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The new HFP chat thread – Monday 27th 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/2020/04/27/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-monday-27th-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.  Let’s see how it goes.  Take care!

Category

General

Comments (244)

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

  • Dumbo Deb says:
    27 Apr27 April 15:44

    Should I exchange my VA FC Miles or risk loosing them?

    • philco says:
      27 Apr27 April 16:00

      You need to read the article published here on this very topic back around mid-March and go through the comments in other daily chat threads over the last few weeks to see the arguments pro and con. This topic has been pretty much beat to death over the last few weeks. It is going to be a personal decision nobody can tell you what to do.

    • Peter K says:
      27 Apr27 April 16:07

      Is this a joke, looking at your name?
      If not then the previous page of comments discusses this.

      • philco says:
        27 Apr27 April 16:37

        Not a joke I meant go to prior days’ chats. There has been much discussion of this issue. Not today but in prior days and weeks it has been beaten to death.

      • philco says:
        27 Apr27 April 16:41

        Sorry my bad you were responding to the original poster not me.

    • Chrisasaurus says:
      27 Apr27 April 17:11

      Yes.

    • Spaghetti Town says:
      27 Apr27 April 18:45

      Yes. Ring BA up and tell them you’d like to transfer your flying club miles to avios. Ask for Willie Walsh when you ring the call centre.

  • mutley says:
    27 Apr27 April 16:20

    Collective knowledge on HfP, How long do Avios take to post from Economist subscriptions?

  • Craig says:
    27 Apr27 April 16:46

    Data point for Hilton refunds:

    I finally had an email from a particular hotel and despite Hilton saying 30 days on the 19th March, the hotel said nobody would be available to process refunds until the end of May at the earliest. They then said it could take 60 days from when they reopen, so effectively the end of July! On that basis I have instigated the chargeback process on my Platinum Amex, the statement says ‘As a result of our investigation, we have credited your account. This adjustment can be found on your next statement.’ but with no resolution date as yet.

    What I can’t understand is that the hotel was closed on the date I was supposed to be there so why can’t someone process refunds from home?

    • Andrew says:
      27 Apr27 April 21:03

      When you see “Hilton” on the outside of the hotel, it’s rarely actually owned by Hilton. Most are independently owned and operated, some just one hotel.

      It could be as simple as a refund requires a swipe of a supervisor’s card. So you need one agent to process, a second to approve. Therefore to make a single refund, you have to take two members of staff out of furlough.

      Basic risk management. Too many businesses have learnt from the mistake of allowing one person to control refunds. Dodgy reception staff, dodgy cleaners, or distraction thefts where the shopkeeper or reception staff are distracted. Fire alarm pressed, someone fakes a medical episode, or simply “can you fax this”, whilst someone else grabs the card reader and processes refund transactions.

      • Crafty says:
        27 Apr27 April 21:44

        My Hilton Leeds City refund (know a few have been waiting for these) finally hit credit card yesterday.

  • Nelson says:
    27 Apr27 April 17:24

    Ba 2 for 1 voucher. I ve spent more than 10k on free ba amex and upgraded. Was accepted about 19 April. AMEX page spending bar says I have qualified to receive a voucher but when I am checking earned avios details it says: ” So far, you have £10,178.40 of qualifying spend, so spend just -£178.40 to receive your voucher. “. The balance is in credit as I have recently (before upgrade) received a few refunds.

    When will voucher show? Does it normally show under ” my account ” on ba.com?

    Should I spend anything on card now or apply for a refund? (Maybe that stops the voucher?)

    • AJA says:
      27 Apr27 April 17:38

      Nelson did you upgrade after you spent £10k or before? Ideally you should have upgraded before hitting the £10k spend as sometimes the voucher will only show as valid for 12 months. You should get an email congratulating you on getting your voucher but that may not happen with upgrading to trigger it. Either way it should show up in your BAEC account, it won’t be in your Amex account.

    • mark2 says:
      27 Apr27 April 17:52

      My wife received an email the last time that she earned a voucher, but that was in Jan 19.

    • Rob says:
      27 Apr27 April 20:09

      Yes, it will show on ba.com and if you try to book an Avios redemption for two a new box will show saying ‘Use voucher?’. You also get an email but that normally lags by a few days.

