The new HFP chat thread – Monday 11th May

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• Antony D'Emanuele says:

  11 May11 May 11:07

  I have AMEX Platinum and BA Premium Plus Card. Am aware that I might get 20k retention bonus for my Platinum that is due for renewal next month, but what about the BA card. Any bonuses being offered? I am considering downgrading to standard BA Amex as I can not see much value in having at the moment (I can upgrade again when the industry returns to some normality)

  • Vit says:

    11 May11 May 11:44

    I have downgraded myself since March and was offered nothing to keep it but saw similar post here a couple days ago that 5k avios was offered.

  • Antony D'Emanuele says:

    11 May11 May 14:53

    Downgraded my BA AMEX card, and interestingly if/when I decide to go back to the premium card then 241 spend will transfer to the Premium card i.e. if I spend £14k on the basic card, as soon as I upgrade I will receive a 241 voucher immediately… Also called Amex Platinum and received the standard £20k immediately…

• Rob says:

  11 May11 May 11:07

  Has anyone managed to get a retention offer for the HSBC World Elite Card?

  • Mike P says:

    11 May11 May 12:13

    That’s a good question. Mine isn’t due for renewal until November. I shan’t be paying for the World Elite card again if I’m not travelling, I would downgrade to the free card instead.

  • Sam says:

    11 May11 May 15:40

    I called and they said no. Had to send in a paper application to my local branch(!) to downgrade. Will see how long it takes to process, only a few days so far

    • Polly says:

      11 May11 May 19:12

      Takes a couple of weeks. No retention offer for us either…just processed it…will go back to WE when we can travel again…

• Amit says:

  11 May11 May 11:40

  Should i pay the balance on my BA holiday (flight+hotel)?

  I paid a £2500 deposit on our summer holiday which is booked for Aug 4th.
  I booked this well before the covid 19 situation.

  The first mistake i wish i had only put down the £400 minimum and not £2500.
  on June 30th the balance of £3500 Is due and i am not sure if I should pay and then hope to get my money back should my flights get cancelled and then get all of my money back.
  If I don’t pay i think i lose my £2500 deposit. Would i still be covered by credit card if i pay the balance now?

  I paid the deposit with my now cancelled AMEX platinum.

  I have travel insurance from HSBC premier bank so in place prior to covid 19

  • Dave says:

    11 May11 May 11:50

    Pay at least part of the balance on a credit card. That way you will have Section 75 cover. You already have ATOL protection on your holiday.

  • Rhys says:

    11 May11 May 11:54

    For starters, BA is only asking for the final balance 3 weeks prior to travel, so you do not need to do anything right now, and if BA cancel your holiday you are entitled to a full refund.

    Secondly, I believe that even if you cancel now you are still entitled to a full refund mins the £400 deposit. I believe the deposit is £400 regardless of whether you paid more in advance or not.

    • Anna says:

      11 May11 May 13:46

      I’ve got a BA holiday booked to Spain at the end of July. They’ve already been in touch offering me a voucher so I’m assuming they know full well they will be cancelling the trip in the next few weeks, at which point they will have to provide a cash refund! (Flight is MAN-AGP on CityFlyer so not likely to happen IMO).

    • Amit says:

      11 May11 May 16:19

      I have just seen that in the FAQs about payment final balance is now due three weeks prior to your date of travel.
      This is good news – it hasn’t updated in the manage booking page which shows payment due on June 30th.
      I would be happy to take a voucher at this stage not sure I am comfortable going on a all inc holiday in Aug

• marcw says:

  11 May11 May 11:42

  Subject to consultation.

• memesweeper says:

  11 May11 May 11:57

  Does anyone know roughly how far out is BA cancelling flights? I’ve got one on the first of July and would like to know at what point to start frantically refreshing ‘Manage my booking’.

  • Anna says:

    11 May11 May 13:47

    It probably depends on where you are going, it may not be cancelled at all.

    • memesweeper says:

      11 May11 May 16:22

      Central America — and it’s a 95% UK tourist route. I’ve entirely given up on the idea the flight will operate.

  • AJA says:

    11 May11 May 16:38

    I’m expecting BA to start cancelling July flights in late May but realistically it will be early June.

