The new HFP chat thread – Wednesday 19th August

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

• Emma says:

  19 Aug19 August 13:39

  Afternoon! Looking to go to watch Lions rugby in SA in July 2021. Several flights now available but BA seems to be the only provider who’s flexible policy would cover July 2021 bookings and their flights are all sold out (suspect they’ve sold to packages). Just checking I’ve not missed any other providers who’s policies extend to next summer (or any rumours of anyone like Virgin who may extend)? Appreciate we could just pay more for flex tickets (or wait a while to book)… but any other ideas welcome!

  • graham says:

    19 Aug19 August 15:37

    All of the “organised packaged” trips for the Lions will be released on September 2nd and they would have scooped up most/all London flights to Cape Town/Jo’burg making it difficult for the DIY supporter. Other airlines to look at are Lufthansa, KLM, Delta, Air France, TAP, Qatar and Austrian Air and also consider Amsterdam and Paris for departure.

    • Emma says:

      19 Aug19 August 17:15

      Thanks Graham – am based in the Midlands so suspect we’ll end up doing 1 stop with one of those airlines (unless Virgin’s direct routes are available, thought I’m suspecting they’ll be sold out too!)

  • TheThunderer says:

    19 Aug19 August 16:41

    Hi Emma, I’m watching for these too. I was under the impression that the flights were being released daily at around 335 days out. Post on here if you hear anything more?

    • Emma says:

      19 Aug19 August 17:10

      Sounds good! It looks like you can already book with Qatar, Lufthansa, Air France etc (Virgin Atlantic and others not out for a week or two) but I’m just worried about booking and then getting stung with charges if need to change dates / cancel if they move the Lions tour. (Not keen to pay the hefty packaged tours option!) Will post on here if I see a good solution come up. Note: I did see pricing at c.£1300 pp for Qatar economy outbound (to Jnb) and business inbound flights (from Cpt) from Bhx or Man earlier… but if you need to change or cancel it’d be pretty hefty fees. Just still feel a bit uncertain about the event happening to lock in to potential high charges!

• NvT1115 says:

  19 Aug19 August 13:50

  Afternoon All – has anyone recently upgraded a Amex Personal Gold Charge to Platinum – and triggered the bonus points? I have the link but have heard anecdotely that applying for Green Charge and then upgrading is the best option???

  • memesweeper says:

    19 Aug19 August 14:29

    There are few personal gold charge cards left — the new ones for the last few years have been credit cards. If you actually have a gold charge then the upgrade route to platinum should still be OK.

    • NvT1115 says:

      19 Aug19 August 14:59

      Thanks MEMESWEEPER – yes it’s definitely the Charge Card version.

    • Andrew says:

      19 Aug19 August 15:01

      Admittedly late last year but worked for me (downgraded Plat to Gold CHARGE in August 2019, upgraded back to Plat for the upgrade bonus about 4 months later)

• Lady London says:

  19 Aug19 August 14:29

  sorry i know this has been posted a few times but hss anyone got the BA Newcastle number? travel arrangements just got mesded arpund and need to actually try to get through to BA urgently

  Apologies if I’ve missed a link on the new website to search comments tried a regular search and nothing came up

  • meta says:

    19 Aug19 August 14:55

    0191 2463933

  • Yuff says:

    19 Aug19 August 14:56

    0191 490 7901

  • Louise K says:

    19 Aug19 August 15:15

    0191 490 7900

  • Lady London says:

    19 Aug19 August 16:40

    Thank you both.

    • meta says:

      19 Aug19 August 18:14

      Why are there 3 different numbers? I have one which AJA posted 2 weeks ago.

      • AJA says:

        19 Aug19 August 19:06

        That is very weird. The number Meta quotes which I posted here definitely gets through to BA customer services without the need to press any other buttons.

      • BJ says:

        19 Aug19 August 20:31

        There have been multiple Newcastle numbers for ever. Don’t know why but my best guess is that they are the geographical variant of nongeographical status numbers.

