The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 13th 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.

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Category

General

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

Lady London says:

13 Aug13 August 02:09

@BJ there’s a 90 days trial offer of Amazon Music HD on the homepage. Apparently it might include an upgrade offer for existing subscriptions in the tagged small print. Never seen an Amazon “HD Music” offer before.

Anyone else reading this, use Rob’s links to Amazon from the website here 🙂
- BJ says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 07:04
  
  Thanks, I didn’t bother much with the music so I passed on it recently. Currently have 3 months Kindle Unlimited, expires end of September so hopefully I can then pick it up again at Black Friday. I also have until tomorrow to try 2 months Audible for 99p. I think I will give it a go this time. They once gave me an offer for 3 free audiobooks but I have never seen that since so probably no point waiting on it reappearing.
  - Lady London says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 11:22
    
    Do Kindle Unlimited books disappear after the trial ends?
    - BJ says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 12:32
      
      Yes, you are only borrowing them. You can borrow up to 10 at once, once you have read them then you need to return them to borrow more. It seems to be different with Audibles though, once you redeem your credit for a book it becomes yours to keep. There is an article on the Lewis site which explains how to get the most out of Audibles that I found useful. Previously I had no interest in Audibles but that has changed as new releases now appear to be unabridged.
      - Lady London says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 12:36
        
        Thanks BJ.
    - Charlieface says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 12:50
      
      Switch off Wifi and 3G on your Paperwhite before the end of the trial if that’s what you have. Then you can read them until you connect next time
      - BJ says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 13:43
        
        wow, thanks, answers for everything on HfP 🙂 So it’s really free trial + 10 books.
Andrew says:

13 Aug13 August 05:54

Not sure if this has been mentioned but BA seem to allow rebooking beyond a year from original ticketing for cancelled flights – we booked a flight to GOT in January this year, travelling in November. The return leg is now cancelled.

We’ve managed to rebook online (using the MMB link from the cancellation email) for travel in May 2021. Quite happy with that tbh.
Gtellez says:

13 Aug13 August 06:17

Marriott has launched a new promotion, 2.5k additional points per stay + 5k additional points in the 3rd stay. Valid for stays until Oct 18.
- Ian M says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 06:26
  
  With a promotion that weak I can only imagine that business must be booming for Marriott… :/
- BJ says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 07:07
  
  On the subject of Marriott, anybody know what is going on with Moxy Aberdeen Airport?
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 08:32
    
    All the moxys in the uk are still closed unless you’re asking for another reason.
    - BJ says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 09:06
      
      I was surprised it isn’t taking bookings at all. I understand they are closed now but failing to take bookings 9-12 months from now seems crazy to me, like they are throwing in the towel. By contrast, newspaper articles a few weeks ago suggested Courtyard at Aberdeen is going ahead with an extension.
      - Harry T says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 10:41
        
        @BJ I can’t find availability at all for any Moxy in the UK.
      - BJ says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 11:20
        
        @Harry T, which is a pity. I wanted to try one and Aberdeen at Cat.1 fitted the bill (absent the current outbreak).
      - Harry T says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 13:24
        
        @BJ
        they look good value at the price point, and I’m sure a decent points redemption if cash prices are high, due to their low category classification. I was quite keen to try the one in York for a weekend staycation!
      - Erico1875 says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 18:28
        
        Skene Suites are nice. Pre Covid about £50/60 a night
    - Harry T says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 10:40
      
      Any idea when they might open, @TG?
- MattyS says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 09:05
  
  Thanks Gtellez. I’d got a stay booked this weekend so that’s a nice little bonus !
- Harry T says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 10:45
  
  It’s their best promotion for a while but unequivocally benefits low spenders/people staying at cheap hotels. I wish they’d introduce some kind of bonus per GBP spent so people staying at Luxury Collection properties get a proportionate benefit compared to people staying at Moxys.
  - BJ says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 11:23
    
    Must be the first time Marriott abandoned ‘starting with your second stay’.
    - Harry T says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 13:25
      
      I noticed that – a very positive development. The previous promotion shows in the app (under expired) – that gave less points for each stay and started from second stay. Progress is progress!
Ian M says:

13 Aug13 August 06:24

Does anyone know a good email address to get a response from TAP Portugal regarding the status match offer? I applied the day the article was published but haven’t heard anything from them
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 07:11
  
  For anyone trying to get through to BA, yesterday tried 3x and kept on hold for 20-30 mins each time. Tried at 8.30pm & got through in 2 mins.
- Rob says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 07:28
  
  Oddly neither have I, although I only did it 2-3 weeks ago.
- Sina says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 10:18
  
  I got it after a week, here’s the email the contacted me with: statusmatch@tapmilesandgo.com
- Mr. AC says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 13:47
  
  Me neither. Sent a follow-up to statusmatch@tapmilesandgo.com e-mail last week, nothing so far.
Adam Brown says:

13 Aug13 August 07:25

My Tier point collection for this year ends 8th October. My current bronze status is out to 2022 but if I was to move up to silver before October will this also last until then or just for one year?

