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The new HFP chat thread – Tuesday 16th June

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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/2020/06/16/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-tuesday-16th-june/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 (271)

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

  • JC says:
    16 Jun16 June 09:47

    The offer to buy IHG points with a 100% Bonus has been extended until 20 June.

    • Anna says:
      16 Jun16 June 09:50

      I bought some yesterday but not had an email and the transaction is not showing on my IHG account or Amex pending page, though I have an confirmation number from IHG. I’m hoping they show up soon because I’m having so much fun booking low cost award stays!

      • Anna says:
        16 Jun16 June 09:51

        Though the Kimpton GCM is steadfastly showing 70k points per night plus $75 pn resort fee plus 10% tax – clearly confident about tourists returning!

        • Optimus Prime says:
          16 Jun16 June 09:54

          Do you have to pay resort fees even when booking with points? You don’t at Intercontinental Times Square, I thought this applied to all IHG hotels.

          • Rob says:
            16 Jun16 June 10:09

            IHG make you pay ‘resort fees’. Only Royal Ambassadors are exempt.

          • Andrew says:
            16 Jun16 June 10:27

            I stayed at the Crowne Plaza HY36 Times Square area last summer and resort fees were in operation, but staying with points I didn’t have to pay, I even checked with them by email when I booked and they confirmed I wouldn’t have to pay. So I think it can vary from property to property rather than it being an IHG policy.

      • ChrisC says:
        16 Jun16 June 10:05

        I bought yesterday evening. Points credited immediately and email received (have you checked your spam) I just had to refresh my account and it was updated.

        • Anna says:
          16 Jun16 June 12:49

          Thanks – I’ve found the email in my junk folder but the points still aren’t showing!

  • Fran says:
    16 Jun16 June 09:57

    Car hire query. I’m looking at going to Italy this summer for 8 weeks – usually I would drive there but have decided this year to fly. I’m looking at long term car hire and cheapest I can find is with Hertz at £1800. Does anyone know of any good deals on long term car hire in Europe? And views on Hertz given Chapter 11 situation? Obviously with this spend its a good opportunity to earn points so any other tips appreciated…

    • marcw says:
      16 Jun16 June 10:24

      Usually you don´t earn ponits/miles on long term car hires. I think only Hertz US entered Ch11.

      FireFly could be a cheap option… they are kinda specialised in long term rentals. but they are not available everywhere.

    • Travel Strong says:
      16 Jun16 June 12:31

      Perhaps an obvious point, but be sure to explore your discount code options if using Hertz… IHG… BA… VISA… Virgin Flying Club… Amex Platinum… the last one is almost always the best but the others can give good discounts too, and are eligible for basically everyone.

      For ensuring you are never left out of pocket, Pay At Location rather than Paying In Advance.

    • Lady London says:
      16 Jun16 June 13:20

      Up to 28 days is usually max reasonably priced rental unless the company is pushing longterm. sometimes 14.

      is it practical for you to return or change cars periodically?

      which parts of Italy are we talking about?

      • Charlieface says:
        16 Jun16 June 14:44

        28 day max for cheap rentals. Use the Amex Platinum CDP code if you have it, otherwise KLM or Accor or Visa or Mastercard CDPs are good. Get an account for upgrades and quick service (also free tablet). Book via Hertz Australia or Brazil for cheapest prices, make sure to change the country site AFTER logging in.
        My experience from a certain branch of Hertz in the UK is they would close a rental and reopen the next without you being there, if you ask nicely…

  • Jody says:
    16 Jun16 June 10:15

    Some info about Barclaycard disputes which may or may not be useful!

    I filled out the online dispute form on 1st April regarding a package holiday. Had to print it off, sign and post. Have had a nightmare which I’ve posted about on here a few times regarding lack of info and no sign of anything happening with Barclaycard.

    Phoned yesterday (was 2 hours on hold before I actually got to speak to anyone). Usual story, chargebacks are normally processed by an overseas team who are’t working due to COVID-19. They’ve had to train people up to deal with disputes. They have 41,000 outstanding disputes to process.

