The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 9th September

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

• Axil23 says:

  9 Sep9 September 11:21

  Am I right in reading that if I fly to a travel to Finland via KLM I will have to do the 14 days quarantine on the way back just for changing flights in AMS?

  • Heathrow Flyer says:

    9 Sep9 September 11:25

    Yes – counts as a transit stop.

  • Rob says:

    9 Sep9 September 12:31

    Correct

    • Axil23 says:

      9 Sep9 September 23:21

      Thanks for the replies all.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    9 Sep9 September 12:47

    The only way you won’t have to quarantine is if you drove through one of these countries and didn’t mix with anyone local if you did stop for fuel(Pay at pump?)/food (drive through?)

    A direct train from a country on the exemption list to the UK which travels through countries not on the list that doesn’t stop to allow anyone new on the train or anyone to get off then back on would also be fine.

    Plane that stopped for refuelling only but no one got on/off would also be fine.

  • Lady London says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:06

    Yes – a costly stroopwaffel in the airport

    • ankomonkey says:

      9 Sep9 September 16:42

      They taste so good it may actually be worth it though…

• Graeme2 says:

  9 Sep9 September 11:34

  Thanks to Rob for the Hertz / Amex Platinum 4 hour grace period tip a few days ago – just saved me £66 on a rental for an upcoming long weekend!

• Stanley says:

  9 Sep9 September 11:40

  Rob / Rhys…. Any chance of re-activating the “new/latest comments” feature on the right hand side of the page. This always helped see if any new comments had been posted recently…..

  • Rhys says:

    9 Sep9 September 11:40

    In the works

    • Stanley says:

      9 Sep9 September 12:06

      Great to hear RJ !

  • Lady London says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:08

    That section showing recent posters who had commented initially got a “not used much” comment.

    The trouble was, I think so many of us look at it as we come into HfP, to see “who’s in” today :-). So we don’t click, but lots of us look. It also give a “ticker tape” effect which shows the liveliness of the site.

    • Rob says:

      9 Sep9 September 13:31

      We can’t put it onto the home page though, but we can return it to article pages.

• fivebobbill says:

  9 Sep9 September 12:15

  Need some Hilton clarification guys, Rob?
  I’ve always had Hilton status via a credit card, either HH Barclaycard or Amex Plat, I do like the Hilton brand, but would never stay enough nights to even consider aiming for Diamond. Ergo, I ‘m not that sure on the rules.

  First question. I am currently Gold via Amex Plat, so I need 60 nights to attain Diamond. However if I was an “earned” Gold at the start of the Hilton year, do I still need to stay 60 nights to qualify for Diamond or is it just the 20 nights difference between the two?

  Secondly, as I say I’m currently Gold via Amex Plat. I currently have 5 nights in the bag this year, but I have an 11 night stay coming up in a week or so, which under the “double” promotion will bring me to 27 (11 x 2 + 5). Should I push for the other 33 nights (17 x 2) before the end of the double promotion (31st Dec) to get Diamond until end of 2021, or with the rollover promo, am I right in assuming I’d be better to leave myself a night or two short this year, then trigger Diamond early in 2021 to get Diamond status until end of 2022?

  Have re-read that a few times, all reads a bit confusing but I think I’ve asked it right…

  • Rob says:

    9 Sep9 September 12:26

    You still need 60 nights. This is different to the Marriott card which gives you 15 night credits (so you are nearer to the higher tiers).

    Your strategy is interesting. I am tempted to agree – better to take the roll-over nights and trigger Diamond early in 2021 so you get it for all of 2021 and 2022.

    • fivebobbill says:

      9 Sep9 September 12:39

      Thanks Rob, yeah sounds sensible, just wasn’t that sure of my facts.
      Appreciate the confirmation.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 Sep9 September 12:51

        Best to get as many as you can under double nights but get the last few that tip you over next year 🙂

        I have to be honest though what UK Or European property is actually worth trying to hit diamond for?

        Couple Conrad’s? Most Hilton/doubletree upgrade golds to exec rooms and you are eligible for lounge access anyway (not that it’s worth much). I struggle to think of Hotels with amazing suites that I could be upgraded to.