• stu287 says:

  11 May11 May 12:04

  RE: Marriott Hard Landing… I was turned down by usual Marriott support channel for a soft landing from Titanium to Platinum instead of Gold a couple of months back. I saw on FT that some members had been more successful when using Twitter so tried that myself and now have Platinum until Feb 2022 which is a result… Just putting it out there in case others gave up after the first attempt like I did.

  • Rob says:

    11 May11 May 12:15

    I also got it on the 2nd attempt. First request via the contact form on the Marriott site failed. DM to the MarriottAssist Twitter account worked. Good job as I was on the hook for £80 of Langley breakfast costs, in the (fairly unlikely) my stay next month goes ahead.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      11 May11 May 16:33

      I moved a stay from Easter to Mid June thinking it would be ok but looks like 1st July now.

      Ah well I’ll just pay the extra points rather than try and move it again.

• 1nfrequent says:

  11 May11 May 12:32

  Anyone got experience trying to get a credit balance transferred from IHG Creation to a bank account?

  I got 2 refunds to my IHG Creation card – one for £500+ and one for £50. I was told that because the total was over £500 then the transfer to my bank account needed to be done by the back office and I needed to email an address attaching proof of the original purchases. The back office has accepted my evidence for the £500+ element.

  The £50 refund was for a deposit on a holiday. I paid the balance of that holiday using a different credit card. IHG Creation’s back office is insisting I provide them with proof that I paid the balance of the holiday and want to see my credit card statement. I’ve queried why they want this because I’ve already provided proof of receipt of the deposit and payment of the original amount. They just come back with the same cut and paste reply saying they need to see the total payment in order to “process the refund” despite my telling them they already have the refund and this is a credit balance transfer. They also tell me the credit card statement needs to show the account number and sort code, which clearly isn’t relevant as I paid on a credit card.

  I’m nervous about sending details of a different credit card to what’s basically an overseas centre and worried that I’ll do it and then get asked for more documentation. Has anyone else been through this and is it normal? Should I just phone IHG Creation and ask them to transfer the £50 separately as it’s under their £500 limit?

  Thanks in advance.

  1F

  • asish says:

    11 May11 May 13:41

    You can send to revoult or monese with the curve card

  • Dan says:

    11 May11 May 13:42

    I used resolver to make a complaint when I had an issue Creation were unwilling or incapable of resolving (pun intended). I got a phone call with £100 goodwill and problem solved a few days after the first escalation point.

  • ash says:

    11 May11 May 13:43

    you can send to revoult or monese with the curve card

  • Brasov says:

    11 May11 May 17:27

    I don’t understand why not just spend it. Or withdraw as cash through Curve.

• Harry T says:

  11 May11 May 12:36

  Anyone stayed at the W Amsterdam recently? How was your experience?

  I previously stayed there about a year ago on points and was on the Exchange side in a Wonderful room – room was small and had a shower in a strange cupboard. The spa was amazing though. Didn’t get an upgrade as a Bonvoy Gold but this was the height of summer and it was packed out. Probably got a better chance of an upgrade in January.

  Eyeing it for a redemption of 60k Bonvoy a night (cash prices predictably the usual Amsterdam stupidity of £535 for a single night, room only).
  The Amstel and Waldorf Astoria don’t have any reward availability for the night I want. Waldorf is €1000 a night for the basic room. Amstel is £460 for a basic room.

  • J says:

    11 May11 May 12:48

    Anecdotally I’ve heard W are not the best for status recognition and upgrades. I’ve always thought they look a bit overpriced with as you’ve mentioned small standard rooms and style over substance.

  • J says:

    11 May11 May 12:51

    Also, the Doubletree NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam is great and very good value for money – bit of an alternative location in Amsterdam Noord but lots of cool cafes bars and restaurants, there is a free ferry connecting it to Centraal Station.

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    11 May11 May 12:56

    Have you considered the Doubletree by Centraal? Not quite as luxurious but the suites have great views if you enjoy watching the world go by.

  • Chuck says:

    11 May11 May 16:02

    @Harry, IMHO that W is awful … I have had a couple of work stays there and found it odd. Dingy rooms, as another poster said weird shower. Now there are 2 buildings they have on opposite sides of the street so maybe the other is better. Had to eat in the restaurant 1 night, not good either…
    Another vote for Hilton Centraal from me …

  • Harry T says:

    11 May11 May 18:32

    Thanks everyone – I shall look into the DoubleTree.

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