The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 30th 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/2020/04/30/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-30th-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

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

CBA says:

30 Apr30 April 10:12

Does Revolut still attract cash advance fees when topping up with a Mastercard?

Thanks
- Anna says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 11:24
  
  With IHG it seems to be just interest at the moment, which means paying it off immediately.
Mac D says:

30 Apr30 April 10:16

I booked using Virgin Kaligo vouchers hotels which are non refundable for July, wonder if they will let me change or give the vouchers back?
@mkcol says:

30 Apr30 April 10:24

Anyone tempted by SeatSpy’s founding member offers?

https://seatspy.com/pricing
- Peter K says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 10:56
  
  Considering it’s a broken tool giving erroneous results, and with Stephen the other day not giving me much extra confidence sadly, I think I’ll personally give it a skip. I don’t do many return flights a year though, once or twice only usually.
  - Anna says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 11:31
    
    It was showing no availability at all this morning!
- EJH says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 12:23
  
  Too buggy right now to warrant a subscription IMO
fivebobbill says:

30 Apr30 April 10:50

Data Point – Curve, apologies if this has already been mentioned.
Took the leap last week and signed up for Curve Metal, the card arrived in the post today.
What I wasn’t aware of, and I suspect a few others, is that the card limits all reset when you register the new card in the app! I only noticed by chance, I’d still a few £’000 left to top up this years ISA, but had topped out my £20k per month Curve allowance, so had a few more days to wait until my credit was released. However, on checking my allowance straight after registering the new card, ALL my spend had been wiped out, and limits had been reset.
100k annual, 20k monthly, and 4.5k daily all now available again..
Might be of interest and a deciding factor to those readers who are approaching their credit limit 👍
- fivebobbill says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 10:52
  
  … especially in a bull run!
  - Ben says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 16:57
    
    What happens if you lose your card and then get a new one?
    - fivebobbill says:
      
      30 Apr30 April 17:08
      
      Haven’t a clue…!
      - Lumma says:
        
        30 Apr30 April 18:52
        
        Curve will charge you £50!
    - Liam says:
      
      30 Apr30 April 19:12
      
      In my experience (replacing a free card after I had to cancel it because of fraud) my limits were reset. I’ve no reason to doubt this happens with the paid-for cards too, although several people have reported Curve tried to sting them with a £50 charge for replacing the metal card.
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 11:35
  
  Fivebob:
  Was you on the free Blue Curve card when you upgraded to Metal?
  - fivebobbill says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 13:11
    
    Was on the original bog standard one, Feb 2018, “coloured” black (could never work out what it was actually officially called)!
    - fivebobbill says:
      
      30 Apr30 April 13:13
      
      * free
    - Grant says:
      
      30 Apr30 April 14:00
      
      Now referred to as Legacy Black I believe. The fact that you can’t go back to Legacy Black after upgrading to Metal is putting me off.
      - fivebobbill says:
        
        30 Apr30 April 15:13
        
        Oh that’s why I changed the card and kept the wife… as opposed to… 🤪
- Don says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 13:44
  
  So best to keep the old one active, and then activate it when the older limits are maxed out.
dr says:

30 Apr30 April 11:00

The USA BA call centre is no longer open at 1am BST.
Anna says:

30 Apr30 April 11:15

Data point. Couldn’t face trying to get through to BA on the normal number. I had booked outbound award flights to NYC in F for next Easter (for reasons discussed in the NYC thread today!), and at T-355 the other day booked our returns in J (no F cabin on that route) from GCM. I’ve just called You First and got though straight away and they were happy to refund the 75k Avios from the companion voucher on the J leg. They have been the truly redeeming element in BA in all of this and I am going to try and have an F leg in all my long haul bookings from now on!
- Lady London says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 11:42
  
  I think you are right @Anna. This wil be especially true for when recovery commences. All sorts of other help will disappear when needed but BA is likely to keep a service element for First passengers and privileges for corporates.
  
  Other passengers will be left subject to the full winds of competition by BA. Which in the new environment may be fair enough.
  .
H7_Inthis says:

30 Apr30 April 11:17

How to get a refund for a hotel booking?

I have a non-refundable booking for a hotel in Norway next week (1st of May), which I prepaid through Booking.com. The hotel is still open for business.

I’ve reached out through Booking to the hotel and the best they can do is offer me a voucher for future use, but won’t refund me. Booking.com says it won’t cover the refund because it still doesn’t constitute “Forced Circumstances”. I literally cannot get to Norway as flights have been cancelled, nor would I want to.

