The new HFP chat thread – Monday 20th 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/2020/07/20/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-monday-20th-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.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HFP home page. If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here. This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

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

Blue Mountains says:

20 Jul20 July 05:03

Data point: BA Avios flight (2 sectors) cancelled by BA. Called the number from the cancellation e-mail Wed 15th July late evening. Avios refunded immediately. I was advised cash element could take up to 6 weeks. Money was back on my (now cancelled BAPP) card on the 18th July. Pretty impressive. Shame it was the 3rd holiday cancelled so far…
- Brighton Belle says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 08:07
  
  My experience not the same. Now 11 weeks since BA cancelled my cash Mexico City trip and still no refund. It’s always “another 2 weeks”.
  - Lottie says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 08:33
    
    I’m in the same situation, Avios flights cancelled Avios and cash element back almost straight away, straight cash flights cancelled still waiting for the money 8 weeks later.
  - Blue Mountains says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 08:38
    
    I had the same experience as you on a previous cancelled flight back in April. After 2 weeks had passed (more like 6 weeks), I contacted barefundhelper on Flyertalk and he sorted it out within a couple of days. I would say you definitely qualify. I am sure others will also mention this. It is a last resort but it certainly works.
- MattyS says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 09:04
  
  Called BA yesterday to get cash refund for the avios flights they cancelled. I’m not expecting cash for some while but one thing the very helpful BA CSA said was that the 241 voucher used will go back to Amex to be recredited. As the BAPP it was earned on has been cancelled, I’m guessing if that is the case I won’t see it again.
  
  Has anyone had one refunded back to their BAEC account from a cancelled card ?
  
  Thanks in advance.
Always in the air says:

20 Jul20 July 06:57

I know I can make a same day change for free with BA, but if I want to change a 0730 flight to 1000, does that mean I have to say up till midnight then call to change?

Also flight is outbound with Iberia (booked through BA), can anyone confirm same rules apply?

Than you in advance!
- ChrisC says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 10:32
  
  Yes it’s midnight but you should be able to do it online (though when I tried it I had to use the website version of BA not the app)
  
  I always thought it only applied to BA operated flights
  - Stu N says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 11:03
    
    Yes you have to stay up to midnight to make the change. You can only make changes online if you haven’t checked in for the flight . No idea on IB operated flights, sorry.
- memesweeper says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 12:03
  
  Same day change should not work with codeshares, nor should you be able to switch to a codeshare, but occasionally you might get lucky if you use the app or website. If you don’t, then call, but expect to be told ‘no’.
  
  I’ve done the call at midnight thing and it works.
DJ says:

20 Jul20 July 07:28

Need 20K points to qualify for IHG Spire.

Would it work if I book 4x additional 5k points per night package?

Thanks
- Josh says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 07:32
  
  If you have one of the cards and curve then Ernie could help
  - Aston100 says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 10:50
    
    What the heck is Ernie?
    I don’t MS, but am just curious about this particular codename.
    - Aston100 says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 10:53
      
      Hmmm… is this Che Guevara?
      If so, I think I can connect revolutionary the dots.
      - Aston100 says:
        
        20 Jul20 July 10:55
        
        *connect the revolutionary dots.
        
        When oh when are we getting half-decent forum software on here, or at least the ability to edit, delete and quote? 🙁
    - Rhys says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 10:57
      
      Haven’t you been on HFP long enough to know what Ernie is 😉
      - Aston100 says:
        
        20 Jul20 July 11:15
        
        Not that long TBH, and besides it is mostly travel related commentary and (non morally ambiguous) points earning opportunities that I’m interested in, so generally take no notice of the MS talk. Seeing “Ernie” popping up a few times got me curious about the name.
      - Nick_C says:
        
        20 Jul20 July 12:48
        
        Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment
      - ChrisC says:
        
        20 Jul20 July 12:55
        
        it can be very off putting to new readers when posters say things like ‘Ernie’ and ‘Brighton’ when it takes only a few more key taps to actually name the proper thing.
    - Stu N says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 11:05
      
      Premium Bonds.
    - roberto says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 11:10
      
      He drove the fastest milk cart in the west…
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMllBGqbNGU
    - Ash says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 11:16
      
      Use Curve card + Nation savings and investments. Pay money in with there and then withdraw for free points
      - Rahaney says:
        
        20 Jul20 July 23:12
        
        Just wondering what amounts folk are now putting through Ernie w/ metal a month these days? Also are PB’s recommended over the DS?
- Andrew says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 07:42
  
  Yes
- BJ says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 08:09
  
  Yes, but it would help only if those nights were useful to you, or if the cost of the 4 nights was less or similar to the cost of buying 25k IHG points. Spire itself is not worth throwing money at IME, despite the fact my experience appears to be above average based on past comments..
  - ChrisC says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 10:40
    
    Bought points via the normal process don’t count towards your status qualifying points total.
    