    Apparently my forms that I posted on the 1st April weren’t received until the 14th April (I suspect this is more likely to be not opened and dealt with until 14th April). When I phoned yesterday, I was told disputes are being dealt with in date order, and they are to 11th April. Hopefully mine will be dealt with in the next week.

    Not ideal by any means, and I still don’t understand why Barclaycard are dealing wiith things so slowly compared to other cards. Still no reply at all to the complaint I sent by secure message over 2 weeks ago.

    Anyway, just thought it might be useful for anyone else who has put in a dispute with Barclaycard and struggled to get any info.

    • The Lord says:
      16 Jun16 June 10:23

      Thanks for this, I was going to call today about a claim I submitted May 7 but won’t bother now. Seems I have a long wait ahead if they are still only on mid April

    • Pierre says:
      16 Jun16 June 12:27

      +1 thanks for the update! I posted off said form on 26-Mar. Received a text confirming receipt from Barclays only on 22-Apr! And it’s been radio silence since…

      • Jody says:
        16 Jun16 June 14:36

        Yep, they’ve stopped replying to any messages I send, which is why I braved the call yesterday. Stuck it on speakerphone on my mobile so I could get on with other things. 2 hours waiting to get through is ridiculous.

        I will definitely not use their card to book any holidays again or make a big purchase. For places that don’t take Amex (and unfortunately my rubbish travel agent didn’t) I will use my Halifax card, as I’ve had much better service from them regarding disputes.

        • babyg says:
          16 Jun16 June 23:56

          i had the same issue with barcays with section 75, changed to chargeback and it was reversed within days…

  • Tony says:
    16 Jun16 June 10:16

    Historically, what is the range you could buy Bonvoy points for with offers that come up?

    • Martha says:
      16 Jun16 June 11:33

      At the current rate of a 3200 Bonvoy points for 25$(including 60% bonus), that works out about 6p per point. Is it better to transfer for MR account balance and buy them?

      • TGLoyalty says:
        16 Jun16 June 18:55

        0.06p per point probably as good as it gets from Marriott.

        • Rob says:
          16 Jun16 June 19:04

          But no real difference between buying points at 0.6p and paying off with Plat vs 1.5 points per MR point as a direct transfer.

      • Ken says:
        16 Jun16 June 19:42

        Personally I’d be keeping my MR points on the basis that there is a fair chance that there will be a bonus (30% – 50% say) for transferring them to Marriott sometime in the next 9 months.

  • Mr(s) Entitled says:
    16 Jun16 June 10:22

    BA are telling me that if they cancel a flight more than 14 days in advance they are only offering a reroute on a One World carrier. Is there no obligation to go outside the network to get me to my destination?

    • Genghis says:
      16 Jun16 June 10:25

      No requirement for it to be OW.

    • Rhys says:
      16 Jun16 June 10:28

      No such guidance in EU261. You are allowed to be rerouted at the closest possible time to the original booking, so if the next oneworld flight is 12 hours later but there’s a Star Alliance flight sooner, you can reasonably expect to go on that one.

      Equally, if there are multiple flights from different alliances at the same time there isn’t a reason why you can insist on a particular alliance.

    • Andrew says:
      16 Jun16 June 10:29

      Do you mean less than 14 days in advance?

      • Genghis says:
        16 Jun16 June 10:30

        Even more than 14 days in advance there is a requirement for rerouting.

    • Mr(s) Entitled says:
      16 Jun16 June 10:54

      That’s what I thought but the agent on the phone was not for shifting. Poor training or a deliberate policy? Time to call again.

    • Lady London says:
      16 Jun16 June 12:06

      That may be what BA would prefer but as Rob says you dont have the right to insist on your replacement flight being on any particular alliance or particular airline’s flight. Neither does British Airways have that right.

      Although anecdotally BA will do their d*mndest to enforce their preferred totem pole of rerouting you into (1) another BA flight (2) another flight operated by somebody else where they have a codeshare agreement (3) another OneWorld flight (4) any other airline they’ve got an agreement with, which can include Star Alliance or Virgin depending on the route (5) any other airline.

