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The new HFP chat thread – Saturday 16th 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/2020/05/16/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-saturday-16th-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

Comments (180)

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

  • Optimus Prime says:
    16 May16 May 10:29

    For Amex Business Platinum – is credit statement the only retention offer?

    • Rob says:
      16 May16 May 11:21

      Seems so but never hurts to ask ….

      Some people got them to give them some points just before the £250 was announced!

    • Jonathan says:
      16 May16 May 14:52

      I was offered on Tuesday double points for 6 months, or triple points for 3 months. I’m expecting this to be as well as my statement credit.

  • Roger says:
    16 May16 May 11:44

    Has anyone had any luck with extending Marriott Travel Package?
    Mine is expiring in August but in current situation I do not see travelling anywhere to use the Voucher

    • onlysuites says:
      16 May16 May 12:29

      They should have all been automatically extended till Jan next year. Mine was and so was everyones on the FT group.

  • Harry T says:
    16 May16 May 11:46

    BAEC call centres seem quiet at the moment – just got through to change some flights in under 20 mins. Very helpful and friendly call centre staff too. Looking forward to my first time flying at the pointy end – hopefully lounges etc are open again in December.

    • Lyn says:
      16 May16 May 20:03

      Indeed. Much easier to get through now. I called a couple of days ago to check on a refund. The very helpful person I spoke with in the Indian call centre to told me they only re-opened last week and only have 25% of their staff working, so they are working their way through a backlog of refunds.

      I had waited until a few days past the original 4 weeks I was told on April 14. He checked into it thoroughly and was able to give me the amount they had calculated (for the return part of a half-flown cash ticket) and assure me it was en route. It arrived the next day.

    • Guesswho2000 says:
      17 May17 May 10:16

      Got through straight away yesterday and within five minutes today, so things are definitely getting better. Before 10:00 each time.

  • Roger says:
    16 May16 May 11:54

    If you don’t want to take airline miles and also give curve to seagulls no longer works for std. cards,
    is using the MR points with platinum double points to redeem towards the spend (1.8%) return the only better option left to use the MR points?

    • Genghis says:
      16 May16 May 12:11

      Not sure I quite understand the Q.
      But Plat has currently the double points offer and the potential to redeem MRs for a 0.9p statement credit.
      So existing MRs only benefit from a 0.9p /MR.
      The decision to then spend £1 on a card is a different one. The Plat card would offer 2 MRs = 1.8% statement credit, v good vs alternatives.

      • Roger says:
        16 May16 May 12:30

        Thanks, Genghis,
        Sorry for badly phrased question.

        If there were more choices of airlines, I would probably transfer to airline miles.
        In current situation BA or VS miles – Have enough of it to not justify sending more towards these two.

  • Harry T says:
    16 May16 May 12:21

    On a related note, are 2E and 2F the best couple seats in First Class when flying the 777 with BA? It’s our first time in First, and we would like to sit next to each other.

    • mark2 says:
      16 May16 May 13:56

      It is a matter of opinion, but that is where we choose.

    • Anna says:
      16 May16 May 14:18

      Are they the middle ones? If so they aren’t very private from the cabin crew coming and going and the partition means you don’t feel particularly close anyway, even if you open the little window to talk. I liked 2A (couldn’t get 1A), the crew only came by when serving me as the guy in 1A was a bit of a character who had brought all his own F & B, but I was still close enough to my OH across the aisle to talk if we wanted to (we’ve been together 27 years though so appreciate some space at times 😂)

    • Optimus Prime says:
      16 May16 May 14:34

      We liked 2A-2K better than 3E-3F. You can do ‘buddy dining’ and sit on her footrest to have your meal together.

      • JAXBA says:
        16 May16 May 15:39

        2A/K on the 777… or 747?

        For the 777, we’ve done 1EF and were still able to talk to each other through the hatch. It’s not really next to each other, but it’s as close as can be in the layout.

        • Harry T says:
          16 May16 May 15:44

          My flight is the 777 (for now). I can select any seats apart from 1A and 1K on the outbound (day flight) inbound (night flight).