Thanks
- Rhys says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 07:57
  
  One year and however many months you have left before October 🙂 the status extension was a one-time offer that extended whatever status you had in June, it doesn’t apply to any status you earn after.
  - S says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 08:49
    
    I don’t think this is true at all. I have been following the FlyerTalk thread on the extension closely and I don’t think anyone there has suggested you somehow fall back to your old status if your new status expiry would otherwise be shorter than the extended expiry of your previous status.
    
    Why do you say this Rhys?
    - Rob says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 09:16
      
      It’s complex. Reader experiences to date are that you keep the new status for the extended period of your old status, sensibly.
    - Rhys says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 09:25
      
      I haven’t actually looked into it – just my assumption based on how status years normally work.BA’s IT must have improved if they can work out that you deserve to keep it for the extended time 😉
      - s says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 09:35
        
        Actually its dumb IT that means it works this way, whether BA intends it to or not. Indeed, if you follow the FT thread, you’ll see that the IT limitation can give an upside to those upgrading tier (rather than simply retaining).
Gavin says:

13 Aug13 August 08:13

Is there any rhyme or reason to BA ‘Special Offer’ upgrades for cash? Any way or getting targeted?

Flying Euro Traveller tomorrow and could do without having to pay the actual difference to get into Club Europe. 4hr45 without even being able to buy a G&T… Plus the TPs…
- memesweeper says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 08:39
  
  They are somewhat unpredictable but sit in a range of values for any given route. If you don’t see a price that appeals try checking in at a desk and asking for an airport upgrade . They aren’t always available but are often best value .
- Anna says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 09:27
  
  Put a couple of miniature bottles of gin in your liquids bag?
  - Andrew says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 09:32
    
    Neat, warm gin, with no tonic or ice isn’t great!
    - Anna says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 11:12
      
      Aren’t they selling cold drinks in ET, I haven’t been keeping up?! Even if not you could buy a chilled bottle of orange or something just before boarding.
      - Andrew says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 11:22
        
        My understanding is that ET are given a bottle of water and some crisps in a bag – M&S buy on board is not currently being offered.
Berneslai says:

13 Aug13 August 10:00

I’m looking to fly into LA in August 2021 from LHR. Who is generally regarded as the best carrier for business class experience (if things return to normal) for flights to the Wes Coast?
- Peter K says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 11:25
  
  That’s an open question. Best… On price? Hard product quality? Soft product quality? In a specific airline group (eg One World)? Direct only?
  - berneslai says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 20:56
    
    Direct only, choice on quality over price. I’m not hugely bothered if Oneworld or not.
- Stuart Evans says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 14:16
  
  I have used both BA and AA in recent years – travelling in First on Avios or AAdvantage points.
  
  To be honest, they are much of a muchness. I like the AA 777 in First, although not everyone does. Lounges at both ends for both airlines pretty good.
  
  Availability is the tricky question – I got Saver Awards on AA in May 19 which were amazing value but I think probably an error in the AA system.
  
  As it happens, I am going to LA in July 21 and have managed to snag a CW redemption. Still looking for F availability but nothing showing yet. hardly surprising as BA is still working out how to deal with the 747 retirements.
  
  Good Luck!
- Simon says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 19:03
  
  AA has better biz class seats.
- Pat the Postie says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 10:53
  
  Virgin/Delta has been good IME
Wally1976 says:

13 Aug13 August 10:03

I’ve repeatedly tried to ask a question on here but it never posts despite trying several times on several days and in different browsers. Any ideas?
- Wally1976 says:
  
  13 Aug13 August 10:03
  
  That one did post so I’m wondering what’s different about it!
  - RussellH says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 10:21
    
    The system also seems to strip angle brackets (or greater than / less than symbols) from postings. My post below has BAAer Club, while I wrote it with angle brackets between the two to indicate movement in either direction.
  - Wally1976 says:
    
    13 Aug13 August 11:10
    
    I wasn’t posting any links or anything CB related. It seems to have gone through now although “awaiting moderation”
    - Optimus Prime says:
      
      13 Aug13 August 11:17
      
      Now I’m intrigued. Let’s wait for Rob or Rhys to solve this mystery 🙂
      - Rob says:
        
        13 Aug13 August 11:24
        
        Fixed that for you!