The HfP chat thread – Sunday 6th September

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• Alex Sm says:

  6 Sep6 September 09:55

  Just wondering which groups of passengers are currently filling multiple flights between UK and US? If the majority of Americans are de facto banned from direct entry to the UK and vice versa?

  • Blenz101 says:

    6 Sep6 September 10:04

    Consensus seems to be cargo is making these flights viable.

    Residents are still also able to travel. E.g. Any US citizen heading home and the same for any European in the US coming the other way.

    • Wollhouse says:

      6 Sep6 September 16:07

      I’m wondering about the “exceptions” mentioned in the mandate. I can’t find where they’re actually detailed. My mum is a us resident and my step dad is American; they live in the usa; i live in the UK. I am keen to visit as they’re elderly and health is not great. There is mention of family of US residents coming from UK being exempt but I’m not clear if that means under 18 (which I’m definitely not!). Anyone found where the exemptions are actually detailed?? TIA

  • Ian M says:

    6 Sep6 September 11:11

    Americans can visit the UK, subject to a 14 day self quarantine, which is basically not enforced. So I would imagine there’s a fair few US citizens travelling to the UK for a holiday

    • DB2020 says:

      6 Sep6 September 12:42

      Yes, I noticed lots of tourists with North American accents in the Leicester Square and Covent Garden area in London last week.

      • Lady London says:

        6 Sep6 September 12:46

        all quarantining? Americans usually only get 2 weeks holiday per year. So quarantine would use up all of that for most.

        • Jack says:

          6 Sep6 September 13:12

          Yeah I’m sure they all are 😉

        • Blenz101 says:

          6 Sep6 September 14:25

          Returning international students would be in the mix as well.

        • Hak says:

          6 Sep6 September 14:57

          Plenty of self employed people like to travel as do the growing number of retired folks. I suspect most are students coming to the London unis which were all told to get here two weeks prior to term starting (only to now learn that the majority of classes will be online!).

• Stuart says:

  6 Sep6 September 11:08

  On Friday’s posts, Matthew and Jody asked about options regarding a holiday to Monte Carlo. I have the same trip booked in a few weeks and just spoke to BA. If the balance isn’t paid then the deposit is lost. She did say that I have the option of using this money towards another destination but would need to complete travel by January 9th. This needs to be booked by the time the balance is due.

  • Jody says:

    6 Sep6 September 11:11

    Thanks for updating Stuart. Wonder why there is such a short date of January 9th to do another trip?

  • Lady London says:

    6 Sep6 September 11:21

    I thought someone said you can convert your deposit to an FTV if you dont want to go ahead.

    • Stuart says:

      6 Sep6 September 12:03

      The lady I spoke to was adamant that this is not the case as I booked at the start of the year and am travelling in October.

      • Lady London says:

        6 Sep6 September 12:22

        Aaaaah yes for some insane reason its only for bookings from March?

        Will they let you move it to a date far in the future?

        • Stuart says:

          6 Sep6 September 12:26

          No, all travel has to be completed by January 9th. I am annoyed with myself as I paid another £350 off the balance to gain extra Avios a few months back 🙄

        • Andrew says:

          6 Sep6 September 13:49

          At any time, regardless of Covid you can ask for anything above the deposit you have paid ahead of the full balance cut off date back from BA holidays. I did this earlier in the year and so I was only facing a voucher for the initial deposit, although in the end the flight was cancelled so got a full refund.

        • Stuart says:

          6 Sep6 September 16:27

          That is really useful to know – thank you. Will ring tomorrow as ask for the surplus back.

        • Stuart says:

          6 Sep6 September 12:45

          Just had a thought – would I be able to swap my Monte Carlo trip for another trip as suggested and then possibly cancel that one for a FTV?

