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The new HFP chat thread – Monday 10th August

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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.

By default, HFP shows the last page of comments under the article.  If you want to see the first page of comments and read them all from beginning to end in order, click here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/08/10/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-monday-10th-august/comment-page-1.  The page will refresh with this article but the comments will now show the first page and not the last page.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HFP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (187)

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

  • Martin says:
    10 Aug10 August 12:00

    So BA have just cancelled my CW to Vancouver for Sept (and I guess a number of other routes), at least this means a full refund, a return of my Avois and my 2-4-1 voucher. Having the return from Calgary already cancelled (and a new return from Vancouver booked) this wasn’t a surprise.

    I guess they’ll leave Air Canada to continue lobbying the Gov over there to open up air corridors, seems to be falling on deaf ears though. Quoting the Air Canada CEO:

    “Air Canada is not proposing relaxing the U.S. border restrictions at this time – only to replace the quarantine requirements for those countries with a low COVID-19 risk from a public health perspective with more proportionate, evidence-based measures and experiences from other countries.”

    Any idea if BA will extend the validity of an already redeemed 2-4-1 voucher? We booked at T-355 and have burnt at least 12 months on that voucher so wondering what validity I might have remaining.

    I seem to be collecting a few too many 2-4-1 vouchers currently…..

    • meta says:
      10 Aug10 August 12:07

      Your voucher already got extended by 6 months. You can see the new expiry date on your account under used vouchers.

  • William R B says:
    10 Aug10 August 12:12

    Can anyone hazard a guess as to the earliest date that the possible strike at British Airways would start? The Unite union is calling for one with “immediate” effect, but it must take time to get the voting papers out and back together with the period of statutory of notice to strike. It seems to me that end-September would be the earliest time. Any views?

    • Lady London says:
      10 Aug10 August 12:44

      It will be a damp squib if so because that’s around the time 12,000 staff start leaving

    • TGLoyalty says:
      10 Aug10 August 13:43

      With mixed fleet largely unaffected you have to ask yourself what effect would strike action actually have to the rather limited flying schedules already in place.

  • Simon Lark says:
    10 Aug10 August 12:15

    Hi I have booked a 2-4-1 Amex companion Flight on BA LHR-BKK in business class.

    The flights have been cancelled , will BA allow a rebook onto QR in business class LHR-DOH-BKK-DOH-LHR that way will get the Q suite which is better than the old BA business class product

    As when you book the 2-4-1 it does state you can only travel on BA Metal , not sure what happens when flight is cancelled

    • Rob says:
      10 Aug10 August 12:57

      BA is very unlikely to do this. Feel free to book two Qatar tickets for cash and take BA to court for the money, but that’s about the only way it will happen. The EU rules on cancellations have been suspended at the moment.

      I can’t believe BA has pulled all Bangkok flights? If there is a BA option within a day or so you would be expected to take that.

      • meta says:
        10 Aug10 August 13:02

        Duty of care has not been suspended. It is clear that only 600/400/250 euros compensation in case of delays or cancellations has been suspended. You still have right to reroute, etc. It couldn’t have been more clearer that this is the case from EU statements!

      • Lady London says:
        10 Aug10 August 14:04

        Rob I’m quite concerned at the phrase “EU261 has been suspended for cancellations”.

        Where is this stated please?

        We’ve been working on the basis that compensation is not payable due extraordinary cirvumstances but duty of care (including rerouting) is.

        I have a personal need to be sure about this as currently I have flights that have been cancelled. I want to reroute on a later date. However I wont know before the cancelled flight date what replacement date I can travel. I have advised the airline I will be choosing the opion to reroute although I wont know for some time yet which later date I can fly. Am I safe?

        • Rhys says:
          10 Aug10 August 14:10

          Duty of care still applies.

          • meta says:
            10 Aug10 August 14:59

            Can you actually request a reroute on a later date? BA cancelled my return flight from Porto on bank holiday Monday and don’t fly until Thursday that week. I would like to fly a day later if possible and Tap has flights on that day. Alternatively, I am happy to stay until Thursday too if duty of care applies and they cover my accommodation costs.

          • Rhys says:
            10 Aug10 August 15:18

            Yes. The three options are 1. refund 2. reroute as close to original time as possible 3. reroute at a mutually agreed upon date.

    • Anna says:
      10 Aug10 August 17:16

      A reader on here had his flight to SYD cancelled and BA re-routed him on QR.

  • Steve R says:
    10 Aug10 August 13:28

    @Kai re the CC points i would screen shot the MSE papge

  • MD says:
    10 Aug10 August 13:33

    Hi,

    We had our BA club europe flights cancelled to Portugal and we opted to have avios instead of a refund. Its been 10 days since they processed this and still not received the avios yet. Has anyone else opted for points and how long did it take to see it credited to their account?

    Thanks

    • Mr. AC says:
      10 Aug10 August 13:43

      Usually it’s pretty fast (instant or a couple of days). I’d probably send them a nudge, there have been cases where they promised to send me Avios as compensation for one thing or another, but nothing arrived after a week, so I followed up and received them.

      • MD says:
        10 Aug10 August 13:50

        Thanks!

        How did you nudge them other than calling them? I don’t think I can bear to be on hold to them after spending all that time trying to get the avios!

  • Nick says:
    10 Aug10 August 14:22

    Rob, relating to your article yesterday on BA moving SH flights from LGW – I’ve just had my return flight from Barbados moved from LGW to LHR – same times just from Heathrow. Given I have a couple of First tickets this is great news now that I can use the Concord Lounge….oh and the flights are for June 2021 – does this mean BA is still considering pulling out of LGW completely?

    Also, when I went to choose my seats again, the cabin presented only had 8 First seat but stated it was a B777 – I thought only the B787 had 8 First seats…?
    Thanks

  • John Caribbean says:
    10 Aug10 August 14:23

    I think this is regularly asked, so apologies, but are creation payments via curve to Ernie ok?
    I can’t check for cash advance/interest charges as I have other costs that incur those charges and can’t separate those out.
    I guess I’m looking for someone who does pure creation/curve/Ernie payments as a comparator.

    Thanks

  • Ben says:
    10 Aug10 August 14:29

    Spending related -I’ve got a £4k ikea spend coming up are there any gift card stacking options? The site who shall not be named has suspended Ikea.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Lady London says:
      10 Aug10 August 15:29

      New members in some countries have been known to get 5% or 10% off on a purchase on their first day instore. Such offers very seasonal maybe twice a year? I believe they have a Business scheme in the UK, and possibly something smaller for srudents.

    • bsuije says:
      10 Aug10 August 16:21

      Does your employer run an employee perks website? My old one used Xexec to provide discounts on vouchers, including IKEA.

      Xexec doesn’t take Amex, though, so you’d need a good alternative.

      • Rossy says:
        10 Aug10 August 16:58

        I can buy vouchers through my work scheme at a 5% discount if you’re interested

    • Anuj says:
      10 Aug10 August 17:04

      Some work schemes give 5% off sometimes it goes up to 7%, what site is banned? Cardyard sometimes have them for sale

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

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