The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 23rd 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 de facto 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.

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General

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

Roger says:

23 Jul23 July 16:57

Anyone with IHG checked their account for “Interest in Cash” charged?

Didn’t take any cash out if the card but exceeded monthly limit by repaying the account mid statement.
Also did a couple of revolution txn.

Any insight is greatly appreciated
- Lady London says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 17:05
  
  from that list, has to be rev.
  - Tom H says:
    
    23 Jul23 July 18:54
    
    It’s defo rev
- Anna says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 17:59
  
  There’s quite a long thread about this from earlier!
  - Roger says:
    
    23 Jul23 July 19:55
    
    Thanks will have a look.
    
    My point telly is 6 figure this month, so won’t complain.
Yorkieflyer says:

23 Jul23 July 17:16

Spain Travel Health portal appears to have been down all day. Not connecting on app and “form cannot be created” on web site.
Same for everyone?
Wollhouse says:

23 Jul23 July 17:34

Hi, any advice appreciated! Using Avios and a 241 voucher i booked CW from Edinburgh, via LHR to Bangkok. BA has just emailed to advise that they have cancelled the return LHR to EDI leg. It appears that they’ve dropped the last flight of the evening from their schedule and the flight from Bangkok lands after their last flight had departed. They’ve changed the EDI to LHR times (new times are fine for the connection) but if accept this “new flight” it looks like we’re then stuck in LHR on the return. Do they not have a responsibility to get us back to our original point of departure? Even if that means putting us up in a hotel overnight and onto a flight the next day? Of course all of this may be moot as Thailand still hasn’t opened up to external visitors but we’re hoping this might have changed by mid sep when we’re due to go. If they are able to just dump us at LHR, because they’ve cancelled a flight, if I don’t accept this change does that count as a cancellation? Ie they’ll charge the £35 fees but refund Avios and 241 voucher or do they waive the fees as it’s their issue? Thanks for any help
- Anna says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 17:58
  
  They have to get you back to EDI if it’s all on one PNR and they would have a duty of care to put you up at LHR if your connection was the next day. The fact that they have cancelled this leg means you would also be entitled to a full refund of Avios and taxes/fees. Whether travel to Thailand is going to be feasible by September is another matter!
  - Wollhouse says:
    
    23 Jul23 July 19:10
    
    Thank you- I thought they surely must have, but there is nothing in their email! I’ll ring them tomorrow, thanks so much
Anna says:

23 Jul23 July 18:03

Nice bit of news today for a change, I’ve made Spire and got my IHG free night certificate. All on the date of my 12 month statement which is pleasing as I know some people have had to wait a while for the free night certificate to post. Now how do I claim my 25k points?!
- Anna says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 18:11
  
  Data point, the free night certificate says it can be booked until 2/8/22.
  - Jim says:
    
    23 Jul23 July 19:07
    
    My free night appeared too today on Annual statement. I think you might be using the U.S. date though: it should be 8th February 2022 [although my IHG app often goes back and forth between U.S. and U.K. dates].
    - Anna says:
      
      23 Jul23 July 19:31
      
      Hadn’t thought of that!
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    23 Jul23 July 19:22
    
    Anna: should be in your offers section very soon.
- ChrisC says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 18:20
  
  You need to to use the website version and there is a button on your account screen that says something like ‘Spire – chose your benefit’
  
  Can’t remember if you then click that and thene chose from the options or if it’s just listed there.
  - Anna says:
    
    23 Jul23 July 18:33
    
    Got them! This is the best day I’ve had for ages 😂
Anuj says:

23 Jul23 July 19:05

Does anyone know of money transfer services that let you use curve or IHG card?

Thanks
- Connor says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 19:15
  
  I use TransferWise, pretty low fees as well.
  - Anuj says:
    
    23 Jul23 July 19:26
    
    Thanks, I checked them and they charge extra for a debit/credit card. I found TransferGo. They let you use one at no cost and right now have the best rate for the currency I’m sending. That might help anyone else who’s looking to transfer some money.
- BS says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 19:41
  
  WorldFirst, and XE for smaller amounts
Munch says:

23 Jul23 July 19:17

Recently set up an alert on Seatspy for the Maldives. I had a number of alerts earlier in the week which were false when I checked the BA website. I didn’t notice on the alert the following statement

“You will not be notified of these cabins on these dates again, unless their availability drops below your requested number of passengers and back above again.”

By luck I manually checked again yesterday and the site had corrected itself to show actual seats available for my dates but I didn’t receive an alert (I believe due to the previous error followed by the immediately by a correction). Not sure how this could be resolved.

All good in the end as I’ve managed to book my CW tickets but watch out for false alerts and how this may affect subsequent seats becoming available.
WaynedP says:

23 Jul23 July 19:57

One big disadvantage of having booked a package (flight + hotel or flight + car hire, aka BA Holiday) with BA these days is that none of the CSA answering the 0800 727 800 number can make future re-bookings for cancelled trips.
All other 0344 numbers direct callers to the 0800 number.

Waited 40 minutes to finally reach a CSA today to re-book my cancelled flight+car hire, only to be told he can’t do it, I must call another 0344 number (which I failed to recognise was the one given in the cancellation email, but which simply directs callers to the 0800 number then goes dead).

Very frustrating because I don’t want the BAPP refund they’re threatening to process as I don’t want more negative Avios.

Am now on hold to Newcastle call centre, and hoping for the best.
- WaynedP says:
  
  23 Jul23 July 20:33
  
  All sorted, best outcome, spoke with a real Angel who spent 25 minutes after 8pm cut-off to help me through a complicated re-booking of my whole BA Holiday in a way that reduced my outstanding balance, when I actually think I should have paid a bit extra and was prepared to do so.
  Can’t thank this dedicated and highly knowledgeable BA CSA enough, and sincerely hope their value is recognised by BA Management.
  - AJ says:
    
    24 Jul24 July 00:42
    
    Hope you send an email to recognise the good service provided.
    - WaynedP says:
      
      24 Jul24 July 07:23
      
      Yes, I filled in one of BA’s staff compliment webforms on the spot
FloriGuy says:

23 Jul23 July 22:51

I dont seem to be able to feed Revolut with Chadwick. Is this the same all round?
- The Urbanite says:
  
  24 Jul24 July 02:54
  
  I did get an error saying the card was not supported or something after going through 3DS. Decided to empty it out into a money transfer service instead with no problem so issue is at Revolut’s end.