The new HFP chat thread – Saturday 18th 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.

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General

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fbrj says:

18 Jul18 July 13:13

Advice re payment of taxes etc on 2-4-1 redemption

My wife and I each have a 2-4-1 voucher in our BA account. She phoned to cancel her BAPP (I was intending to do the same) but was told that if it was cancelled the voucher would be voided straightaway. Obviously not a risk we would want to take!

I thought I had read that if the 2-4-1 taxes were paid on another Amex card that would be OK, even if the BAPP had been cancelled earlier. We both have an Amex Rewards CC for that purpose.

Can we cancel our BAPPs without risk losing the vouchers? If so, how?
- Connor says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 13:16
  
  Amex talks pish. You can cancel and the vouchers remain. No risk at all.
  - Rob says:
    
    18 Jul18 July 15:01
    
    We cancelled my wife’s BAPP. Voucher remain and cancelled vouchers get returned.
- Grant says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 13:26
  
  Just ring up again, or use the online chat, and ask to cancel. Politely nod a long when they say the voucher will be voided (it won’t) or just for fun, tell them they are talking shite and see what reaction you get : )
- fbrj says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 16:33
  
  Thank you all – it’s what I thought but Amex seemed very insistent…
  - Anna says:
    
    18 Jul18 July 16:54
    
    That’s because they want to keep you as a customer! I usually say I’m going to do all my spending on another Amex or apply for a different one and they happily proceed with the cancellation.
Connor says:

18 Jul18 July 13:18

Creation has launched a new credit card for the previous users of the Asda credit card. Offers 2% on supermarkets, restaurants and online shopping! No word on it being released to anybody else though.
- Freddy says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 21:56
  
  Google creation card, a new one comes up with 1.5% back on supermarket and petrol – interesting!
  - Rob says:
    
    18 Jul18 July 22:13
    
    Go to the Creation website – ALL cards are pulled except the free IHG one and the weird Maximiles thing. Even personal loans have been pulled unless you’re an existing cardholder with an invite code.
    - Freddy says:
      
      18 Jul18 July 22:41
      
      Google creation CB credit card and a Microsite comes up
      - Freddy says:
        
        18 Jul18 July 22:44
        
        Ahh but they aren’t taking applications at this time pay!
tom1 says:

18 Jul18 July 13:53

Does anyone know the bonus rules for the Nectar card?

If I have never had it, but have had MR/marriott cards in the last 2 years, will that prevent me from getting the signup bonus?

thanks 🙂
- Rob says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 15:00
  
  Yes. Must be 2 years with no personal Amex at all.
  - Yorkieflyer says:
    
    18 Jul18 July 21:48
    
    Maybe, win one lose one
dezbez says:

18 Jul18 July 14:17

Just been looking at one-way flights from Seattle- LHR with BA & Virgin early summer next year. Economy seats are coming up c£2k on both (similar sort of price in earlier months too). Appreciate these are far from normal times but any thoughts why they are coming out so high? That’s more the level of a fare for first class I’d have thought.
- Reeferman says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 14:25
  
  That’s typically the case for one-way flights to or from USA.
  If you add-in a return, the price will be about half. It would be “unfortunate” if you were not in a position to take the return leg due to unforeseen circumstances.
  Don’t do it the other way round though (“unable” to take the outbound leg and turn-up for the return leg) as BA will cancel the return leg if you are a no-show for the outbound.
- Phatbear says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 14:40
  
  Not sure exactly when you are looking but found 1 way flights to Seattle start of June for less than £500 one way, however as stated, if you book a return its £440 all in.
  
  Or BA start of july £1636 one way or £491 return!
  - Phatbear says:
    
    18 Jul18 July 14:44
    
    Oh and seeing as you mentioned 1st class.
    
    A one way to SEA on BA is £10763, thats not a typo!
    
    Return in 1st…..£2527, so a quarter of the price for two flights!
  - dezbez says:
    
    18 Jul18 July 15:34
    
    Thanks all, appreciate the advice!
- marcw says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 18:54
  
  Unless you have an US passport, green card, or direct relatives living in the US… abstain from making bookings far far ahead. The future is very uncertain. It could be that next year we are in the same, better or worse condition. Save your cash – don’t give it to airlines (they may go bust). We don’t know whats ahead of us
John says:

18 Jul18 July 14:26

I’m guessing this has been asked and answered elsewhere, but I had a look through and didn’t see anything – apologies if it has.

One route I’m looking at goes from 1-2 flights a day up until end of August, and then a sudden change to 10 flights a day from 1st September. Is the general feeling that these flights might go ahead, or should we expect plenty of cancellations? I.e. are BA planning for a significant increase in capacity in September or are they just collecting bookings before streamlining everyone onto a couple of daily flights?

I know everything is subject to change at any time, just trying to get a generally feel of how realistic this is. Thanks.
- ChrisBCN says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 15:00
  
  They won’t go ahead. If you are seeing 10 flights a day on certain routes they will be rationalised to 1-3 nearer the time.
James Ryan says:

18 Jul18 July 14:54

Trying to cancel an Avios booking for a couple of months time, But as I forgot.. even Avios bookings get redirected to the voucher page.

How have people been cancelling their reward flights.. Calling up? Or is it maybe better to take a voucher?
- memesweeper says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 15:17
  
  I’ve called up *and* used the online voucher thing.
  
  Reasons to call up: you want your Avios and money back to use as you please
  
  Reasons to use online voucher request: you have less than 24 hours before you fly; you have a voucher (eg companion voucher) and would like its life extended by a few months
- Lee says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 16:03
  
  Cancelled a ticket today, didn’t charge £35 even only paid £30 for tax
YC says:

18 Jul18 July 15:35

Amex net a porter offer – anyone know if this applies to mr porter? Remember seeing some comments here before
- Rob says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 16:09
  
  Don’t think so. We’ve seen separate Mr Porter deals in the past.
- Andrew says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 16:11
  
  Word on the street is it doesn’t unfortunately, but that’s based on the fact they appear on the statement as different companies.
- Jonathan says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 20:01
  
  Won’t work I’m afraid. Quite likely you’ve missed the boat anyway (assuming your offer also ends tomorrow) as they don’t bill until goods dispatched & that’s taking 7-10 days at the moment.
Mike says:

18 Jul18 July 17:02

If I had 160,000 TPs on my Exec Club acc what would be my CIV? I believe 100 -as that would mean LT GGL?
- Andrew says:
  
  18 Jul18 July 18:02
  
  What does it matter, the CSD still won’t bother to come and say hello.