      Option 5 is much more costly for them to reroute you. Even though, as it will usually be some kind of interline price, still a small fraction of the retail cost.

      This is particularly relevant to anyone booked to fly out of LBA (Leeds Bradford) where BA has cancelled all their own flights. BA’s idea is that you would schlep your elderly mother, 3 chikdren, luggage and a stuffed donkey toy to Leeds station, go on a crowded train with tge usual level of filth and lack of luggage storage, haul all of the above off the train in London, cross in London to the London Underground for the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow clanking for over 1 hour or, just possibly, take the Underground to Paddington station for the Heathrow Express which takes 15-20min to LHR. Oh, and do that all again on the way back.

      For LBA as you are entitled to a rerouting by air BA can offer MAN or NCL. They’d still rather you did this than provide you a ticket on KLM or another airline routing that still has flights from LBA that can get you to your destination even changing at an airport in another country (eg Amsterdam, Paris). But to be rerouted i.e. BA to provide you a replacement ticket on another airline is your right. Find that routing yourself (cos most of the time BA wont lift a finger for anything other than what suits them regardless of EC261/2004 provisions here) and insist on it.

      • Lady London says:
        16 Jun16 June 12:25

        if you have to you could do a moneyclaim dot gov dot uk if BA refused to ticket your replacement flight from your starting airport on someone else’s flight. Anecdotally BA folds if moneyclaim is filed, whereas they may have been obdurate (=bullying, IMV) till then. (make sure they pay you the small fee for the claim back as well).

        You could also try a chargeback on your card if they cancelled the flight. Or, Section 75 on your credit card should let you claim the cost of a replacement ticket on another airline, even if cost more or different.

        Beware in these cases, it may be better for you not to take a refund and insist on your rights to have a replacement ticket provided because of the difficulty or expense of replacing the journey yourself.

        And lastly if less than 14 days notice of any cancellation is given by the airline to you then you are also entitled to duty of care under EC261 which gives you any extra meals at reasonable cost for the location, hotel, transport to hotel and internet access “comms” paid or provided by the airline for any extra waiting time for new flight at both ends. Taking a refund means you don’t get that. Which is why an airline will hope you will take a refund if they refuse to provide you an alternative flight to which you are entitled.

        Under 14 days in non-COVID times you could also claim the compensation part if EC261 but this does not currently apply due to COVID being genuine exceptional curcumstances. Try not to take a refund till you’re sure you dont want any of these rights if your flight is on a European/UK airline departing from anywhere or on any airline departing from Europe/UK

        • Lady London says:
          16 Jun16 June 13:27

          apologies – correction to above you *do* get Duty of Care under ec261 even for flights cancelled more than 14 days ahead, the same as you get rerouting.

          the part of eu261 that you dont get if your flight is cancelled more than 14 days ahead is compensation. (which airlines dont have to pay you currently now anyway due to covid being a genuine ongoing exceptional circumstance)

          Let us know how you get on

          • Mr(s) Entitled says:
            16 Jun16 June 19:46

            Thanks LL.

            I’m not sure it is worth the fight for a booking that I suspect we ultimately won’t take. Whereas my original was flexible (RFS to Turkey) I suspect any rebooking will not be, and even if it were, and I then cancelled trying to reclaim the avios would be a nightmare.

            I’m tempted to accept their refusal to consider another carrier, take the refund, and then raise a compliant.

          • Mr(s) Entitled says:
            16 Jun16 June 19:47

            *complaint

  • Harry T says:
    16 Jun16 June 10:44

    If redeeming 70k Bonvoy points a night in Venice, would folks recommend the Gritti Palace, the St Regis or the Danieli?

    • Rob says:
      16 Jun16 June 10:48

      St Regis only opened a few day before lockdown so no-one really knows what it is like. Gritti and Danieli are both amazing buildings but nothing stops you popping in for lunch / coffee. Without Marriott status the Gritti may give you a super tiny room overlooking the six-foot wide alley running down to the front entrance, which is what I got the one time I stayed. That said …. it’s umpteen-hundred years old and the whole experience may work for you.