  • BJ says:
    27 Apr27 April 17:54

    This from LoyaltyLobby on AF/KLM; a sign of things to come at IAG and Lufty group?
    https://loyaltylobby.com/2020/04/27/klm-air-france-parting-their-ways/

    • AJA says:
      27 Apr27 April 18:18

      That’s an interesting article. I have always wondered what the point was of joining AF and KLM together was about especially when they retain their distinct identities and logos.Obviously from a passenger point of view it meant that they could combine routes and frequent flier schemes but other than that there didn’t seem to be much synergy or commonality. I suspect it would be possible to split but I wonder how much that would cost. It seems KLM would become the stronger independent entity.

      • BJ says:
        27 Apr27 April 19:17

        A lot of the agro tiesd up in the role of the unions in France preventing cost cutting measures at AF compared to what has happened and is probably happening at KLM. In normal times this would be good news for the consumer if these groups were to break up but I cannot help wondering if under the current circumstances the industry as a whole might better recover if the groups survive intact.

    • Spaghetti Town says:
      27 Apr27 April 18:48

      No.

      All the carriers in IAG and Lufty group, are run the same.

      Air France is a basket case run by unions while KLM is a well liked airline with a good product.

      • BJ says:
        27 Apr27 April 19:08

        It’s not so much about how the airlines are run as how the respective States view financial support being used in other States so it is likely to be a factor in the other two airline groups.

      • J says:
        27 Apr27 April 21:40

        If they’re not on strike Air France (like Alitalia actually) can be quite a pleasant experience. I’ve done a few long haul (economy) flights with both, crew are friendly and a bit old school but importantly decent food and wine. Alitalia particularly the food has always been excellent. KLM on the other hand I’ve left the meal on more than one occasion, I was even disappointed when in Business. But I suppose going back to national stereotypes Dutch food is not great.

  • DumboDeb says:
    27 Apr27 April 18:45

    No, not a joke, it’s my Disney nick name, been busy working for NHS during last week and now on days off so just thought about looking into my miles now!
    I have not read any articles previous as fairly new here to this site, but will start searching now

    • Doug M says:
      27 Apr27 April 19:08

      It’s because the question has been done to death. The answer is all about your attitude to risk. Broadly speaking if Virgin survive the best use of the miles is Virgin flights. If you don’t think they’ll survive then move as many points as you can to IHG or Hilton where they’ll have less value, but will have some value. Again broadly speaking Hilton will give you about .5p and IHG about .4p per Virgin FC mile. It’s your call, judgement, roll a die, toss a coin, they’re all as valid a method as thinking about it for days.

    • Harry T says:
      27 Apr27 April 19:22

      @DumboDeb
      You have to decide whether you think Virgin will go bust, and whether you could live with the loss of your miles. Transferring to Hilton or IHG is a loss of value if you would redeem the Virgin miles on a virgin or partner flight, but your points would be safe.

      I decided to transfer mine to Hilton because I think Virgin will go under, and several of the smart commenters on this site have also cashed out to Hilton.

    • Secret Squirrel says:
      27 Apr27 April 19:37

      Hi DumboDeb:
      Firstly, hats off to you for working in the NHS in these present times. Friendly crowd here always happy to help an NHS worker.
      The previous replies are all very relevant to your questions.
      Did you have any ideas or potential travel plans that maybe some of us could cast an eye over to see where best value is?

  • No lockdown for yours truly says:
    27 Apr27 April 19:14

    The Perfect Neighbour

    Obvs the perfect neighbour is the neighbour who’s never there, but given neighbours exist, here’s what my perfect neighbour did today.

    So he called me over – he’s 83 – and asked: did you by chance cut down one of my trees?

    Of course I said no, then he said: maybe your son cut it down?

    So I called my son over – he was very reluctant – but his autism makes him truthful – and yes he had cut the neighbour’s tree in half because it was ugly (it was an evergreen Smaragd).

    My perfect neighbour just said let’s make your son say sorry and that will be the end of it.

    So he said sorry etc then we went into restitution. 5 geraniums I had growing plus 3 peonies propagated.,

  • Harry T says:
    27 Apr27 April 19:20

    My Virgin Rewards + will be up for renewal in June. I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth spending £160 for another year, given their silly low credit limits and the risk that Virgin will go bust. On the flip side, it was difficult to get accepted for the card and my only other non Amex is the free IHG. I don’t have access to the Hilton Barclaycard or the IHG black or HSBC prem.

