The new HFP chat thread – Friday 7th August

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• Michael says:

  7 Aug7 August 13:00

  Looks like Curve MCC passthrough is working again 🙁

  • AndyGWP says:

    7 Aug7 August 13:29

    Indeed – was highlighted in comments yesterday I think 🙂

• Oli says:

  7 Aug7 August 13:28

  Any advice on getting through to BA on the phone? Flight from Hannover next weekend is now cancelled – looks like they’re stopping the service. Can’t get through to try and change the routing.

  Thanks!

  • Rob says:

    7 Aug7 August 13:43

    Ring but do not press any options.

    • Oli says:

      7 Aug7 August 13:47

      Tried several times, but without any luck 🙁

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        7 Aug7 August 14:11

        8.30am or 7.30 pm I get through. The no selection trick does not appear to work if they are really busy now. You get a message & they hang up on you.

        • Oli says:

          7 Aug7 August 14:15

          Thanks, will try again this evening

  • Waribai says:

    7 Aug7 August 15:55

    I think it will be difficult to get through today or tomorrow as they have just cancelled a swathe of Spanish flights for August.

  • Mr(s) Entitled says:

    7 Aug7 August 20:47

    I called yesterday around midday. I was on hold for 23min before I got through to a human to process a refund. 23m of my life wasted for what should be a click on a website.

• Anna says:

  7 Aug7 August 13:56

  I’m still getting alerts from RFF showing lots of new Avios availability to DXB in F & J over Xmas & New Year. Is BA trying to rake in some cash from taxes/fees prior to cancelling the flights and hoping people take vouchers or is RFF having another glitch?

  • Rob says:

    7 Aug7 August 15:06

    I just got an email and the seats were not there, albeit potentially someone grabbed them in the hour before I checked (this was over half term).

    • Ed says:

      7 Aug7 August 19:40

      From my experience they’re still having a lot of problems with their data feed. Very slow to reflect actual ba availability. I wouldn’t advise anyone to rely on seatspy for an alert at the moment.

• Youngtraveller says:

  7 Aug7 August 14:03

  Is exchanging 10 pounds from my rewards (natwest) to 1170 avíos worth it? Or is it better to have it as cash.

  • Nick_C says:

    7 Aug7 August 14:26

    That has to be a personal decision. You are paying 0.85p for each avios you buy. You should be able to get at least a penny value from them. Depends how much you want/need them, and how easy it is for you personally to acquire what you need. Many people would buy at that price.

  • Andrew says:

    7 Aug7 August 14:48

    As this is an ongoing offer, I would keep in your Natwest rewards account for now and at such time as you are getting close to needing to make a booking with Avios and are 1170 short then transfer them over. Cash is much more flexible than Avios at any time, but particularly now.

    • Nick_C says:

      7 Aug7 August 14:54

      Sound advice.

• MattK says:

  7 Aug7 August 14:56

  A recent stay at Park Plaza Amsterdam posted as ineligible on my Radisson Rewards account. Following an enquiry this was due to it being booked under the Flash Sale, I was not aware of this condition at the time of booking. It’s worth keeping this in mind as promotional points offers may mean it’s better booking under a regular rate.

  • Rob says:

    7 Aug7 August 15:03

    Interesting. The one I booked for my brother last weekend also posted an ineligible. I had put it down to the hotel knowing that he was not me, as he had to call me up when there was a query over the reservation.

    • Chris Heyes says:

      7 Aug7 August 20:23

      Rob @ My Daughter uses my card when she stops at Hilton, they definitely know its not me lol
      Different gender and last name, never been a prob (i do the booking she turns up)
      i get the points same with son (but same surname and G looks like a C lol)
      When he fly’s to give a security lecture in different country’s
      Never had a problem they even get upgrades (suite) and lounge access

  • ChrisC says:

    7 Aug7 August 19:47

    I think a fair few of us booked using that rate (so much so Rob wrote about it in an article about people restarting travel ) I have 5 nights there at the end of the month.

    Whilst I booked for the rate the lints would be nice as well plus the 5k bonus they are also offering.

    I don’t recall the T&Cs saying the flash rate was excluded and if they did I’m sure Rob would have mentioned it.

• Will says:

  7 Aug7 August 15:06

  Do british Airways never fail to lower the bar?

  Having cancelled and then rebooked my LHR-INV trip on 14th August three weeks ago, one month an done day before the return flight, but wanting to add £150 to the cost of the group C car hire (for the same period of 4 days, just one day later) I have today had the replacement cancelled. I now keep getting cut off before speaking to anyone, and was cut off from the gold line because I am not gold. they are complete scum. Inverness flights should not be cancelled on 10 days notice

  • Will says:

    7 Aug7 August 15:07

    Is there compensation due for the 10 day notice (i think if under 1 month then compensation is due?)

    • Sukes says:

      7 Aug7 August 15:24

      Broadly speaking for flight bookings without a re-route offered compensation is due under EC261 if informed of cancellation within 14D of dep. But no comp is due if cancellation is due to exceptional circumstances. We’re getting into a grey area now whereby I’m sure airlines will try to tell you that Covid is an exceptional circumstance so they don’t need to pay out at the same time as insurers tell you Covid is a known event so they don’t need to pay out…..(the latter obvs depends when ins was taken out).

