The new HFP chat thread – Monday 15th June

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• Anna says:

  15 Jun15 June 15:21

  I’ve had my outbound leg to AGP cancelled for July 26th, but not the return leg on August 8th yet!

• Clive says:

  15 Jun15 June 15:28

  Marriott have issued some news regarding Elite qualification (giving free nights)

  • Grant says:

    15 Jun15 June 15:52

    Go on, Clive, throw us a bone.

    • Lee says:

      15 Jun15 June 16:08

      Given the disruption in travel plans for so many this year, we’re giving elites a head start toward achieving your next status level by depositing 50% of the Elite Night Credits (ENCs) into your account based on your 2019 earned Elite status tier. The credits will hit your account in late July.

    • Clive says:

      15 Jun15 June 16:23

      Don’t want to spoil it for Rob as sure he will report it shortly

      • Lee says:

        15 Jun15 June 17:03

        Everyone should’ve received email from Marriott already.

    • marcw says:

      15 Jun15 June 16:32

      https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-bonvoy-updates/?utm_source=BoardingArea&utm_medium=BoardingArea

• graham s says:

  15 Jun15 June 17:44

  are there any amazon discount vouchers offered at the moment using amex that anyone is aware of similar to the previous £25 off £40 spend

  • Rob says:

    15 Jun15 June 18:10

    No. Only offer would be using a BAPP to buy Amazon gift cards in Tesco, given the current 3.5 Avios per £1 rate on Tesco purchases on a BAPP.

• Aston100 says:

  15 Jun15 June 18:42

  Thinking of finally visiting Madrid or Barcelona next year.
  I would have a maximum of 5 nights.
  Which which you suggest, given our preference is for history and sight seeing. Night life is unimportant.
  Also, is 5 days over doing it?

  Accommodation: I can see the Kimpton in Barcelona is available at 27500 points per night, and the Indigo Gran Via in Madrid at 22500 a night. Not sure if this is normal or the new dynamic IHG pricing (Intercontinental in Madrid is 40k so I presume this is dynamic then).
  Anyone have any positive experience of either of those?

  Thanks in advance.

  • Peter North says:

    15 Jun15 June 19:21

    I went to Barcelona a few years ago, I imbibed a couple of bottles of Rioja on the first night in the company of two rather attractive young ladies I met in the hotel bar, and woke up several hours later minus my wallet.

    I have been to Madrid as well, as part of an organised tour which took in Toledo, with my ex wife. Unfortunately my mother in law, also tacked along, which was unfortunate, as we had a triple room and she was over 20 stone and snored all night long.

  • Darren says:

    15 Jun15 June 19:22

    Barcelona is great for Gaudis architecture and a real mix of areas – Gothic, Barceloneta for the beach, but I like Eixample south of diagonal (main road) as it’s residential as well having good hotels. Footie? Good stadium tour at Barca.
    5 days may be long but a trip up to Sitges is possible by rail.

    • Peter North says:

      15 Jun15 June 20:50

      It’s also easy to get to Lloret de Mar from Barcelona, especially if you fancy a good old fry up and a couple of Guinness for breakfast. I didn’t have time to visit the architectural gems, as I was too busy at the British consulate, getting a new passport having passed out the evening before.

  • Rob says:

    15 Jun15 June 19:59

    Kimpton is brand new, literally weeks old, so little feedback.

  • Optimus Prime says:

    15 Jun15 June 20:01

    5 days in Madrid is more than enough. You could take the chance to make a day trip to Toledo, Segovia or Aranjuez.

    Don’t go in August because it’s boiling hot.

    • Lady London says:

      15 Jun15 June 22:03

      Even Seville is not out of the question if you just want a quick look – go on the Ave train.

      If you organise yourself I think 3 days is well enough for a first bite at Madrid ans that’s if you’re into museums IIRC Thyssen-Bornemisza and Prado(be selective what you look at), think others have mentioned 1 other. Near the museums couple of exceptional hotels (forgot names). Less time in Madrid if you arw not a museum hound it’s elegant but for looking at if you’re not into nightlife.