      If I was offered a free trip to any of them I’d take St Regis but only out of curiosity value (and because I don’t feel too strongly about staying at – as opposed to visiting – the other two).

      • Harry T says:
        16 Jun16 June 11:31

        Thanks, Rob. I am Bonvoy Gold, working towards Platinum. Reckon Gold counts for much at these hotels?

      • Y says:
        16 Jun16 June 12:48

        Tried st regis this year – 10/10. Would choose it over the other two any day but im not a fan of staying in very historic decor rooms

      • TGLoyalty says:
        16 Jun16 June 18:56

        Thought St Regis opened towards the end of last summer.

        • h2d says:
          16 Jun16 June 23:46

          My vote is wholeheartedly for the Gritti – epitome of old world glamour and certainly a more memorable experience than the St Regis. Rooms even if small are extremely well appointed and of a very high standard, and breakfast outside on the terrace overlooking the Grand Canal is, in my opinion, one of the most enjoyable and memorable breakfasts spots across the whole Marriott portfolio.

  • old bob says:
    16 Jun16 June 10:49

    I put a claim in with Barclays for a stay I Had in the Intercontinental Kirkwall, I was disputing some of the charges incurred, that was in March pre lockdown, and I still haven’t heard anything.

    • Ali M says:
      16 Jun16 June 11:07

      I would call them again if its been 8 weeks.
      Admittedly the painful wait can be up to 2 hrs 🙁 I think they have a send secure message feature on desktop site?

    • Andrew M says:
      16 Jun16 June 16:46

      There’s an Intercontinental in Kirkwall?

  • Ede says:
    16 Jun16 June 11:06

    Hello, BA cancelled the first leg of my flight but it is only possible to cancel the whole booking on their webpage. Do you know if:
    1. I can fly the 2nd leg if the first is cancelled and I do nothing (.e. change the first leg)?
    2. can the (the silver one is extremely unreachable) customer service cancel the first leg only?
    Thanks!

    • AJA says:
      16 Jun16 June 14:10

      What was your original route? I’m guessing it was LBA-LHR that was cancelled?
      1) You cannot just fly the second leg. If you do nothing your entire booking will be cancelled on the day of the flight so turning up at LHR for the second leg will be a waste of time.
      2) Phone up and get BA using EC261 to re-route your first leg on another flight or from another airport. You should be able to request to fly from MAN or NCL or even take a train or taxi at BA’s expense

      • Lady London says:
        16 Jun16 June 14:19

        or get the whole thing rerouted from your originally booked starting airport on a completely different airline – as is your right to have BA do. see my post above

      • Ede says:
        16 Jun16 June 14:51

        Thank you for the clarification and suggestions.
        It is a short vacation LHR-NQY – was happy to see BA flights after FlyBe went down. But trains take forever, so would like to keep the return leg – and booking now only the return would cost 3 times more. Plus rerouting would probably take even more time (and be quite silly).
        Will keep trying to call them. Thanks for your help.

        • AJA says:
          16 Jun16 June 15:06

          Ah I think I misunderstood you.I thought it was a ticket such as LBA-LHR-MAD and the LBA-LHR sector had been cancelled. Have you bought a return ticket between LHR and NQY and either the outbound or the return leg was cancelled?. Your options are to move the entire booking or just moving the cancelled leg onto the nearest available flight for the sector that has been cancelled. Your problem will be there is only one flight per day in either direction on Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun and Mon and you say its a short holiday. You are definitely going to have to phone up unless MMB offers you the ability to reschedule yourself online

          • Ede says:
            16 Jun16 June 15:39

            Yes, ended up calling them and they will reissue the return leg only – so at least the problem is solved. Rerouting to train was a brilliant idea, although it didn’t work out this time. Thanks, I am glad it is sorted!

        • AJA says:
          16 Jun16 June 15:50

          Excellent! Am glad Ihelped you. Enjoy Newquay!

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