The new HFP chat thread – Sunday 26th 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.

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.

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Category

General

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

Chris Heyes says:

26 Jul26 July 10:31

Rob/Rhys Wondering If/When you will know BA Denver Airplane.
I’m re-booking a cancelled flight for this Sept (already refunded) for Next September
But with 747s withdrawn I’M worried first might be unavailable but i will be booking flights this Sept
Have you any inside knowledge or is it possible for you to find out please
- Rhys says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 11:27
  
  I’m not sure BA know themselves yet
  - Chris Heyes says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 12:40
    
    Rhys@ Thanks can you let me know when you get info please
    - Lady London says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 16:54
      
      As Rob suggested recently check online, ongoing, for which flights BA is running for cargo as those are considerably less likely to get cancelled. Apparently BA has a website offering freight.
      - Rob says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 18:56
        
        iagcargo.com
      - Chris Heyes says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 20:26
        
        Lady London not sure you read my post correctly I’m not worried about the flight to Denver being canceled ! Rather the flight (with 747s withdrawn) Flying on a plane “without” First Class Seats
        The Heathrow to Denver route was 747s
        My concern is they could use the plane with more Business Class but no 1st class
        We Fly out 1st but return business due to return flight being overnight and return from another State
      - Lady London says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 20:58
        
        Ah. Got you, @Chris H.
        
        When I looked at Denver (as a way of ensuring T3 lounges and also as the flight schedule was so thin there was a chance of compo if rerouted due irrops 😉 I considered buying a BA ticket flying a plane operated by AA. I think I took a look and for some reason conaidered Dallas as the gateway instead (I would have needed to connect anyway to where I was going).
        
        I think the AA plane to go for is 77W?
      - Lady London says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 21:00
        
        77W you want J not F, apparently heaps better than BA J and better seats than F.
        
        USA specialists can correct me.
      - Chris Heyes says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 21:38
        
        Lady London can we use 241s on AA I didn’t think we could ?
        Or is it no direct flight not sure reason we dismiss AA
        flight to Denver planned 2021 either Aug or Sept Must admit never flown on AA from London to Denver although use them to travel across U.S. Very cheap taxes and not many Avios
Mike says:

26 Jul26 July 11:29

Hello, has anybody been to Croatia since Corona began? I’m booked with flights to Dubrovnik but was really hoping to visit the Plitvice lakes. Ideally want to travel there by public transport but not sure how ‘on’ things are. Just wondered if anyone has any personal experience recently? Thanks
- GeorgeJ says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 11:51
  
  Mike,
  Just back from Split yesterday, had a superb week sailing around Hvar.
  Croatia are having a return of the virus and rates per million reported are at least double the UK (ie where we were @ three/four weeks ago). They also have limited testing capacity so most minor cases will be unreported.
  Anyway I felt safe, social distancing measures and mask wearing was being followed. People were just glad to have you visit.
  Personally I would rent a car for Plitvice as its some way from Dubrovnik (though you need to insure for the Bosnian corridor).
  Here is a link to the Croatian government website for Covid, it is in English and updated daily. As you will see very few active cases in Dubrovnik or Plitvice areas.
  https://www.koronavirus.hr/en
Harry T says:

26 Jul26 July 11:53

Noob question – does a Shop Small work well with Apple Pay transactions? I’ve not used Apple Pay before during the offer period. The Amex website says it should work but I was wondering if that is the case in practise? Off to support some local small businesses today!

As an aside, does anyone have any good recommendations for Shop Small businesses in Newcastle?
- WillPS says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 12:21
  
  Google Pay works fine for me so I can’t see why Apple Pay would be any better.
  
  We went up to Newcastle and got fivers from Trenchers in Spanish City Whitley Bay (highly recommend that place), For The Love of the North and Muffin Break in the Metrocentre.
  - Harry T says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 12:50
    
    Thanks for the ideas!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 12:43
  
  Apple Pay has worked fine for me
  - Harry T says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 12:51
    
    Thanks!
    - Sandgrounder says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 13:05
      
      Anyone had joy this time around with getting a fiver back if the merchant wouldn’t accept amex? I got a firm no from online chat last night not sure if I can be bothered ringing up.
      - Secret Squirrel says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 14:05
        
        I think last time around if your local SS map showed retailers within the promotion you could call up & they would credit the fiver if the retailer no longer accepted Amex.
- Tocsin says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 13:18
  
  Not Newcastle as such, but I can certify that John’s Chinese in Blyth works.
  