    1k of these qualifying points bought as part of a stay package cost between £4-£5 per 1k so 20k would cost up to £100 (in addition to the room rate of course)
    
    That’s if you can find hotels (that you would be staying in anyway) offering 5k bonuses as there don’t appear to be very many of them.
    - BJ says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 11:24
      
      For clarity, I wasn’t suggesting buying points would meet the requirement. I was suggesting that the main benefit of spire was 25k points therefore there was no point paying for four nights bonus points rates to get 25k spire points if those four nights cost more than the cost of buying 25k points. The other benefits of Spire not being worth much..
- memesweeper says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 12:05
  
  I *believe* the bonus points are qualifying.
  
  Spire isn’t worth anything much though, as others have said, so don’t pay more for your bonus points than the next easiest way for you to secure 25,000 IHG points or equivalent.
  - Rob says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 15:38
    
    Correct, they count
- Paul74 says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 12:11
  
  Leaving Ernie aside, yes, bonus point packages do count for status. As BJ has pointed out, there’s a quick pay back with the 25k pts option for the choice benefit.
  In my experience, Spire can give very good benefits at Crowne Plazas although in line with what others have said, perhaps not so much at other brands.
Jonathan says:

20 Jul20 July 07:56

Are Am ex offering any incentives to retain the BA paid card ? I’ve heard of the offers to hold on to the gold/platinum cards .I can’t see myself travelling for quite a while so don’t feel inclined on paying the £195 to renew
- RWJ says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 08:00
  
  Not heard of anything, but there’s no harm in calling Amex (if you call, ask to be put through to Brighton) and asking! 🙂
- Rob says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 08:48
  
  Seems not.
  - fred says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 10:14
    
    No retention offer as such, but they offered me 1 extra avios per £1 spent for 3 months. Triggered this yesterday, happily will move my spending from platinum (last day of 2 MR per £1) to BAPP @ 2.5 avios per £!
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 11:45
      
      I got 5k bonus retention on BAPP but maybe I was lucky.
- BH says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 08:56
  
  I was offered ‘double Avios’ for three months (whether it was an extra Avios per pound spent or actual 2x was difficult to determine from the conversation). I suppose it’s better than nothing, but it’s not exactly generous IMO.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 09:54
    
    I was offered 1 extra Bonvoy Point/£ when I cancelled 6 weeks or so ago. Just signed back up with a referral link getting my mum 6k MR points which is far better than the 0 Bonvoy I would have earned.
Frankie says:

20 Jul20 July 08:19

Does anyone know the current BA lounge times at terminal 5? I am flying to AMS on Thursday arounf 4pm and I am silver BAEC. I am hoping Galleries is still closing at 12.30pm so I get to use the First Class lounge. Anyone know? Thanks in advance.
- Rob says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 08:47
  
  I’ve heard Club is now open until around 5pm. It must have been still open at 2pm on Saturday when I was there, because the airport was very busy but there were only 30-40 in Galleries First.
Josh says:

20 Jul20 July 08:19

Very OT but does anyone have experience of booking.com vs Airbnb for the same property?

Price is virtually the same but seems there are greater points opportunities with booking.

Any experience of one being more reliable than the other?

Thanks,

Josh
- BJ says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 08:34
  
  Not sure about Airbnb but booking is definitely on those places we don’t talk about here. If you search HFP for booking , com you will find an article a few weeks ago explaining how together £10 free credit. It may have expired but worth a try. If you get it then it will stack with those other places. If you are not a solo traveller and the offer has not expired then you could split the booking with your travel companion to get 2x £10 credit. If your travel companion it not already a member of those other places then you could invite them to get you and them a little something extra.
  - Josh says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 09:03
    
    Thanks BJ, will have a search through HFP.
    
    In terms of reliability is there anything in it between the two for holiday lettings?
    - Rhys says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 09:12
      
      https://headforpoints.com/2020/06/15/how-to-get-10-of-free-booking-com-hotel-credit/
- Travel Strong says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 13:13
  
  AirBnB via a BA link generates some decent avios (also posted on HfP) and AirBnB support are quick to respond and always resolved the few issues i’ve ever had.
Ian_H says:

20 Jul20 July 09:59

Was there ever any update on the Curve v Amex legal threats or any attempts to kiss and make up again ?
- Doug M says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 10:54
  
  I asked a while back and it was nothing. Assume Curve got cold feet?
  - Waddle says:
    
    20 Jul20 July 11:32
    
    My friend at Curve (works in legal dept) says Curve are still keen but Amex doesn’t want to come back.
    - Rhys says:
      
      20 Jul20 July 11:52
      
      Hardly surprising!
Martha says:

20 Jul20 July 10:13

Hi. I have had about £600 of fraud transactions on curve. I have blocked the card and they are investigating.
Do I need to also inform underlying card/bank?
- memesweeper says:
  
  20 Jul20 July 12:08
  
  Not unless Curve have advised you to. Curve should immediately reverse the transactions with the underlying card, no need to get another party involved.