The new HFP chat thread – Saturday 2nd May

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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/2020/05/02/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-saturday-2nd-may/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.

Nick Burch says:

2 May2 May 12:51

For anyone wondering what the Qatar premium cabin / status experience is at LHR, now that they have moved over to T2…

Very few passengers, no queue for first/business checkin, short (distance marked!) queue for economy. No lounges open in T2. As a OneWorld Emerald (BA Gold), issued a £15 voucher instead, to spend at Boots or WH Smiths (only open places!). Moderate number of seats taken in the middle, back blocked off. Have been told we’ll be able to move around after takeoff, and ought to get a 3 each then.

(No cheap ex-EU deals right now, so down the back in economy, but for a last minute ticket booked 2 days before travel, the economy price wasn’t actually quite as crazy as I’d feared/expected)
- Save East Coast Rewards says:
  
  2 May2 May 13:04
  
  Where did you go?
- KP says:
  
  3 May3 May 00:14
  
  Voucher for you only or also for +1 guest ?
  - Nick Burch says:
    
    3 May3 May 10:33
    
    We’re both BA Gold, so no issues with a voucher each!
    
    Shortly to arrive in SYD for our 14 day quarantine….
    
    On both legs, they wanted all economy passengers in the rear-most section. LHR-DOH had 2 people for most sets of 3 seats at takeoff and landing, but in the air you could move to get a 3 to yourself if you wanted. DOH-SYD has a lighter load, so you got a 3 to yourself from the start.
Paul says:

2 May2 May 12:52

Will the pandemic kills the avios deal with Barclays?

Despite the sparse details I think this is possibly the most exciting points collector development in the UK in recent years, but I can’t help but think that at best this will be delayed and probably quietly dropped
- Ali says:
  
  2 May2 May 13:21
  
  ooooh…
  what was this…?
  Is there a new proposed Barclaycard avios credit card?
  - RussellH says:
    
    2 May2 May 14:05
    
    No.
    
    It is a deal involving a bank account with very high charges and/or for people with monster salaries.
    - Grant says:
      
      2 May2 May 14:17
      
      😂 at the wild speculation.
      
      I asked about this not long ago and Rob reminded me it was due to launch in May. He hadn’t heard anything more but suspected it would be delayed.
  - Paul says:
    
    2 May2 May 14:19
    
    https://headforpoints.com/2020/02/18/avios-and-barclays-sign-partnership/
    
    Here’s the link. I suspect that a good proportion of the readership of HFP meet the qualifying salary requirements
    
    I can see why Barclays would still be interested as this income group will probably be less affected by the pandemic than others, but will IAG want people to be stockpiling more avios they can’t currently spend
    - Rob says:
      
      2 May2 May 14:47
      
      The launch has been delayed from May, I think.
  - George says:
    
    2 May2 May 18:45
    
    I wouldn’t rule anything out – the wording relating to the initial announcement RE the relationship was very vague…
Dezbez says:

2 May2 May 13:00

Hello all. Probably a some time off being able to use it but with the VA Companion voucher does anyone know when redeeming it if the points used have to be taken from the account of the person whose voucher it is? Or could I use my wife’s points to cover all of it with my voucher (my wife would obviously be my companion!)? Thanks
- jimA says:
  
  2 May2 May 13:18
  
  nothing official but there are previous reports of the telephone staff being very helpful in this situation
  - jimA says:
    
    2 May2 May 13:19
    
    but perhaps not for all points
- Mart says:
  
  2 May2 May 20:19
  
  Nothing to lose you got to phone to book anyway
  I have used it on miles from my wife’s account
Sk123 says:

2 May2 May 14:08

Applied for a supplementary from my BAPP. No supplementary points have been given yet. How long does it usually take?
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  2 May2 May 14:19
  
  3-4 days in our experience, the first we knew it was processing was the points in the account.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    2 May2 May 14:22
    
    On our regional news last night they covered on how airline ticket refunds could take up to 6 months to be processed to help the airlines!
- BJ says:
  
  2 May2 May 17:42
  
  Always instantly in my experience.
  - Harry T says:
    
    2 May2 May 22:04
    
    Instantly or after a few hours for me.
mark2 says:

2 May2 May 14:27

Has anyone else noticed that ‘Curve Fronted’ transactions do not show up against the card or in Timeline on the app for a long time or not at all?
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  2 May2 May 14:47
  
  Curve transactions been taking ages to show up for me since last week. Might be something with them going in-house dealing with processing.
- Boi says:
  
  2 May2 May 15:32
  
  What does that mean?
  Do you mean curve might add the fee at a later date? I have done transactions up to 9k and all transactions are showing in my timeline without fees. I hope no surprise is coming my way
  - Grant says:
    
    2 May2 May 15:38
    
    My understanding is that if you don’t opt in and turn Fronted on then you won’t be charged the 1.5% Fronted fee and the transactions would be declined by Curve That said, if you are doing transactions that you would otherwise expect to be charged the fee and they are going through fine, then maybe the IT is dodgy.
  - mark2 says:
    
    2 May2 May 17:15
    
    I would say that since you have agreed to pay the fee by turning on Fronted then they are entitled to charge it at a later date. But I hope that they don’t!
    - Boi says:
      
      2 May2 May 17:44
      
      I have not. My fronted is off.
Derek Scott says:

2 May2 May 15:40

Called BA today to cancel my Holidays booking as one flight was cancelled. Got through using the relevant IVR options and got through within 12 minutes and the cancellation arrangements took all of about 4 mins.