    Does anyone have any insight on this? I appreciate it’s a personal risk and benefit assessment/evaluation.

    • Secret Squirrel says:
      27 Apr27 April 19:44

      Harry T:
      You’ve still got another month atleast to make a decision on the card (not sure if they bill early)?
      By then we hopefully will know the outcome of the future of VS and our miles. You’ve already paid the annual fee so why not hold tight for one more month.
      I’m in the same boat but slightly different, I’m waiting on the outcome & if good will be upgrading to the Rewards + card.

      • Harry T says:
        27 Apr27 April 20:20

        I’ve heard they can bill early but I’ll complain if they do. Glad I’m not the only one in this boat!

    • Genghis says:
      27 Apr27 April 19:51

      Personally I wouldn’t renew. If you want to, get your GF one and you a supp for the brucie.

      • Secret Squirrel says:
        27 Apr27 April 19:56

        Do Virgin supplementary cards come with points bonus like Amex?

      • Secret Squirrel says:
        27 Apr27 April 20:01

        Definetly good logic there Genghis!
        I thought the same for the wife but then realised her declared income would only generate a fairly low credit limit, she’s not good on lying..
        I got upped to 11.5k credit a few weeks back so ill stick to my route.

        • Harry T says:
          27 Apr27 April 20:22

          My credit limit with Virgin after they increased it is 2.5k 😂

          • Secret Squirrel says:
            27 Apr27 April 21:19

            2.5k – 3.75k points per month. I would cancel as not worth the annual fee!

          • MJ says:
            27 Apr27 April 22:28

            I think you may as well cancel unless things drastically improve with VS.

            You can earn 0.75 more points per £ so over a year with a £2.5k limit that’s £225 worth of miles costing you £160.
            In normal times that might not be such a bad trade if you could guarantee the spend, however in these times I’d apply a fairly hefty discount on the value of the miles, probably worth more like £112.50 in my eyes as I’d cash out to Hilton.

      • Harry T says:
        27 Apr27 April 20:20

        Thanks, Genghis – gf got rejected last time by Virgin! Never gets rejected for Amex cards though. Very odd.

        • Genghis says:
          27 Apr27 April 20:22

          Did she write a letter explaining?

        • Brian W says:
          27 Apr27 April 21:00

          I’ve just failed the eligibility checker for the free IHG card, first card I’ve ever been turned down for! First application to Creation though and I’ve only had two new cards in the last 12 months, HSBC and Virgin+ cards. Credit scores never been and could hardly be any healthier than it is currently. I’d love to know their reasoning but guess that’s impossible to know.

          • Secret Squirrel says:
            27 Apr27 April 21:21

            IHG credit referencing is weird. Heard high rollers are turned down but low – med earners accepted.

          • BJ says:
            27 Apr27 April 21:21

            They have no reasoning, that’s the problem.

          • Brian W says:
            27 Apr27 April 21:29

            Win some and lose some I guess.

          • Rum says:
            27 Apr27 April 21:47

            Same here!
            I’ve written in to them and managed to get a human to reply to me. I’m going to see if they can give me any more info as their reasoning defies all logic. Had the Black card a couple of years ago and now I’m rejected for white even at pre approval stage. No changes in circumstances at all. I also have the HSBC car so I’m baffled.

          • Brian W says:
            27 Apr27 April 21:56

            Let me know what they say Rum. I’ll maybe follow it up if you get anything worthwhile back.

            I was looking to take the IHG card to replace the Virgin Reward+ card which I’m binning before 4th May when my year is up as I don’t want to risk the £160 fee just now. I’ll sit and wait to see what happens with VS first.

          • Rum says:
            27 Apr27 April 22:00

            Will do. When I spoke to them on the phone they said the withdrawal of the black card is temporary which is contrary to Rob’s article at the beginning of the month. Who knows…
            I replied to their response but I expect it will be another three weeks before I get a message back from them.

          • Lady London says:
            28 Apr28 April 03:23

            @SS,@BJ I guess it’s obvious to you that you are both too rich for Creation? Clearly they are looking for people who will pay them interest?

            Personally if I wanted another card I’d get it quick before the UK consumer credit market tightens up for what will likely be a very long period. Not with the same underlying card co, ideally at least 3 different ones (which is becoming quite hard to do in the UK) so that I am spreading my good credit record around.

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