has been cancelled, you are indeed entitled to cancel the whole booking for a full cash refund.
  I did this with Qatar – who totally refused. I filed a S75 claim and today the full cash refund is back in my bank account!
CW1986 says:

16 Apr16 April 14:16

Has anyone recently tried to add the IHG card to Curve? It doesn’t auto-verify so requires you to enter the code which appears on your statement, but the Creation statementjust has a line stating CRV*Verification whereas it should have CRV*XXXXX where XXXXX is the code. Or am i missing something?
- mark2 says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 14:32
  
  It appears when the charge moves out of Pending, a day or so.
  - CW1986 says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 14:49
    
    thank you!
Simon says:

16 Apr16 April 14:25

I have received the cash component of my cash refunds for April flights which were cancelled by BA but as yet I haven’t yet received the Avios that I used to part pay for the flights.
The cash was refunded to my Amex card on 6th April but no sign of the Avios refunded to my BA exec club.
Has anyone else had this issue? I’m guessing i’ll have to call BA rather than apply for missing Avios online?
- Rufusrea says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 14:50
  
  I’ve had the same problem with an Avios booking through Iberia Dublin London Madrid Miami one way the taxes have been paid back but 90,000 Avios have not arrived. I e-mailed Them yesterday after looking for advice on FlyerTalk got a return e mail saying it had web received. I will wait a couple of weeks and follow it up if nothing happens.
Harry T says:

16 Apr16 April 14:35

What’s the best deal for J/F return to Cape Town people have seen for the December to February peak season? I’m willing to go Ex Europe and I’m just looking for a benchmark to know when I’ve found a great deal. I’ve not been to Cape Town before and want to go for my birthday next Jan. Willing to fly to Joburg and connect too.

Best I’ve found is around £1100-1150 with Qatar exOslo to Joburg for January. Similar price for BA from Oslo to Cape Town in August/Summer this year.
- Harry T says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 14:36
  
  Should clarify that due to my leave situation and exams I can only really travel in late Dec to Jan/Feb period, or in late August this year (August weather not as good I hear).
- Radiata says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 15:05
  
  That is a good price.
  
  The trade off is QR service, food and experience (v good) vs the roundabout journery of 16hrs or so including changeover. I HAVE found BA ex-Amsterdam AMS-LHR-JNB/CPT occasionally keen in price (around £1500-1600). Overnight long haul allows for a refreshed start and, really saves a day at each end of the holiday.
  - Dominic Barrington says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 15:52
    
    It’s also fair to say that QR is a bit of a Marmite experience. Plenty of people on here and other blogs adore QR, and rate is as being far better than BA in Club, and, some would say, BA in First. But there are others – like me – who are less impressed. I do think that for a solo traveler in particular, Q Suites are superb, but the service is sort of pre-programmed, and getting many of the cabin crew to think even slightly outside the box can be really really hard. I’ve not tried the new BA Club Suites, but they would tempt me back towards BA for such a journey in business class. And, FWIW, I don’t think there is any serious comparison between QR in business and BA in First.
    - Harry T says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 16:36
      
      Thanks, Dominic. I haven’t done First or Business long haul in either actually. I’ve heard that BA can be superb if you get a good crew.
    - BJ says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 18:53
      
      Call it what it is Dominic…a sort of benign sheep syndrome.
    - tony says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 21:19
      
      I’ve only flown 4 sectors on QR but was blown away by the proactivity of the crew. On one leg I ran into a client and his FD at the gate in DOH. Unfortunately, they were in Y and I was in J. FA came over after boarding to make sure everything was OK, could they do anything etc. I mentioned my colleagues down the back and asked if they could send them a bit of cake or something. Evidently they were quickly served champagne – albeit in paper coffee cups!
      
      Whilst some of the crew were a bit robotic and I admit it’s a small sample set, i’d be eager to fly with them again – if we ever get back to those days 😫
  - Harry T says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 16:35
    
    Thank you, I appreciate your thoughts. Have you visited in August? That’s when the decent BA fares from Amsterdam are (£1100 per person) and I’m tempted but I’ve heard the weather isn’t as good.
    - AJA says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 17:27
      
      Harry August is still winter in SA. If your aim is to go to Cape Town it will not be that warm, temperatures range between a low of 12 and a high of 20 degrees and it will be windy and more often than not wet. Johannesburg on the other hand will also be colder in the morning with a low of 4 degrees with a similar high of 20 (that feels much colder than it sounds) but it will be dry, being much further north it has wet summers and dry winters. It can also be very windy as well which with the windchill factor makes it feel a lot colder. There is an old South African saying “its a lazy wind, it doesn’t go around you, it goes straight though you” I’d suggest you go in December or January in the height of summer
      - Harry T says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 17:28
        
        Thanks, AJA, appreciated.
      - Stephan says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 19:19
        
        Throughout December is the major annual school holiday in South Africa – January will be markedly quieter and affordable for accommodation. Worth checking the schools calendar.
      - Genghis says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 20:04
        
        I luncheon at work with a guy from Cape Town. His advice is to avoid Dec and early Jan due to the crowds. Ive always been late Jan / early Feb.
      - Harry T says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 21:01
        
