The new HFP chat thread – Wednesday 12th August

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• Graham says:

  12 Aug12 August 09:41

  I know with BA you can book flights 355 days in advance but does anyone now how I can find when flights are bookable with other airlines ?

  • Anna says:

    12 Aug12 August 11:01

    Google it by airline, e.g. this will show various blogs etc showing that AA release theirs 330 days out (as I recall).

  • Lady London says:

    12 Aug12 August 11:12

    flyertalk wiki’s for each airline would normally cover this.

• Benilyn says:

  12 Aug12 August 09:49

  ERNIE + Curve Q, can I use the free blue card without paying 1.5% charge? Or do I need to get the £15 card.

  • Andrew M says:

    12 Aug12 August 09:56

    Blue is fine, no fees using IHG as the underlying card.

    • Blindman says:

      12 Aug12 August 10:03

      +1

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:23

    No charges to Ernie at present using blue.

• Keely says:

  12 Aug12 August 10:03

  Morning quick question re IHG status please, tried looking online but can’t find a definitive answer. Do spend points count towards status or is it just from stays ? Thanks

  • Blindman says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:04

    If you mean do you get status points when staying on rewards nights.

    No

    • Keely says:

      12 Aug12 August 10:48

      No I meant i have a large spend coming up that I can’t put on Amex and wondered if those extra points count towards status …? Thanks

      • Doug M says:

        12 Aug12 August 12:23

        Spend on IHG credit card counts towards status.

  • Matt says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:18

    Rob’s article here explains what does count for status and what doesn’t. https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/01/20/what-ihg-rewards-club-points-count-for-status/

    • Keely says:

      12 Aug12 August 10:48

      Thanks I’ll take a look

  • Anna says:

    12 Aug12 August 11:03

    Points from spend on the IHG MC definitely count. OH has got to Spire from this recently and I should hit it in a few weeks as well. I know a lot of people don’t rate IHG status but I’ve been getting some good results. (I think it’s it a northern thing, people generally don’t do hotel status much up here so there are more upgrade opportunities for those of us who do).

• JP says:

  12 Aug12 August 10:07

  Any news on a new Hilton credit card?

  • Rob says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:28

    No. There was something being discussed but it seems to have gone away.

• Wally1976 says:

  12 Aug12 August 10:20

  Does anyone have recent experience of how long the Amex Green to Platinum upgrade takes? I was approved for this on Saturday and was at least expecting it to show as Platinum in my online account by now…

  Thanks.

  • Vit says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:27

    I applied on Monday (early this week). Platinum card shown on my online account this morning but has not got any formal approval email from amex as yet. Was advised through online chat that I can keep using my Green Card and it shall act as Plat card transaction while waiting for the new Plat arrives. Note that my card number has changed and that’s what I am not too sure about if I should start making large payment now….

    • Lady London says:

      12 Aug12 August 10:53

      Usually there is a period where transactions on the old number are honoured without problem.

  • Harry T says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:49

    I upgraded recently and my account is behaving as a Platinum card. However, it is taking an unusually long time for us to be sent the shiny heavy cards! Not a big issue as the priority passes have arrived and we can still use the green cards to pay. My Amex card in Apple Pay is a platinum card now.

    • Venturelog says:

      12 Aug12 August 12:15

      Do you get a MR bonus for upgrading from Green to Plat? or does this still depend on the 24 month rules?

      • Harry T says:

        12 Aug12 August 12:49

        Yes, spend 4k in six months to get 20,000 MR. The six months is a temporary extension from three months.

        • Travel Strong says:

          12 Aug12 August 13:20

          Do you know if there is a declared end date for applications which will get the 6 months extension?

          About to apply for green and then go the plat upgrade route. Was in no rush, but can make a move sooner if there is a known deadline.

        • Harry T says:

          12 Aug12 August 17:21

          “
          1. The 20,000 Membership Rewards bonus points will be awarded onto your Account once you have been approved and you have spent and charged £4,000 within the first six months of Cardmembership. This introductory offer is subject to change and can be withdrawn at any time. Please note that it can take up to 60 days for bonus points to be awarded to your Account.”

          That’s all I could find here: https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/charge-cards/platinum-card/

      • Rob says:

        12 Aug12 August 15:12

        20k, no 24 month rule, as long as you use the upgrade form (google it).