      Toledo for El Grecos. But other than being photogenic on the approach personally it got ruined the day tbey allowed McDonalds onto the main square.

      Personally if i had 5 nights I’d spend 3 ok n Seville, at least, then do museums in MAD on the way home or miss MAD out completely in favour of Granada (plan timing/ticket for Alhambra) or my favourite, Cordoba for the Mezquita.

      • Aston100 says:

        16 Jun16 June 00:48

        Thank you.
        We’ve done Andalusia Inc Granada already.
        Will look at doing both Madrid and Barcelona, potentially three nights in each if I can get agreement to go for more than the five nights I had originally envisaged.

  • BJ says:

    15 Jun15 June 21:21

    2 night Madrid, 1 night Valencia, 2 nights Barcelona. Travel by train between them. Excellent 5 night trip to get a flavour of the major attractions in all three cities. Take early flight out and late flight home.

    • Lady London says:

      15 Jun15 June 22:16

      Are the trains still always late in Spain? I remenber 12 hours scheduled overnight from Barcelona to Madrid turning into 16. And 13 in the other direction.

      One lesd bright idea of mine was to do Granada or Madrid (forgotten which) to Lisbon by train overnight. A loooong journey which would probably have been better in First Class than where I was.

      I think all of these I would fly now. The one train I do miss is the Targa hotel traon which ran overnight from Paris to either Madrid or Barcelona (separate trains). Even in Second Class the Targa was a luxurious treat.

    • Aston100 says:

      16 Jun16 June 00:44

      Interesting. I hadn’t really considered doing both in one visit as wasn’t sure of the internal transport links.
      I might be able to stretch it to 3 nights in both Madrid and Barcelona. Perhaps look at an overnight sleeper train if such exists.

      Thanks

      • Michael C says:

        16 Jun16 June 06:26

        BCN-MAD by train is now less than 3 hours and vrey frequent (normally).

        Just fyi Atocha station has direct metros to just about everywhere, and the cabs there charge airport-style supplements.

  • Ikaz says:

    16 Jun16 June 06:28

    Don’t stay at indigo grand via. Good location but they have depressing windowless rooms and put us in one without warning when we booked there

• J says:

  15 Jun15 June 19:40

  Does anyone know if the BA mask requirement has an exemption for infants and young children?

  • Steve says:

    15 Jun15 June 22:00

    Don’t see why it would, a sneezing child just as likely to she’s as a sneezing adult

    • Lady London says:

      15 Jun15 June 22:06

      Unfortunately there is an exemption but I can’t remember if ir’s at age 3 or 6. It will be on the website.

• John says:

  15 Jun15 June 20:01

  Bit of a disagreement between unions as to how to respond to IAG’s approach. Nobody at Aer Lingus is on the sort of legacy contract that worldwide BA fleet workers have, so this is an across the board cut.

  https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0615/1147482-aer-lingus-siptu-workers/

• Taylor says:

  15 Jun15 June 21:32

  Anybody had any experience trying to contact Lufthansa recently? UK number just goes dead but still connected

  • Aston100 says:

    16 Jun16 June 00:42

    I chatted to them twice on Sunday on the UK 03xx number listed on their website. Got through in under 30 seconds on both instances.

    • Rob says:

      16 Jun16 June 10:25

      I rang Miles & More last week, got through immediately. This was the standard ‘no status’ line.

• Chris Heyes says:

  15 Jun15 June 22:32

  Looks like a Crucial Fortnight for Virgin
  Mark Kleinman, City editor 2 hrs ago
  Two investment firms which have been examining offers to help finance a rescue of Virgin Atlantic Airways are in talks to join forces ahead of a crucial fortnight for the carrier founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984.

  • yorkieflyer says:

    16 Jun16 June 00:41

    Greybull…..yikes

    • Baji Nahid says:

      16 Jun16 June 01:57

      Lord Save Virgin

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