        • Lady London says:

          6 Sep6 September 12:51

          you could ask.
          If any part of your trip gets cancelled, flight or presumably helicopter, yoi would have the right to a full refund without strings within two weeks and BA would indeed pay it by then.

          so if you dont want to lose what you’ve paid and staying with it for now, perhaps line up what else you’d like and wait closer to date to see if any par cancels? then leap your backup only if not.

          Other airlines have cancelled October so BA may be going to

        • TGLoyalty says:

          6 Sep6 September 13:38

          If FCO advice not not travel to France or Monaco is still in place your holiday will be cancelled anyway.

          If France comes off the list and there’s no quarantine would you travel ?

        • Jody says:

          6 Sep6 September 14:48

          Will it? Is this what BA have been doing? I thought that if flights were still going and hotels still open (which they seem to be) it wouldn’t get cancelled.

          We also booked at the start of the year. Balance due 16th October.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          6 Sep6 September 15:02

          Not for holidays. They have a different responsibility to ensure you are safe on holiday including following FCO advice.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          6 Sep6 September 15:04

          Official ABTA view https://www.abta.com/help-and-complaints/frequently-asked-questions/foreign-and-commonwealth-office-advising-against

        • Stuart says:

          6 Sep6 September 15:40

          I would travel – quarantine is the issue

        • Jody says:

          6 Sep6 September 16:15

          We’re the opposite – quarantine not an issue, but not happy to travel without adequate insurance as we both have some pre-existing conditions.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          6 Sep6 September 17:02

          Then pay up for your holiday.

          If there’s quarantine in place and therefore FCO advice NOT to travel you’ll get a full refund or rebooked to a suitable date. See ABTA advice above

• Martha says:

  6 Sep6 September 11:20

  I still have not worked out the new hfp logo. Is it something to do with twin towers?

  • Andrew says:

    6 Sep6 September 13:50

    It looks like the motorway road sign, especially as the colour is the same too!

  • TomG says:

    6 Sep6 September 18:59

    It’s the Disney Concert Hall in DTLA as far as I can tell. Frank Gehry, the architect, has a few similar buildings like the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle but I’m 99% this is Disney.

• Steve says:

  6 Sep6 September 11:26

  For those needing an Uber for their travels: code EUKPM1 gets £5 off next 2 Uber rides between now and Oct 4th

  • Rob says:

    6 Sep6 September 12:28

    Worked, thanks

  • xcalx says:

    6 Sep6 September 17:25

    Cheers Steve

• Bill says:

  6 Sep6 September 11:29

  IOM has got its first coronavirus case in over 100 days. At the moment everything is back to normal other than track restrictions. Will be interesting to see if anything changes as a result of this news

  • Bill says:

    6 Sep6 September 12:01

    Apparently nothing changes at the moment due to it being an isolated case

• Lady London says:

  6 Sep6 September 11:43

  I would have thought Milan easier to reach than Pisa. Plus far, far more flights to choose from. Malpensa Express train from Mil Cadorna station to Mxp or town bus 73 from San Babila (near Duomo) to Linate. there are also cheaper coaches leaving grom the side of MIL Central station to MXP (allow time for motorway snarls)

  Given the choice of flights I would do MXP (as more flights andvtge lounge BA use is OK there) with LIN a close second. BA still has flights and so do Easyjet you will be spoilt for choice. There is a Sheraton hotel literally inside the terminal building at MXP avoiding the need for super-early shuttles (and not unreasonable to have BA pay).

  Given that BA has failed in their duty to inform you of all your EU261 rights I would not lose the last day of my holiday for them. I think MIL has more choices to reach more flexibly and defo has flights you can use.

  I’m sure EU261 makes BA liable for ground transport to different airport – just make sure you let them know to theie cancellatiin and nearest rrasonably close timed alternatibe flight and location has forced you to incur this expensr and you will be claiming it – give them an opportunity to provide somethung better.

  after a they dont want you claiming loads of hotel nights and meals till their next.flight from Pisa do they? plus you should not be obliged to return to Pisa un particular since your booking was from Genoa – more choice from Mil to get home with despatch.