          • Secret Squirrel says:
            16 May16 May 19:52

            2E & 2F as not too close to galley kitchen or window seats behind each other.

          • Secret Squirrel says:
            16 May16 May 19:55

            Harry T:
            We are on BA F LHR – AUH next Feb so like you trying out the Concorde Room for this first time!

          • Lyn says:
            16 May16 May 20:18

            You might be able to choose 1A and F at T-72 or thereabouts if they become available. I think they are blocked for Gold or perhaps even higher until then, but someone who is actually Gold could confirm.

            You should enjoy First and the Concorde Room if everything is up and running then. We tried both last year for the first time and it was a rare treat since we usually fly economy albeit with lounge access etc. via status.

          • Lyn says:
            16 May16 May 20:24

            Sorry I don’t actually know if 1A and 1F are good seats on the 777. I’ve only flown in F on the 747.

        • Optimus Prime says:
          16 May16 May 15:55

          I think it was the 747 LHR-LAS. Can’t remember off top of my head.

  • Adam says:
    16 May16 May 12:50

    I’m sure this has been asked before recently but my searching skills are letting me down. Got my final Lloyds upgrade voucher about to expire at the end of the month. Is there any word on whether these have been extended?
    Very annoying that you can’t see them online and I don’t want to bother the call centre if I can avoid it.
    Thanks

    • Chris K says:
      16 May16 May 13:03

      I got mine extended by 6 months through online chat.

      • EJH says:
        16 May16 May 13:18

        Probably a dumb Q, but do we call BA to use the Lloyds voucher given the (now not so recent) changes at Avios? Thanks.

        • Anna says:
          16 May16 May 14:20

          Yes, if you can get through at the moment, also some CSA’s don’t know this.

      • Zap says:
        16 May16 May 14:21

        I need to do the same – Where do I find the BA Online Chat? I can’t see it on BritishAirways,com

        • JAXBA says:
          16 May16 May 15:43

          There’s no online chat for BA – but there is for Avios.com, if you’re able to log in there.

          • Zap says:
            16 May16 May 17:29

            Thanks – Unforunately, when I try to log-in to Avios.com, it just shunts be back to BA.com

  • BuyEMLocalBonds says:
    16 May16 May 12:59

    Just upgraded Gold to Platinum (applied Wednesday and card came today (Saturday)) data point.

    But I am not seeing the £4k spend counter for 20k points (perhaps the new 6 months rule has changed something on the IT backend side?… but I’m want to put a big spend through it now, wise or wait?

    • Genghis says:
      16 May16 May 13:08

      It’s normal for the counter to not appear.

      • Genghis says:
        16 May16 May 13:09

        If you’re acct shows as being Plat, go for it.

      • BuyEMLocalBonds says:
        16 May16 May 13:17

        Only concern is I’ve had this counter come up before late last year when I upgraded, Thanks Genghis

        • Genghis says:
          16 May16 May 13:19

          Sometimes it appears, sometimes it doesn’t, even though the offer is active.

          • Harry T says:
            16 May16 May 13:44

            When I upgraded to Platinum, I didn’t get the counter but did get the bonus. When girlfriend upgraded, she got the counter and the bonus. It varies but seems to work either way.

    • Spk says:
      16 May16 May 14:34

      I thought no sign up bonus if you had a MR card?

      • Rob says:
        16 May16 May 14:50

        You can upgrade from Gold or Green charge (not Gold credit) to Platinum for a 20k bonus via a special link – google ‘upgrade to Platinum’.

  • Robman says:
    16 May16 May 13:05

    please, some advice from the experts on here. My wife currently had a Amex Gold charge card. Her annual fees have just hit the account. I know that there is the option to change to a Gold credit card and have a free non-fee card by calling Amex. Alternatively, if I am Plat Amex card holder, is it better to cancel her charge card and then I refer her to the Gold credit card. I know she doesn’t qualify for bonus offers but I’m thinking it would be better to refer her and I get MR points. How many points would I get? Thoughts??

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