        Thanks guys. Shame my birthday is early in January!
- Reeferman says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 21:14
  
  Have been to CPT many times for both hols and business and def wouldn’t recommend going in Aug for a holiday. End-Jan is a great time.
  I booked with Qatar a couple of months back to go end-Jan 2021. At that time, there were some great prices (and flight times) from BRU – direct CPT and therefore without the need to transfer in JNB.
  Good luck and enjoy!
- Stephen Johnston says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 21:54
  
  Went BA F at Christmas. ECGC. Concorde Room, ok as usual, food average, staff pleasant.
  On board the A380 to JNB, no service worth the name. I was in 1A. No offer of drinks before or after take off, no diner until we pointed out we hadn’t had any, then reluctantly served a very average meal. No breakfast offered, had to go looking of it. Comair lounges and flights far superior to BA, as are the staff. Upgraded on all flights as well, not expected. Connection through DUR was time consuming but easy, saved a lot of money.
  Not my first time in BA F, definitely my last. As they have a really crap policy so far to status renewal, don’t think I will make the effort.
  If you can fly with LH in F (thanks Rob), its fab, on the ground. QR were doing ex AMS in J for £1600 with a free stopover if that appeals from AMS, less from OSL, and the overall flight times are not much different. Service is on a totally different level, A350’s, Q suites…….
David says:

16 Apr16 April 15:30

HSBC Premier – how do they confirm the income requirement / do they track on an ongoing basis?

My salary is close and a bonus received would take me even closer – is there any leeway?
- Rob says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 15:59
  
  There used to be quite a lot if you were on the right career track, eg a 25 year old on £70k would get more leeway than a 50 year old on £70k. Never hurts to ask.
  - Spaghetti Town says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 17:26
    
    please let me know rob what job pays 75k for a 25 year old! 😀
    - AJA says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 17:32
      
      A job in Financial Services in the city of London.
      - Toppcat says:
        
        17 Apr17 April 11:36
        
        You’re right, JohnnyC – I was taking a bit of licence. But mid-late 20s that is absolutely achievable, particularly in TS/corp fin with more of a bonus culture, maybe not all all practices though.
    - Toppcat says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 17:37
      
      https://www.thelawyer.com/trainee-newly-qualified-salaries-uk-law-firms/
      
      Also banking, big-4 accountants etc etc…
      - Harry T says:
        
        17 Apr17 April 07:57
        
        @BJ
        Wish I’d bought a house then! Just didn’t have the capital at two years old 😉
      - Rob says:
        
        17 Apr17 April 09:58
        
        I remember looking at a house – a full house, admittedly not huge but a proper house, 1980s built – on the canal in Wapping (about 20 minutes walk from the City for non-Londoners) in around 1997 and deciding it wasn’t worth £85,000.
        
        What people forget is that rental yields were HUGE 20 years ago. My first London flat was £140 per week (a tea warehouse conversion in Wapping) so I was paying £7k per year. The value of the flat was only £70k – I remember looking at the adjacent, far bigger, one at some point when it was marketed at £90k.
      - Johnny C says:
        
        17 Apr17 April 11:25
        
        Big 4 accountants don’t earn £75k at 25. 3-4 years to qualify, and you’ll be on less than 50. £75k is an experienced senior manager salary, which would take 5 years minimum to reach, more like 6-7.
        
        Big 4 accountants are typically paid 10-25% less than their counterparts working outside of practice, with the pay-off being that progression is typically quicker in big 4 practices.
    - Genghis says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 20:05
      
      Our first year bankers clear £80k. Perhaps not this tax year.
      - Harry T says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 21:03
        
        @Genghis
        Clearly I chose the wrong profession!
      - BJ says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 21:58
        
        Doesn’t a tube driver earn much the same?
        @Harry T, what you earn is less important than what you do with it! The £75k figure made me smile as I recalled buying my first house in 1993 for just a little over half of that, how times have changed 🙂
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        16 Apr16 April 23:03
        
        I Should’ve paid more attention at school 😂
        
        Though rather have my salary in the midlands than that salary in London.
    - BP says:
      
      16 Apr16 April 23:46
      
      I was earning that 17 years ago when I was 19 working in IT. Easily doable now in the right job, even outside London. I just offered a 24 year old, £75k in Edinburgh working in IT.
- JImbob says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 18:59
  
  Don’t think they specifically checked my income when I opened the premiere current account, but when I applied for the MasterCard, they asked for 3 months worth of payslips, then gave me a credit limit of less than half of my Amex!
  - Chrisasaurus says:
    
    16 Apr16 April 20:25
    
    I hadnt expected one, but si ce they’ve gone to the trouble of flagging up the fact they have withdrawn Their switching offer, does anyone know what it was and whether its worth hanging on for?
- Roy says:
  
  16 Apr16 April 23:40
  
  On a related note, anyone know if it’s actually possible to upgrade to Premier at the moment (from an existing HSBC current account)? It appears (slightly oddly, but not newly) that online applications are only availabe to non-HSBC customers, and that existing customers have to apply by phone or in a branch. But there’s also a note on the Premier page saying that due to coronavirus they’re not accepting account applications by phone or in branches, so….