    • Waddle says:

      12 Aug12 August 13:26

      When I upgraded, the card changed in my account but I never received a card. Had to request it.

    • Vit says:

      12 Aug12 August 13:28

      Ah good to know. I still have one access left with the priority passes from Gold Card. Not that I will be using the lounge anytime soon anyway. 😐

  • Matt says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:49

    Upgraded last month. Platinum card arrived after 5 days iirc. To be safe I waited to make the big purchase until it was in my hand but looking at my online account the transactions made between application and receiving the card have indeed gone on the plat account.

• Alex M says:

  12 Aug12 August 10:45

  Just found out BA had cancelled my avios booking (the flight is still on!). Suspect IT glitch, but 0800 727 800 number is connecting to a message on how busy BA are and how well-being of their colleagues is essential for them and then they drop the call. Any advice on how to speak to a human to resolve the issue? The flight is in a week time and of course there are no reward seats left, so I am quite worried now… Thx!

  • Jody says:

    12 Aug12 August 10:57

    I contacted them yesterday on this number and didn’t select any of the options. Was a bit of a wait but did get through. I then had to be transferred through to BA holidays for a query about something, this was a longer wait!

  • Lady London says:

    12 Aug12 August 11:01

    as per advice on here call early 0600/0630 if you want ti risk getting their India call centre, 0830 or maybe 0800 otherwise, or 7.30pm have bern reportef as good times. To speak to someone dont press any buttons even if apparently correct choices appear.

    Dont worry about losing your seats if your flight is flying. Even if you were cancelled or offloaded or downgraded on purpose (downgrade appears as a cancellation then a replacement confirmation with the lower class) then if you choose to rebook another date or to be reinstated, the airline is not allowed to say there has to be only avios/award seats available. They have to give you any seat available in same class of travel.

    If it turns out to be a downgrade then compo options exist if you accept and fly it.

    • PJJ says:

      12 Aug12 August 13:58

      @LadyLondon
      Thanks for reply last Friday regarding my Virgin flight to JFK end of September
      Phoned Virgin Monday morning at 07.01, after hearing the usually blurb, phone never rang but was answered immediately, CSA confirmed refund was available but a wait of up to 80 days, then went on to options. Said I wanted the refund and she actioned immediately. Total time was about 10 minutes including the blurb
      Thanks agin

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      12 Aug12 August 15:24

      If they are mega busy, not pressing any buttons or hash key doesn’t work, you get a pre recorded message and the line gets cut off.

  • AJA says:

    12 Aug12 August 11:39

    Try the Newcastle number 0191 246 3933

• Mick S says:

  12 Aug12 August 10:47

  I’ve just used my last Lloyds upgrade voucher, what a saving this has been over the years.
  Realistically are we likely to see anything like this again? – it’s just saved me 100.000 Avios which is a LOT of earning.

  • Anna says:

    12 Aug12 August 11:10

    That sounds like a great redemption, where are you going? I’ve got my last one to use by October but think it’ll have to be on short haul. It would be fantastic if something similar appeared but all the signs are that these kind of benefits are being taken away, not expanded (like the withdrawal of the IHG card with the free night certificate).

    • Mick S says:

      12 Aug12 August 11:14

      Off to Nashville, upgrading from Premium to Club World. Going to do the bourbon whiskey trail (on my own).

      if anyone wants to join me, then please get in touch !!

  • Nigel W says:

    12 Aug12 August 11:54

    Yep, honestly still mourning the loss of the Amex Lloyds Card.

    I think must’ve saved over 150,000 Avios on two PE-CW return upgrades. Still got another two vouchers to use. Using one on flights to Asia before flying to/from Tokyo and another which expires on Dec 31st.

  • Anna says:

    12 Aug12 August 13:33

    If it makes you feel any better I’m not sure you saved 100,000 avios! Upgrade from PE to CW would be 25k avios each way at peak time.

  • PJJ says:

    12 Aug12 August 14:03

    I wish the Amex BAPP would offer free upgrades to all classes unlike the Virgin from Economu to Premium only.
    Why stick to 2-4-1 only
    There are solo travellers

• Andy says:

  12 Aug12 August 10:47

  BA IT glitch?

  Last Friday I requested a refund for a 2-4-1 cancelled flight. The redeposited Avios points showed up on ”my recent transactions” on my account and my wife’s, but are not reflected in the totals for “My Avios” and “My Household Avios” for both accounts.

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