Are they playing hardball or am I legitimately not entitled to a refund? If I physically cannot get there, and I need to self quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, and the FCO website states ” the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel.”, is that not enough to force their hand?

Any input appreciated.

H
- H7_Inthis says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 11:17
  
  Doh! Next week, 7th of May!
  - H7_Inthis says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 11:23
    
    Am on a roll here, have found a couple of data points in official norwegian government websites. Basically if you’re not resident in Norway you cannot enter, unless for transit. Does the below aid my case for a refund from Booking or basically trying through travel insurance?
    
    https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/foreign-affairs/reiseinformasjon/travel_coronavirus/id2691821/
    On 16 March the border was closed to foreign nationals who do not have a residence permit in Norway. They will be turned away pursuant to Norwegian law relating to control of communicable diseases. Exemptions will be granted for persons with a valid residence permit. Extensive information about exemption from the border rejection rules is available at the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
    
    https://www.udi.no/en/about-the-corona-situation/eueaa-national-or-family-member/#link-18010
    No, you may not travel to Norway at this time, unless you belong to one of the exceptions described below.
    - Lady London says:
      
      30 Apr30 April 12:15
      
      Have you contacted the hotel direct?
      
      The airline is not responsible for your nationality, residence or other access status. They are normally obliged to check your documentation of whatever is needed at check-in but it’s your responsibility not theirs to ensure you personally meet any requirements that apply to you.
      
      If their aircraft was not permitted to run a flight to that country then the flight would be cancelled which would put you in the position you would like to be in. But if it flies then any resolution is up to Goodwill of the airline, if any.
      - Sean says:
        
        30 Apr30 April 15:26
        
        Indeed – but this is a hotel booking so what the airlines need to do is of no concern
      - Lady London says:
        
        30 Apr30 April 16:28
        
        Sorry, meant same issue for hotels, as airlines.
  - Sean says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 11:42
    
    If the hotel is open, then you have a hotel room booked. That you can’t get there is your issue not theirs, same as if you missed a flight/were ill etc.. They are offering a voucher which is good of them. Travel insurance is your best bet – but again you have been offered a voucher.
- Dr Lee says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 15:16
  
  Hi H7_Inthis,
  
  Despite what others are saying, and as long as you booked the hotel room before the lockdown measures were announced, it seems you are fully entitled to a refund. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies
  
  I don’t think the argument that it is not the hotel’s fault really holds water, the circumstances are such the contract cannot be legally fulfilled due to restrictions beyond your control and imposed by both Governments so it must be cancelled and you refunded. Get tougher with Hotels.com and if they refuse do a chargeback.
  - Dr Lee says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 15:18
    
    Sorry, Booking.com, and yes, these are forced circumstances.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 18:57
    
    Did you miss this bit?
    
    “ I have a non-refundable booking for a hotel in Norway next week (1st of May), which I prepaid through Booking.com. The hotel is still open for business.”
    
    What relevance does a UK website have to consumer law in Norway?
    
    The OP is at the goodwill of the hotel because they are open for business.
    - Dr Lee says:
      
      30 Apr30 April 23:29
      
      It has every relevance. The booking is through a UK website, and presumably paid for using a UK credit card, so you’re protected under UK consumer law.
Harry T says:

30 Apr30 April 11:23

Has anyone manage to talk Virgin Money into a proper credit card limit on the Rewards + card? Mine started at £1500 and I managed to increase it online to a barely superior £2500. I reliably receive five figure credit limits with American Express. Just wondering if it’s worth ringing their dire customer service during coronageddon.
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 11:29
  
  Yep, i had called them and they almost doubled my credit limit over the phone.
- stevenhp1987 says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 13:40
  
  This post made me check if I can raise mine… They let me raise it from £7,000 to a whopping £7,500…
- MJ says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 13:45
  
  Just after they announced you could only get virgin miles on your spend up to your credit limit I asked to increase mine.
  
  I started out at £3100 which is relatively okay for me and similar to my other cards as I’m actually still a student. However when I asked to increase they were willing to give me £6200.
  
  Will be asking for another increase as soon as I’m allowed though
- MattyH says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 14:16
  
  You can do it online on the website, not the app
- Connor Muir says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 15:33
  
  Been trying to get an increase from £4k for a while. Gave them a phone and got a straight no, though the agent was quite blunt and told me that it’s most likely down to the fact that I’m 19 with £50k’s worth of credit available and a limited-ish income they won’t lend any more to me.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 16:12
    
    I had £6400 originally, they upped it to £11,200 so very happy!
- Mark says:
  
  30 Apr30 April 16:46
  
  I was given £17500
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    30 Apr30 April 17:13
    
    Nice!