The new HFP chat thread – Tuesday 4th August

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

• Ed says:

  4 Aug4 August 05:47

  Hi, hoping someone can help me regarding apps which notify of changes to reserved flights. Just made an Avios booking for next July, booked onto a BA 747….. so looking for something to notify me of inevitable plane changes. I see that Rob’s old recommendation my flights has closed, what is everyone using now please? Thanks.

  • Ja says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:31

    I use CheckMyTrip

    • ed says:

      4 Aug4 August 13:27

      Thanks!

• Peter says:

  4 Aug4 August 06:52

  Eat Out to Help Out – to maximise my discount do you think it’s possible (reasonable?) to bill the courses separately? Eg, reached the cap of £10/diner on the starter and soft drinks, ask for the mains to put on a new bill.

  • mr_jetlag says:

    4 Aug4 August 06:58

    possible, yes. Reasonable no – the restaurant will have to bill you out and open a new tab, which Is a PITA.

  • Graham says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:00

    That’s really not in the spirit of it, is it? The restaurant will have to apply for that a second time so I can’t see them being too pleased with that idea instead of immediate cash in the till if you like.

    • Paul74 says:

      4 Aug4 August 14:08

      +1

  • Bazza says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:55

    Honestly.. If you can’t afford to eat out don’t go! And show a bit of decency in your life.

    • Peter says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:22

      How about if I had 4 separate Amex cards with the shop small offer? Is that OK to split the bill over several cards or is that indecent?

      • Chris Heyes says:

        4 Aug4 August 08:48

        Peter@ of-course spreading Small Shop over several subl cards is indecent just as indecent as having moggys reincarnated several times
        Strange isn’t it the above doesn’t hit a cord but mention split a bill to do the same thing technically
        suddenly that’s “not the done thing” lol

        • J says:

          4 Aug4 August 09:48

          Bit of difference between milking Amex/Tesco and abusing a government scheme. Or should we start making up children to optimize our child benefit strategy?

        • BJ says:

          4 Aug4 August 09:57

          @J, well many here made up pets…

        • J says:

          4 Aug4 August 10:06

          @BJ That’s the comparison I was making – I’d imagine most of us see a difference between making up pets for a Tesco insurance clubcard bonus and inventing kids for child benefit claims. Or am I in a minority here?

        • Chris Heyes says:

          4 Aug4 August 22:38

          J@ You mean committing fraud is ok if it suits you is ok but not if you disagree lol

      • Doug M says:

        4 Aug4 August 11:18

        @Peter. I think Amex actually state that’s not allowed.

  • Andrew says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:01

    I’d suggest possible but not reasonable.

    However you could go to a Marstons pub and use the Amex offer if you have it. The Pitcher close to our place isn’t capping the Eat Out to Help Out discount at £10 (they’re making up the difference out of their own funds) and that should stack with the £5 back on a £20 Amex spend (on my BAPP this morning)

  • Evan says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:06

    You Sir are as cheap as chips…

    • Peter says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:27

      I had a cracking Ribeye last night and got the £10 off. For pudding I went to one of those places that just do puddings and got 50%. Lunch today and dinner tonight booked, gluttony maybe but also a generous tipper.

      • Darren says:

        4 Aug4 August 08:35

        a wafer thin mint?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        4 Aug4 August 19:14

        Don’t see any issue with going to different places

        Tapas style hopping for start main and dessert.

      • James says:

        5 Aug5 August 01:42

        covid here you come

  • AJA says:

    4 Aug4 August 10:31

    I think the discount is 50% of the total bill up to £10 per diner. So a maximum of £10 per person, so splitting the bill won’t work as you’re still the same diner. If there are two of you the discount will be a maximum of £20. So your idea is an abuse of the scheme and should not be encouraged. I hope any establishment where you try it rejects your idea out of hand.

    A better idea is to combine with Amex Shop Small assuming they take Amex although the T&Cs specifically mention other discounts are not combinable with the govt scheme.

    • Luckyjim says:

      4 Aug4 August 11:18

      That is not correct AJA. The government website says ‘You do not need a voucher to use this scheme and you can use it at the same time as other offers and discounts’.

      Personally, I would not apply any discounts that cost the restaurant money right now (Taste Card for example) but I’m happy to take advantage of the government scheme and the Amex scheme simultaneously.

  • the_real_a says:

    4 Aug4 August 13:46

    Eating out with friends we all pay for ourselves so often pay on 4 cards. No issue at all. But i would draw the line at multiple tabs per person per sitting.

  • Brian W says:

    5 Aug5 August 01:08

    Get a grip. Seriously? Embarrassing comment to make.

• pking says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:13

  Anyone else seeing the adverts for the Unite ‘BA Betrayal’ site.

  The 90’s have called, they want their web designer back.

  • Luckyjim says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:41

    Tell the 90s they can have their ‘Chandler Bing’ humour back too.