I was advised refunds should take about 10-14 days but due to backlog it’s more likely to be about 3 weeks.

Great service under challenging circumstances and this is exactly why I’ll continue to be loyal to BA. I just hope they get through the next few months without too much blood being spilled (Union battle ahead)!
- John W says:
  
  2 May2 May 16:59
  
  + 1 – I also phoned BA regarding cancelled Singapore F flight for May . Call was answered promptly and advised the same on the refund. Money was back with Amex on the Monday !
  So , I agree , BA delivered great service for my cancelled flight
  - John W says:
    
    2 May2 May 17:00
    
    Sorry , meant to say call was last Saturday !
- Bob says:
  
  2 May2 May 22:47
  
  I cancelled flights to Barbados on 21st March call waiting at least 30min and longer did you guys book with Avios. I was promised 14 days now saying 6 weeks after another call on Thursday .After making it impossible to cancel and get a refund online I’m somewhat disgusted by BA. 😤
  I also cancelled 2 other flights with Lloyds vouchers different department, money and Avios back within 3 days (rang Thursday money back Saturday) 👍
BlueLabel says:

2 May2 May 17:50

Apols if this has already been reported here, but on moving my VFC miles to Hilton by text message I’ve been told the max i can transfer is 100k. Does anyone know if I can move the rest to IHG?
- Henry says:
  
  2 May2 May 17:55
  
  I know lots have transferred more in one go before and my Wife did 150k so Fc rules must of changed.
  - Save East Coast Rewards says:
    
    2 May2 May 18:03
    
    It might be a case of the person misinformed, someone called a while back and was told by the callcentre that Hilton transfers were ending soon, but there’s no evidence of this either. My advice is to move the 100k over and then try again for the rest in a few days time. Failing that you should be able to transfer the remaining to IHG if they’ve introduced a 100k limit presumably it’s per partner not in total.
- Rob says:
  
  2 May2 May 18:13
  
  There is no cap, not sure where this idea comes from.
- toddy says:
  
  2 May2 May 18:29
  
  How quickly did they respond to you? I’ve been trying to do this via text with no luck
  - BlueLabel says:
    
    2 May2 May 18:38
    
    It’s taken 4 days. My wife’s still waiting to hear from them.
  - Mac D says:
    
    2 May2 May 20:31
    
    I started the process last Sunday, got a reply at 3am and a closed request at 3.20am Wednesday and had to start this process again. I suggest making your full request the first time incase of some 3am action again by ‘James’
- MattB says:
  
  2 May2 May 19:26
  
  I was told the same a while back so transferred the 100k and sent another message the next day for the remaining amount.
- Jason says:
  
  2 May2 May 20:31
  
  I moved 300k last month by text
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  2 May2 May 21:11
  
  VS agents are becoming more like Amex agents everyday.
  Spouting BS!
  - Baji Nahid says:
    
    2 May2 May 22:46
    
    People dont wait for the texts just call them! They are much more free over the phone lines now, I got my transfer to IHG done in 4 days.
Lloyd says:

2 May2 May 18:34

Might have already been covered previously but the CAA decision notice to revoke the AOC of Flybe contains some additional titbits:

– 11th Jan 2020 – Shareholders decide at that point not to provide further funds to Flybe. At this point Flybe approached the Government for assistance.
– 4th Mar 2020 – Cash balance £5.7m. Creditors owed £10m before 6th Jan. Decision was therefore made at that point to enter administration.
– Until 4th March 2020 the management team genuinely believed that they would be in a position to secure further funding from shareholders without government assistance.
– Appointment of administrators occurred very rapidly, EY were only deployed to Flybe 6 hours before formal administration announced.
– Administrators strategy given level of interest is to dispose the assets of the business as a going concern.
– 20 parties have entered the ‘data room’.
– One potential party had been interested in purchasing the whole airline. The party was well capitalised and attracted in investing in the UK regional aviation market. Interest was recently withdrawn due to Covid-19.
– Heathrow slots – BA’s legal team asserting its entitlement to appropriate the slots and the issue will proceed to fast track arbitration. Administrators have made an application to the EC for grandfathering rights and if successful would vest interest to Flybe.
– On 3rd April interest from party x was said to be considering an investment together “with an airline partner yet to be determined”. Also interest from a non-EU resident individual with previous airline ownership experience who made a non-binding offer for the operations of Flybe.