The new HFP chat thread – Tuesday 21st July

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• PaulC says:

  21 Jul21 July 14:05

  Just had our September LHR to DXB cancelled but when I went on to “Manage my booking” It looks as though they have gone down to one flight per day LHR to DXB. We were able to transfer the flight to that one and its now on an A350 (Bonus – New Club Suites) but our return is in 1st Class (Our first time) I suspect will be cancelled too in a few days time. What happens to the difference in Avios if we manage to bag a seat on a new flight that doesn’t have 1st class? I guess they will be automatically refunded?

  • Polly says:

    21 Jul21 July 14:16

    Should be, but keep an eye on it…

  • John says:

    21 Jul21 July 15:34

    Just had our first class flights cancelled for Dubai in September.
    Advised only 1 plane for ahold of September with no first class.

    • Rob says:

      21 Jul21 July 16:33

      Dubai still requires quarantine on your return, remember.

      • John says:

        21 Jul21 July 16:58

        Won’t be going unless UK gov website says ok to go making travel insurance applicable!

      • PaulC says:

        21 Jul21 July 17:34

        I don’t have a job at the minute and my wife is working from home so 2 weeks at home wouldn’t make a difference to us. We already had insurance in place so if we cant travel we should be fine.

        • Crafty says:

          21 Jul21 July 20:25

          Well you won’t be able to go out to the shops, for a run, etc so it will make some difference.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        21 Jul21 July 17:35

        September is a long way away in the current climate.

• Aston100 says:

  21 Jul21 July 14:25

  Previous posting lost probably due to keyword shenanigans.
  Anyway:
  Can anyone advise if there is an article that compares the Amex c@shback cards, and compares them to non-Amex rivals?
  Also, is there any form of bonus for anyone who uses my referral link in order to obtain one of those c@shback Amex cards?
  Finally, are Amex c@shback cards a decent alternative to miles & points generating cards, for those who aren’t in it for the long term, and just want convenience without playing games? or are there better products out there?

  Thanks.

  • Charlieface says:

    21 Jul21 July 15:05

    https://headforpoints.com/2019/10/18/

    They are the best cb cards on the market.
    You can get an extra £10 I think if you get referred.
    They may be a better option than miles if you haven’t much intention to travel

    • Aston100 says:

      21 Jul21 July 15:07

      Thanks for the info.

• James says:

  21 Jul21 July 14:38

  Hi there,
  Hoping someone can give some advice – done quite a bit of googling with no luck.
  I have 2 business return flights to Portland booked with airmiles and companion voucher for Sep. This flight (route?) has now been cancelled. Don’t really want to travel now anyway so that is fine. If I get a refund i think i get the taxes back, airmiles back, and companion voucher is extended 6 months from original dates? If so, a 6 month extension on the voucher isn’t very useful as i think I’m probably right at the back of the original valid dates anyway, and from experience you need to book flights almost a year out to get availability.
  Wondering if I pick somewhere different to fly to now if the window is open longer, or makes no difference? Whats my best option?
  Ideally I’d want to use voucher etc to fly next year
  Thanks
  James

  • AJA says:

    21 Jul21 July 15:54

    HI James
    Yes you should get everything back and yes the companion voucher will be extended by 6 months from original expiry date. If you log into your BAEC you can see this under Manage My Account, then the second Manage my account and then e-vouchers at the bottom of the page – this will show when the new expiry date is even though it will currently show as used..

    I would check the extended validity date before doing anything else. If the extended date is before you reasonably think you could use it you may be able to apply for a Future Travel Voucher which is valid until end of Apr 2022 but bear in mind that there still needs to be Avios availability to utilise the voucher and you have to phone up to redeem it.

    • James says:

      21 Jul21 July 17:04

      Thank you – this helps 🙂

• spk says:

  21 Jul21 July 14:58

  Thought the ICC amex plats did not include Eurostar lounge access. But looks like they do include Eurostar lounges.