  Let us know what you find in the Toon!
  - Harry T says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 19:57
    
    I went to Ernest for lunch and some cocktails. Shop Small triggered correctly – got the emails. I would recommend the Hugo spritz (two for £12 on a Sunday).
- Anne says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 19:30
  
  Apple Pay worked perfectly for me today and triggered the email – but appreciate my reply is a bit late to be helpful!
  - Harry T says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 19:57
    
    Thanks!
S879 says:

26 Jul26 July 11:55

If you cancel a BAPP, what happens to the Avios in your BAPP account? Do they get transferred at the set monthly date or do you say goodbye to them?
- Jonathan says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 12:11
  
  The Avios are credited to the BAEC number you provide Amex with, they’re credited once a month, when the statement for previous month is generated. The Avios won’t be cancelled or lost.
- Simon says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 12:18
  
  As long as they are in your avios balance at the time of closing your account, they will be transferred. Any avios that haven’t yet posted will be lost.
- The Urbanite says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 13:42
  
  Be careful with this. The points can get trapped with Amex if you cancel the card having put spend through since the last sweep to BA. They will send the points to BA if you alert them.
  
  Best thing to do is to stop spending a few days before the sweep then cancel once the points have gone to BA.
Lloyd says:

26 Jul26 July 12:52

Does anyone have a contact number for Marriott Bonvoy members support? I want to transfer points to my wife’s account, but can only find an international number – +800 2282 1000. Surely I don’t have to make an expensive international call to do this?
- Lady London says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 12:55
  
  Skype will solve the intl calls cost problem
- mark2 says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 13:05
  
  try 020 3564 6335
  - Lloyd says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 13:50
    
    Perfect, worked. Thanks very much. Just to confirm one other thing, if I transfer 60,000 points to airmiles, they credit you with a bonus 5000 miles. Presumably, if I transfer 120,000 miles, they credit you with 10,000 bonus miles?
    - Optimus Prime says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 13:51
      
      Yes.
Simon says:

26 Jul26 July 14:43

I know you can go Bonvoy out to Avios etc – but what are all the options to get into Bonvoy other than Amex?
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 14:58
  
  Buy points, hotel stays!
- Genghis says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 15:54
  
  For me, Bonvoys are the hardest to collect. Sending Bonvoy to avios now would be a waste (though I did in the past for the travel packages and 35% brucie).
  - KBuffett says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 18:09
    
    Do you have Amex/Marriott card and threatened to leave to try and get an retentions offer? I’ve ready about some people getting an additional point etc.
    - Northern Lad says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 20:13
      
      Tried twice. Gone from chunky spending (business suppliers) to zero and no attempt at all in offering incentive. I’ve had credit on my account due to cancelled/refunded Marriott bookings.
      
      6 points per £ at Marriott properties and elite nights still swing it for me.
  - Simon says:
    
    27 Jul27 July 12:56
    
    “Brucie” made me laugh so much there! 🙂
Reeferman says:

26 Jul26 July 15:31

Update on AGP airport and lounge
Last week someone reported that BA passengers faced long queues at check in with no premium counter and being unable to access the VIP lounge at AGP.

My experience today:
– checked in online as normal, but was unable to print boarding pass – instructed to go to check in desk to verify docs
– premium check-in counter operating. Queue of 4 people and less than 10 min wait
– only docs checked were passports. Boarding passes issued
– check in agent explained where lounge was located
– lounge access no problem – we were escorted to a table and explained the new system (no self service etc)

All in all, a very efficient service. Now for the 14-day self isolation!
- Anna says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 15:50
  
  What happened when you arrived back? Were they filtering arrivals from Spain?
  - Reeferman says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 22:21
    
    We queued up at LCY for immigration and while waiting were asked if we had competed the required form. I flashed a piece of paper in front of the person. It was genuinely a print out of the completed form I did on line, but he didn’t look and it could have been anything.
    We were directed to the e-gates and that was that!
    We were the only arriving flight at that time, so no segregation etc necessary.
    I guess our data is lodged with UK Govt somewhere and a phone call is possible at some stage over the next 14 days. We shall see!
The Urbanite says:

26 Jul26 July 17:05

Word to the wise, topping up Revolut with certain credit cards is on its way out, suspect Revolut are blocking them as an error message is displayed stating the card is not supported.

Might not be applicable to all at this moment in time but we’ve seen in the past that they seem to phase changes like this in slowly.
- Jonathan says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 19:01
  
  Revolut is becoming a waste of time. Too inconsistent and poor support. Just about using it for tax free childcare still but other than that it’s too hard work and the new Amex programme does the same job for 1% which is hardly worth worrying about.
  - Anna says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 19:27
    
    When do we get to know about this new Amex programme?!