• Matt says:

  19 Aug19 August 15:13

  Anyone had issues with Marriott covid cancellation policy?
  I made a booking in April for the end of Sept under the policy at the time that it was fully refundable (I saved the email).
  I tried to cancel and hotel effectively said that the policy doesnt apply as some peak weeks are excluded and they considered the full 6 months they are open to be peak.
  (full response below)

  “Following to your mail, we would like to inform you that the below policy is not eligible for our hotel for 2 reasons: a) We are a seasonal resort hotel which faces high occupancies all 6months season and as per Marriott announcement, it states: “Some exclusions may apply. May exclude periods with special event restrictions or peak demand weeks. Please refer to individual property rate rules for details.” B ) We are a franchise hotel and as per Marriott awareness, we offer voucher credits instead of cash refunds

  • memesweeper says:

    19 Aug19 August 16:24

    IANAL but I’d kick up a stink if ‘cancellable’ rate isn’t actually cancellable. Putting something in the small print won’t get Marriott out of their obligations under Consumer Rights (formerly unfair terms) or Misrepresentation Acts. I wouldn’t argue with the hotel any further, their position may be legal in 99% of territories. Marriott, who market and sell hotels rooms here, should know and understand our laws.

  • E says:

    19 Aug19 August 16:50

    The Marriott policy wasn’t what it seemed to be. I think Marriott may have covered themselves under Consumer Rights because they did have a caveat (an asterisk which at the bottom said the fully refundable policy didn’t apply to all hotels and it wouldn’t apply to hotels in peak demand weeks). Saying that every open week if peak demand if pushing it though!

    • E says:

      19 Aug19 August 16:53

      At the time of promoting this they did say you had to check with the hotel what the conditions were when booking it to see if it qualified for free cancellation. What hotel was it?

      • Matt says:

        19 Aug19 August 18:54

        marriott domes of elounda.
        I spoke directly to Marriott and they said a few hotels had done this (implying they went rogue) and that they would raise it with the hotel; 2-5 days till I hear back.
        In the meantime the hotel did offer a voucher valid for 18months so not terrible, I just booked it thinking it was 100% refundable as 30 Sept is hardly “peak”

        • Ricatti says:

          19 Aug19 August 22:48

          This also has to do with Greece government-level decision giving leeway to hotels ‘to refund” with a voucher.

          Hotels in Greece and France have funny way of interpreting these local regulation: instead of freedom of contract and refund in cash if they choose, they say that it is “government” that now prohibits them from issuing refunds, even for cancellable bookings.

        • Ricatti says:

          19 Aug19 August 23:14

          Domes of Elounda can make a case that their active trading period is April-October, and treat it all as ‘peak’, as customary in Greece etc.

        • Graeme2 says:

          19 Aug19 August 23:40

          If it was marketed in the headline as refundable then they can’t legally get away with burying it not actually being refundable in the t&cs if the contract is under english law.

• Aston100 says:

  19 Aug19 August 17:29

  Hello people.
  I need to book 3 rooms for 2 nights at a Holiday Inn Express.
  Not on points.

  What’s the best way to do this to maximise points including the x4 challenge – multiple 2 night bookings, or is there no difference if I do a straight single booking?
  Thanks.

  • Rob says:

    19 Aug19 August 17:34

    You will get points for both rooms BUT I think the bonus only applies to one room. How you book won’t make any difference.

    Logically put the 2nd room in someone else’s name so it kicks along their 4x target.

    • Aston100 says:

      19 Aug19 August 17:48

      Thanks Rob.

• Martha says:

  19 Aug19 August 19:04

  My IHG is being declined for any curve or non curve transactions. I have been using it for the last few days for a range of transactions…
  Should I contact IHG to unblock?
  Should I wait?
  Is this normal?
  Thank you.
  M

  • Youllnever says:

    19 Aug19 August 19:20

    Sounds like you’ll need to contact them – I don’t see any reason for waiting.

  • Genghis says:

    19 Aug19 August 19:28

    I assume the credit card? I’d contact Creation.

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    19 Aug19 August 20:52

    If you have nothing to hide then definitely get on the phone ASAP. I’ve heard of security blocks from Creation.

  • Travel Strong says:

    20 Aug20 August 00:23

    This happened to me last week.
    I suspected a block, but left it 1 day, then did another transaction (at a shop, inserting the card instead of using contactless) and it went through fine and everything else then worked too.

    Still unsure if I had simply capped out on contactless transactions and needed to do a pin transaction, or if I was briefly under review.

• Yan says:

  19 Aug19 August 22:20

  First retrospective case study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission on the airplane (incl. link to the original paper)
  https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/88131

  • Peter K says:

    19 Aug19 August 22:45

    Interesting read and in it a large reason why taking precautions yourself on a flight may not help…4 of the 7 passengers on the flight with COVID19 had symptoms yet still flew!
    Masks not being worn also a factor for sure, but the lack of respect some people have for others is an overwhelming risk factor and hard to compensate for.

• Nick Newbury says:

  20 Aug20 August 23:31

  In light of the changes to the Virgin credit card rewards is this now a better bet than BA Amex?

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