The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 7th 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/2020/05/07/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-7th-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.

Mummy55 says:

7 May7 May 08:44

Has anyone managed to get a refund from Easyjet yet? Have had several flights cancelled so far with more to come. I have filled in the short form for refunds but you don’t even get a reference no..
The first cancellation was April 1st.
- Michael C says:
  
  7 May7 May 08:49
  
  This worked for me, Mummy (!):
  
  email your request to flightrefund@easyJet.com
  
  Subject Line : Booking Reference/Departure Date/EN
  Example : ABC1D2E/16042020/EN
  - Mummy55 says:
    
    7 May7 May 09:00
    
    Thanks Michael will try that.!
  - Mummy55 says:
    
    7 May7 May 09:03
    
    Thanks Michael I will try that.!
Marcw says:

7 May7 May 08:55

BA has obtained 300 m GBP from the special UK covid-19 fund.

BA and Qatar’s Australian JV (which cover all QR Aussie destinations except Sydney) has been approved
- Kruggs says:
  
  7 May7 May 09:40
  
  it’s funny reading all the outrage about BA not using government funds and firing employees instead, when they had taken this all along and just not reported it
pauldb says:

7 May7 May 09:02

IAG Results this morning. Webcast beginning now.

Currently planning to restart July, don’t see a full recovery in demand until 2023.
Alastair says:

7 May7 May 09:06

Amex Travel Refund:
Has anyone had (recent) experience with how long it takes for a refund to appear back to the card account? – I had my Easter flights cancelled by the airline, and I’d booked them with a car through Amex travel. They were very helpful on the phone and I received confirmation through email that I would receive a full refund, but that it may take up to 12 weeks.
This was 6 weeks ago, and was just wondering if anyone had any datapoints on their experiences?
Recognize that everything is a complete CF right now, but slightly disappointed it’ll take 3 months to get the money back.
- Paul says:
  
  7 May7 May 10:13
  
  Cancelled 2 hotel bookings via Amex Travel last Thursday. Received the cancellation emails right away, credit invoices arrived the following day and refunds back on my card today.
- Toby says:
  
  7 May7 May 10:34
  
  I had a flight cancelled at the start of March. Still waiting for the refund. They say they’re waiting for the airline 🧐
  
  Upsetting too they’ve outright refused a chargeback!
- Alastair says:
  
  7 May7 May 11:53
  
  Interesting – thanks for the replies. Looks to me like they maybe pay the hotels only after the stay then but airlines when they are ticketed.
  
  Interestingly buying the car and flight together seems to have made it a ‘package holiday’ as I got an ATOL certificate from them too, which to me implies they have to refund the money in 2 weeks by law? Of course, that seems like an unrealistic expectation right now, but 12 weeks is pushing it. Fingers’ crossed.
  
  In other news, got an email from columbus saying they’re all ready to take payment automatically for another year’s travel insurance. The price seems to have gone up for me and there’s a big disclaimer saying nothing COVID-related is covered. Sounds like an expensive chocolate teapot. I’m annoyed I have to put effort in on my part to call them and cancel! I emailed but no reply. I’m not spending ages on hold so will be asking Amex to charge back if they do take it and I can’t get through! Rant over…
Optimus Prime says:

7 May7 May 09:16

Data point about cancellations: CFU-LHR on 28th June cancelled by BA on 4th May.
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  7 May7 May 11:49
  
  And just received another email cancelling LHR-CFU on 20th June (yeah, inbound got cancelled 3 days before outbound).
Jessiefan says:

7 May7 May 10:36

Had a shocking experience with AMEX Platinum – Flybe flight claimed for in Feb and no refund received and they have closed my claim. AMEX can’t answer why they’ve done that and I’ve had to reopen my claim. Totally fed up with them and will be closing my Plat asap
- Don says:
  
  7 May7 May 10:50
  
  No S75 but you should still be taken care of.
- Michael C says:
  
  7 May7 May 11:42
  
  Strange – my BAPP FlyBe claim was fine.
memesweeper says:

7 May7 May 11:03

General credit card question: A friend has been charged interest when paying off the interest bearing part of a credit card, but leaving the interest free bit in place. I’m fairly sure there’s a regulation that states lenders must apply credits in the most favourable way to borrowers, does anyone here know the source? I’ve been asked to draft a complaint.
- Lady London says:
  
  7 May7 May 11:56
  
  MSE would be the best source on this. A squizz at the terms and conds of the account might be useful in case it’s contractual practice and not governed by statute. MSE will say if it’s statute or not. Gotta feeling they have warned against spending on cards till any balance transfer is paid off, perhaps due to this kind of reason.
  - memesweeper says:
    
    7 May7 May 12:07
    
    My eyeballs hurt after more than 60 seconds on MSE… I might have to take the pain for this query though!
    
    I’ve checked the T&Cs and they are contradictory about the interest free period and the way they apply credits to balances. So definitely worthy of complaint.
- Dezbez says:
  
  7 May7 May 13:16
  
  Definitely the case now that repayments have to be applied against the buckets with the highest interest first. It’s complex though, as there are so many variables. I can’t recall the legislation; I think it’ll be either CCA or CONC.
  http://www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk/wm_documents/Good%20news%20for%20credit%20card.pdf
- Anna says:
  
  7 May7 May 13:23
  
  I got stung last year when I made purchases on my Lloyd’s card when I also had a balance transfer on it. They do clear the highest rate element first BUT you are charged interest from the day you make any purchase. I think it’s an absolute swizz and not really made clear enough but Lloyd’s didn’t agree so I had to pay them £12 for my error 😡
SL says:

7 May7 May 11:07

If I have only had the business plat cancelled recently and want to take advantage of the extended sign up bonuses can I take out the personal Gold card and the BAPP and get the bonuses?

Thanks