  Please let us know how it turns and since BA is bullying you abd denying you ypur rights make sure you keep every extra meal receipt (no alcohol) and claim everything you can, im full.

  If it goes to MCOL add 8% oa pro rata till paid statutory intetest you”re entitled to by law, to the whole thing.

• Lady London says:

  6 Sep6 September 11:46

  above for @Aliks

  • Lady London says:

    6 Sep6 September 12:15

    It’s really quite ironic that BA having told you they are unable to provide you transport direct from Pisa on Ryanair after BA cancelled its own flight from Genoa looks like meaning BA is now forcing you to claim the following:-

    1. BA to write you a ticket on a BA flight from MXP or, BA paying you for someone else’s flight from MXP or LIN.

    2. Ground transport to MIL/MXP/LIN (though they would have been liable anyway for ground transport from Genoa to Pisa – just MIL has better chance of more reliable choice of flights as so many from there incl BA’s own).

    3. Hotel in MXP/LIN/MIL – as not being able to cut your holiday short to leave any earlier than you planned to leave from Genoa, you will likelt reach MIL after flights have left, requiring a hotel

    4. Several meals at reasonable local rates for your now longer journey. You dont have to scrimp but no alcohol.

    5. 8%pa pro rata statutory interest on everything up to the day if payment if they are so foolish as to force you lodge an MCOL.

    6. A preparation time order if you can make it stick.

    BA made their choice.

    • Aliks says:

      6 Sep6 September 13:09

      Many thanks for all the advice!
      I did look closely at Milan options, but the travel time from Genoa is likely to be worse – over 3 hours as MXP is a long way NW of town. After discussion with wife we agreed that Pisa on Mon 28th was preferable.
      So I called back to BA and this time had much better luck. The agent was extremely helpful and did commit to paying ground transport to Pisa, plus hotel and meals for one night. He said the process was to retain receipts and contact BA Customer Service when back in the UK to get expenses reimbursed. He couldn’t put this on the flight confirmation email, but has put it on the notes for the flight reference, so hopefully I won’t get any pushback. If there are problems, I will be happy to push BA hard. . . . .
      One last point – EU261 compensation – is this off the table when alternative flights have been accepted?

      • blenz101 says:

        6 Sep6 September 14:14

        You have had more than 14 days notice so no compensation is due even under normal non-Covid times.

        • Lady London says:

          6 Sep6 September 21:19

          no compo for anyone during covid as EU261 is in force as usual still but contains an exemption from the compensation part of EU261 due exceptional circs which covid counts as.

          Duty of care – where they have to provide alternate transport and the other things mentioned – has no exemption for excetional circs so must be provided

• Aston100 says:

  6 Sep6 September 12:05

  Hello.
  If making a purchase in a foreign currency where there is a risk of needing to chargeback / s75 or otherwise dispute something, should I just stick to using my Halifax Clarity, and forego any points opportunity?
  Or else, do I have recourse if using Revolut or Curve (free)?
  Talking about two holiday-related purchases of circa £1k each from companies based abroad.

  Thanks.

  • Carol says:

    6 Sep6 September 12:28

    Curve did obtain a refund for me from a hotel in Italy, which I paid in euros

  • TGLoyalty says:

    6 Sep6 September 13:07

    I would go direct with a credit card if you are booking directly with the accommodation/ airline.

    If you are using an agent the s75 doesn’t apply.

  • Genghis says:

    6 Sep6 September 13:07

    Personally I’d only use Curve / Revolut on things I’d already consumed (ie hotel on check out) or a restaurant meal. I prefer the back up of statutory protection rather than policy. Sometimes the return of capital is more important than return on capital.

    • Aston100 says:

      6 Sep6 September 15:30

      Thanks for the replies everyone.
      Will use my Halifax Clarity.

  • Harry T says:

    6 Sep6 September 13:25

    I would use a credit card. I agree with Genghis.

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