  • Andrew says:

    7 Aug7 August 15:26

    Depends…

    Are the flight crew Aberdeen based? It’s back in lockdown.

    • Will says:

      7 Aug7 August 15:44

      they cancelled Tuesday only a couple of weeks ago so we moved to Wednesday, /now they cancelled Weds and Thursday too, seems to be on the fly and perhaps could be simply load based. covid is old news and BA should have contingencies to use London crew (there’s enough spare capacity!!)

      How is best to pursue the comp claim? Can I ask them to book the sleeper train and get compensation?? or is it one or the other? Thank you

      • AJA says:

        7 Aug7 August 16:34

        Will, I think that you SHOULD be paid compensation but WON’T get it – BA will quote Covid-19 exceptional circumstances even though that is wearing a bit thin given they are actively choosing to cancel rather than being forced to. You can try the EU261 reroute option and suggest the train as an alternative.or you could ask them to reroute on you EasyJet out of LGW. Have they cancelled your return flight as well or only the outbound? Alternatively just get a refund and book EasyJet which is charginng £134 for 14 – 18 Aug LGW-INV-LGW

        • Charlieface says:

          7 Aug7 August 18:08

          Even more so, I believe even if the cancellation was somewhat Covid warranted, there is no need for them to cancel at short notice, therefore they should pay compo.

  • Chris in CA says:

    7 Aug7 August 18:57

    Getting cut off from the Gold Line because you don’t have a Gold card doesn’t seem totally unreasonable…

    • Will says:

      7 Aug7 August 21:08

      It’s only reasonable if they aren’t staffing the regular lines and they cut you off or make you hold for an hour.
      I did eventually get through and when I mentioned eu261 they cut me off again. It’s hard to remain calm when they treat customers and staff so badly.

      • Will says:

        7 Aug7 August 21:10

        Unreasonable. Anyhow I am sure the majority agree with the view that BA should do better

• Graeme2 says:

  7 Aug7 August 15:12

  I don’t know whether this scenario has been discussed much already here, or if I am in an unusual position. BA just cancelled my return flight from Portugal in a few weeks and put me on a perfectly acceptable alternative the same day. I nearly clicked the button in MMB to accept the new flight, then decided at the last moment to check the current prices for those flights, which turned out now to be much cheaper than when I had booked. I was able to call and get a refund of the £350 I had paid and immediately make a new booking on exactly the same flights I would have been on for £90. Worth checking prices if anyone else finds themselves in a similar position.

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    7 Aug7 August 15:34

    Good tip Graham. Always check!

  • BJ says:

    7 Aug7 August 16:10

    There was some discussion around that not so long ago but reminders are always welcome and useful, and some will see your comment and become aware for the first time. Same with hotels, check if current policies allow for refunds and then rebook lower rates.

  • planeconcorde says:

    7 Aug7 August 17:41

    Yes, I have done this too. Although on a one-way flight the saving was only £26.

• Neilg says:

  7 Aug7 August 15:46

  Hey Guys,
  Can someone refresh my memory in relation to the BA Tier Points Requirement reduction. My Tier point year ends in October and with the current reduction to 1125 TP for gold I am 190 TP off.

  Is the reduced earning target of 1125 the case for next TP year too or after my year rolls over in October will this return to 1500 for me?

  Debating whether or not to hit this 1125 now or whether it’s not worth it with the silver being extended. If it was 1125 TP again next year I could probably hit that but 1500 sounds a bit high with the current climate on travel.

  • AJA says:

    7 Aug7 August 16:25

    When is your Silver status valid until? Is it 30 November 2021? If so I believe the lowered TP threshold applies to that earning year so in your case October 20 to October 2021 so I am not sure but don’t think you would be upgraded to Gold if you hit 1125 point before 8 October 2020. But I do notice that the lower TP threshold figure appears now on my BAEC account and my Silver status is extended to 31 March 2022.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      7 Aug7 August 18:07

      You would be upgraded if you hit the reduced threshold before Oct 20

    • Neilg says:

      7 Aug7 August 18:37

      My Status has been extended to 30 Nov 2022 already by BA. I gained silver early in this year just gone before COVID. My current year ending 8 Oct 2020 shows the lowered requirement. So just wondering if I should try to hit the gold for this date or if it would still be 1125 to earn for the year 9 Oct 2020 – 8 Oct 2021 or if that will go back to 1500. It would be a bit of a push to fit in 190 TP before October as I am overseas quite a bit already in that period with work but could just about fit it in.

      However I already have about 600 TP booked in for next year so getting to 1125 next year would be fairly achievable and no great rush to hit gold if the target will be the same for me post October

      • Jon says:

        7 Aug7 August 18:56

        Several reports on FT that if you upgrade to gold (not renew) you will get it until 2023. Probably worth it for the gamble.

        • Neilg says:

          7 Aug7 August 19:59

          Thanks Jon,

          I’ve read that thread now on FT and some very detailed discussion which has cleared up for me. Effectively I should have the reduced tier point requirements for next year too, so I won’t rush to get to gold and think I will actually take the TAP status match option now instead to get Star Alliance gold and then tot up the extras needed for BA gold mid to late next year.

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