  • Andrew says:

    21 Jul21 July 15:55

    I don’t know what the ICC card looks like but if the front looks the same as the GBP one then it will admit access. Eurostar have never done a swipe, they just check the exp date by sight (the name isn’t verified either) – ie if you cancel your Plat card you can still get lounge access up to the physical card exp date.

• Jonny says:

  21 Jul21 July 15:53

  I’m travelling from Heathrow T5 on Saturday morning and suspect it may be fairly busy due to families jetting off to Europe at the start of the school holidays (much like we are – flights having been moved from Gatwick).
  I’m therefore tempted to drop off bags the night before as I’m not too far away – however can I do this on behalf of the whole family (we will probably check in 2 suitcases between us) or would everyone (or at least 2 of us) need to be present?
  thanks

  • AJA says:

    21 Jul21 July 15:57

    Early Bag Drop is available to our customers who are travelling on flights departing before 13:00 the following day. Customers travelling on these flights can drop their bags any time between 17:00-22:00 the night before travel.

    Please note: – for security reasons, you can’t check in someone else in their absence – everyone in your booking needs to be present – we’ll ask you to provide a contact number when we issue your boarding passes and take your checked baggage – once your baggage has been checked in, we won’t be able to retrieve it so please make sure you have everything you need from it before handing it over

    https://naprepin.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7747/~/london-heathrow-terminal-5—check-in-the-day-before-you-fly

    • Jonny says:

      21 Jul21 July 15:59

      Hmmm thanks, though I wonder if I might be able to do it if I attach 2 bags to my booking at online check in, and no bags for the others…

      • AJA says:

        21 Jul21 July 16:23

        It’s the bit about everybody on your booking needing to be present that is an issue. I suspect that you can’t just book yourself in. It’s not possible to do that when you check-in on line so it would be odd to allow it in person.

        The thing is though with all the changes to check-in procedures and having to possibly have temperature checks etc I am not sure if you can still check in online and just go to bag-drop.

• Secret Squirrel says:

  21 Jul21 July 16:46

  What’s the best number and option these days for BA to cancel a flight? Every option on the 0800 number hangs up on you after a short message.

  • Lee says:

    21 Jul21 July 17:14

    0800727800 is the one I used to cancel my avios booking.

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      21 Jul21 July 17:35

      That’s the one I’ve been calling. They don’t even put you on hold just hangs up after a message. I tried the not pressing on any option then got a different msg stating call a different number which was the one I used to call up?

      • Jan H says:

        21 Jul21 July 18:54

        Just keep ringing that number………you will eventually get ‘in the q’
        Good luck

      • Harry T says:

        21 Jul21 July 18:59

        Try 0191 246 3933

• Munch says:

  21 Jul21 July 17:03

  Is Seat Spy producing errors? Looking at flights showing Business availability but not showing on BA site. I guess there is no point in phoning BA?

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    21 Jul21 July 17:40

    Seatspy been reporting F & J availability which is not always correct recently.
    Best to use BA site direct.

• dezbez says:

  21 Jul21 July 18:15

  Not strictly travel related, but what do people think of the re-vamped/re-launched Sparks scheme? I’m trying to be positive about it but other than a free packet of Percy Pigs with my first shop, nothing really seems to have changed. All they seem to have done is remove the points, which were pretty much pointless in the first place anyway.

  • Chris says:

    21 Jul21 July 19:19

    Hang in there with it I would say. The woman in front of me the other day got her shopping for free. I got a free tote bag and any Danish for nothing so cant complain. If you’re going anyway definitely worth scanning,

    • Christine says:

      22 Jul22 July 09:40

      I was told at the checkout that it’s one free shop per store per week, and you don’t get considered if your shop contains alcohol (It’s illegal to give away alcohol in Scotland apparently!)

      Regarding benefits, percy pigs and the like. I must be a more valuable shopper to M&S than the OP because I got £5 and £20 off a £5 & £20 shop respectively.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    22 Jul22 July 00:26

    The points just unlocked more offers but they topped out far too low.

    Tbh it’s a card you swipe and you get something for nothing don’t see the issue

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