  • Chris Heyes says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:55

    Pking@ yes but obviously their advert is working excellently its been mentioned in posts on here today and previously so if anyone didn’t see the advert themselves they will have read it on posts
    so in that case its a brilliant strategy

• AndyGWP says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:14

  1) Marstons Pubs appeared on my Amex ARCC – £5 off £20

  2) Re: BA / Amex 2 for 1 voucher. The voucher has been earned by my partner – she has booked outbound (with me as the second passenger on it). Can I phone up to book the return, or does it have to be her??

  3) Re: Reward Flight Finder – Some mention of it not working recently… nothing showing for after June for the flights I’ve checked (ie. LHR to YYC / YVR) and no emails being received about business availability coming in overnight. Have RFF sent out any comms about what the issue is / when it might be fixed? I’ve only recently subscribed and can’t see anything mentioned on the site? (which is slightly annoying as I don’t seem to be getting what I’ve paid for)

  • Ed says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:24

    In terms of RFF and seatspy I think there are ongoing issues with their API feed from BA. Comms from seatspy has been poor on this matter. I’m a ‘first class’ subscriber and not received any proactive comms from them regarding the issues. I would certainly advise manual searches of ba.com for reward availability. I picked up some seats overnight, no notification from seatspy as of yet.

  • Chris Heyes says:

    4 Aug4 August 09:05

    AndyGWP@ Normally the lead would have to ring for booking and adding the return to the first booking (her) But it is possible for her to give permission to allow you to do it (she would have to ring them and hope a nice agent answers (I’ve done it agent would leave a note on booking allowing you)
    But its not the norm

• dezbez says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:15

  Is anyone else having problems with Tesco Clubcard. I’m able to log in ok but beyond that I’m unable to see points, existing vouchers and just get error messages. I know it’s been the quarterly conversion window but I’ve never had this before (& also this should now have completed, I thought?)
  Thanks

  • Ja says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:33

    Mine looks ok

  • Nick_C says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:41

    Website working fine. Android app showing current points but not showing vouchers.

• Wally1976 says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:43

  Is anyone able to advise the best way of booking using a Lloyds upgrade voucher please? Is it just a case of calling the standard BA numbers? Thanks

  • Peggers says:

    4 Aug4 August 12:51

    Try Avios on 03444933349.

    • Wally1976 says:

      4 Aug4 August 15:20

      Took 40 minutes to get through but this worked thanks

      • Peggers says:

        4 Aug4 August 21:26

        That quick! Well done.

• Matty says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:48

  Can I drop off my luggage the night before an early morning BA flight at Heathrow?

  • AJA says:

    4 Aug4 August 10:47

    Yes, you effectively check in for your flight at the same time. Google BA twilight check in Heathrow. Be aware all passengers on the same booking need to be present so you can’t do it on behalf of others.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      4 Aug4 August 14:44

      assuming you need to use their luggage and not just your own allowance

• Harry T says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:50

  Has anyone stayed at the York Marriott? Thinking of a staycation in York but wondered if the hotel is convenient for the sights.

  • Darren says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:56

    Its a bit of a walk into the city from there, but pleasant. Hotel Indigo is closer in Fossgate

    • Harry T says:

      4 Aug4 August 10:20

      Thanks.

  • Janet Thomas says:

    4 Aug4 August 09:31

    I stayed at the Indigo in York a couple of years ago on points and got a free upgrade (only platinum). Rooms not huge, but very comfortable, with all the usual Indigo freebies and friendly staff. We visited in August and it was very quiet but not sure what it would be like during term time as it’s right next to a lot of student accommodation. Perfect location for sightseeing and close to lots of good restaurants.

    • Harry T says:

      4 Aug4 August 10:20

      Thanks, it’s very cheap with the new IHG prepaid offer!

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    4 Aug4 August 09:43

    It’s nothing special as a hotel, and a bit of a hike along the A1035 if you’re looking to visit city centre attractions – not unpleasant (half the distance is along the Knavesmire) – but mostly nondescript commuter road. Unless it has to be there I’d choose elsewhere – with the lack of international tourists (York is a huge magnet for chinese tourists in particular), rates are very reasonable right now. If it has to be Marriott then the Moxy is better located.

    • Harry T says:

      4 Aug4 August 10:20

      Alas, the Moxy appears to be closed indefinitely. Thank you for the advice.

  • Andrew says:

    4 Aug4 August 09:50

    Spent 3 months there about 15 years ago for work. It’s a brisk 18-20 minute walk to the City Wall. Decent pavement all the way, much of it alongside the racecourse. Full English breakfast, then elevenses from Betty’s – but with all the walking I didn’t put on an ounce.

    Ideal if you are driving to York, parking is very limited in the heart of the City. On wet days I’d jump on a bus, they ran at least every 5 minutes from outside the hotel.

    • Harry T says:

      4 Aug4 August 10:21

      Thank you, my previous experience with York parking was rather stressful. Handy it’s free to park at the Marriott.

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