The new HFP chat thread – Sunday 5th July

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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/2020/07/05/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-sunday-5th-july/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.

Jay says:

5 Jul5 July 15:09

Have tried multiple times to transfer Iberia avios to BA by login into both BA and IB website without any luck.

Tried opening up AIr Lingus which did not allow me to open my account. No longer have access on avios.com

What are my options? Any particular browser / trick to make transfer between the two account (IB->BA)
- Rob says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 16:54
  
  Open a Vueling Club account, log in at avios.com with those details, job done.
Louise K says:

5 Jul5 July 16:14

I recall back in 2008/2009 BA did a 50% off Avios redemptions.

Do you think they may do this again?
- marcw says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 16:20
  
  For the winter off season, definitely. Not for the summer.
  - Louise K says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 16:28
    
    Was it a winter offer only in 2008/2009?
- BS says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 19:24
  
  I remember this for my summer trip in 2009. I had saved up Avios from a Tesco wheeze for a ticket to Australia in Economy (I know…) and ended up going out business and back first class! Great experience – first time in premium cabins!
Secret Squirrel says:

5 Jul5 July 16:43

Any ideas on how to use AVIOS to get to PPT (Tahiti)?
Can get to LAX / SFO / SIN but it’s onwards to PPT from any of those locations I’m stumped using AVIOS points?
- meta says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 17:05
  
  AAdvantage miles on Air Tahiti Nui. Very easy to get economy and PE seats, but business is a bit harder. Better availability in business via Tokyo, again using AAdvantage miles. I am waiting on AAdvantage transfer bonus from Marriott. I’ll be doing the route in the next 1-2 years.
  
  On Avios the only way is via Easter Island, but not sure how easy it is now LATAM has left oneworld.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 17:10
    
    Cheers Meta, I did look at Chile – Easter Island but it was starting to get silly at that point probably running into 48 hours to get to PPT.
    - meta says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 17:20
      
      That’s the nature of getting to Tahiti. The sweet spot is really Tokyo to PPT for 40k AA miles one-way and about $30 in taxes, but the flight is nearly 11h. Even from US it’s 8h and almost double the miles!
      - Secret Squirrel says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 18:13
        
        I looked up today using AA miles LAX – PPT in J, came out at 360k miles & $450 😠
      - Lyn says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 18:28
        
        @Secret Squirrel. That sounds like AA dynamic pricing. It could be worth checking different dates. AA’s partner award chart shows 85K miles in business from Europe, so in theory Paris to Papeete could be available for that.
      - meta says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 18:48
        
        I’ve never seen 360k in J with AA! I’ve actually only seen once PPT available from LAX for I think 80 and 5.60 in tax. PE is available almost every day for 65k LAX-PPT. However, it’s easier to get J the other way round PPT-LAX and it’s 80k plus I think something like $40 in tax.
        
        @Lyn forget about Paris-PPT with Air Tahiti Nui. Never seen anything available on AA. However, this might be one of those where you have to call them to book.
- Lyn says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 17:26
  
  Qantas offers a code-share flight from LA to Tahiti with Air Tahiti Nui under normal circumstances and these are available using Qantas awards. Perhaps these would also be available using avios?
  
  You could start by checking award availability on the Qantas web-site, but would first have to sign in to, or join, Qantas FF to do so. The flights are not necessarily daily, so you would have to be careful about dates if searching via BA. As Rob recently wrote, Qantas FF is also a new Amex transfer partner so that may be another option, but I have no idea whether avios or Qantas points are more cost-effective in this case.
  
  I think American Airlines miles can also be used on Air Tahiti, but they are harder to earn now in the UK.
  - Lyn says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 17:37
    
    I’ve just checked the AA web-site. They also mention AA awards on Air Tahiti flights from France.
    
    Re the Qantas code-share flights from LA, I suspect you might have to phone BA to book those using avios once you have found availability with Qantas.
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 18:49
      
      Any idea of miles using Virgin miles on Air France to PPT via LAX?
      - meta says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 19:03
        
        Yes if you want to spend 188.5k Virgin miles each way as French Polynesia is in zone 10!
  - meta says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 17:49
    
    @Lyn not worth it on Qantas. More miles and taxes than with AA miles!
    - meta says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 18:02
      
      Another possibility is via Auckland (using Avios to Hong Kong and then Cathay to Auckland also Avios). Perhaps taking advantage of BA multi airline chart too! Auckland-Tahiti is about 4h30 and only 15k in economy with AAdvantage miles. But I think that will be silly time wise.
      
      You could also do RTW. London-Tokyo-San Francisco/LA-London on Avios with PPT legs with AA miles.
      - Secret Squirrel says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 18:53
        
        HKG – AKL = 248000 Avios + £ 142.60 RTN IN PE – WTF! 😢
      - meta says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 19:11
        
        Is that for 2 people? I have priced it as 62k Avios for one-way and £52.50 in surcharges.You can reduce it to 25k avios and £332.
        
        Honestly, I would be using 241 voucher TYO or LA and AA miles from there. Everything else is silly!
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 18:22
    
    Looked up also today using Qantas awards, showed availability in Biz but hundreds of thousands of points so went over to AA. I’m sure I read a statement on here that avios would be the same as AA miles if you called up?
    - Lyn says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 18:32
      
      I hope you find something that works and doesn’t cost a fortune.
      
      That would be a miracle if it’s the case! AA have award,using their standard charts anyway, for far less miles than avios to certain destinatio
      - Secret Squirrel says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 19:00
        
        I think its not going to happen Lyn. I’m not into paying thousands to get somewhere so better give up now.
      - Blindman says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 19:07
        
        I did SCL-IPC (cash) with LATAM
        
        IPC-PPT Avios
        
        PPT-MEL 30K AA miles in J
      - Neil Donoghue says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 20:21
        
        As someone who has done this trip 7 times, I think you are over complicating it. If you are on a tight budget, you should be able to score seats to SCL using a 241 in J or even Y. In the past we have used Avios to fly Latam from SCL – PPT so this route would now be cash unless you have SkyMiles. Then 15K AA miles from PPT to SYD and in theory you could open jaw your 241.
      - meta says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 21:35
        
        @Lyn But why do SCL? It’s more miles, more surcharges, longer flight plus you have to do two stops (Santiago, Easter Island). And why Sydney? You have to stop in Auckland anyway!
        
        It’s much better to do 241 to Tokyo (or LAX) and then AA miles.
      - meta says:
        
        5 Jul5 July 21:36
        
        Sorry that was for Neil!
- Lady London says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 20:28
  
  guessing AF would do it but sub to air tahiti nui. so virgin or AF miles.
Anuj says:

5 Jul5 July 16:48

Does anyone know if the BA premium plus Amex has any retention bonus? I’m thinking of cancelling it. Thanks
- Rob says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 16:51
  
  Not usually, no. Never hurts to ask though.
Optimus Prime says:

5 Jul5 July 21:29

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/05/sunak-considers-500-vouchers-for-all-uk-adults-to-spend-in-covid-hit-firms

Imagine if we got a £500 voucher to spend on BA. The cynic in me thinks BA would quickly hike its holiday packages by the same amount…
- Lady London says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 22:36
  
  Shurely not
Waribai says:

5 Jul5 July 21:32

OT…..Never mind Super Saturday…….Super Sunday is where it was at…….Hope the Ivy lived up to expectations Rob!…
- Rob says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 21:55
  
  All good. Now looking forward to the haircut on Monday!
  - Waribai says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 22:14
    
    🙂 Good to hear……It was actually a venture to Tokyo Sukiyakitei (highly recommended) for us which I believe is your neck of the woods!