        • guesswho2000 says:

          9 Sep9 September 13:08

          Prob not UK/EU (other than a few), but in Asia it’s worth its weight in gold (or Diamonds, as the case may be). I’ve had some epic experiences in Bali, Singapore, HK and Malaysia (and still decent ones in Japan and elsewhere) as a Diamond.

        • fivebobbill says:

          9 Sep9 September 16:40

          100% GUESSWHO. Almost all of my Hilton stays go to the Middle East and Asia, even as Hilton Gold you can be made feel like royalty over there. The current travel restrictions have allowed me to top over 600k Hilton points, and if I can achieve Diamond for late 2021 and 22, those points will go a long way indeed on a 5 nights for 4 basis… especially when combined with all the 241 vouchers I’ve gathered as well!

          Just on that actually, do your 5 reward nights for 4 count as 5 nights towards your next years status?

        • mark2 says:

          9 Sep9 September 13:30

          Venice Stucky Molino

• Manny_D says:

  9 Sep9 September 12:22

  Hi All, a question about the upgrading the free BA card to the BAPP. Would any new spend (towards 2-4-1) count the moment the account is upgraded online, or would it be a case of waiting of the new card to come?

  • Rob says:

    9 Sep9 September 12:25

    Your spend from the old card is rolled over onto the new card, so spend counts whether it is on the old card or your new one.

• hayfar says:

  9 Sep9 September 12:30

  BA seat selection fee refund advice sought please.

  In Jan 20 I booked 3 cash tickets LHR – MIA in Club and paid £450 for seat selection specifically to be on upper deck of 747. At time of booking I was a Bronze Exec Club Member.

  In Jun 20 BA emailed to say seats were being changed for operational reasons (reality was aircraft change to a 787). There were no seats allocated by BA so I selected some, which as I was now a Silver member should be free. At this point my understanding of the terms was that as BA had changed the seats I would be entitled to a refund of the seat selection fees – the reason we had paid for seats was to be on the 747 upper deck and once we were changed to a single deck 787 there was no reason to pay for specific seats and in any case they were free to choose as a Silver member.

  In Jul 20 I cancelled the flight and requested a future travel voucher which was issued. Once that voucher had been issued I requested a refund for the seating on the basis that BA had changed the original seats. BA responded to say that the seating credit was included within the future value voucher.

  I replied stating that BA had changed my seats and I was therefore entitled to a refund of the £450 and that the seat credit element of the future travel voucher value was effectively useless to me as I am a Silver member and would not pay for seat selection. BA have replied reiterating their position re seating credit being included in travel voucher.

  Any views as to my likelihood of success in pursuing this further please? I see the seat change by BA as something which happened ahead of me invoking the future travel voucher cancellation and therefore this should trigger a refund of those fees?

  • Lady London says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:16

    Would have been better to ask for seat cost refund as soon as they changed the aircraft. It also looks to them like to did re-request on new aircraft and were happy with that (they probably overlooked you had become Silver and were doing it on a different basis).

    FWIW I would persist – I honestly think BA should refund you. They just want to keep their sticky fingers on all your money as it’s too much trouble for them to think about it and give you the benefit of the doubt. The way you’ve explained it, though, I think it’s unreasonable of them to refuse to refund your seat fees since you did not use the seat request you had paid for – you had used something else (your Silver status) after they changed the aircraft and you had no doubt at that time you would get your seating request fees back.

    I would lay it out logically to them making clear your surprise – you thought the refund of seat fees was on its way to you as you are aware BA has not been making all refunds promptly in recent months – and you assumed the FTV would not include seat request as it was already in the process of being refunded (they are not psychic – how would they have known you were only prepared to pay a seat request fee while the aircraft remained a 747).

    Lay it out logically in an email to them, call them to make sure someone looks at it, give them one chance to refuse you again, then give them an email with 14 days to refund otherwise – if you don’t mind potentially losing a very small fee – take it to MCOL.

    I would be annoyed enough but many people here might say let it go. Part of the reason is that your case is slightly different, but BA has given a lot of people trouble refusing to refund seat fees that were paid for flights that were cancelled when people have taken refunds… which is a really dirty trick.

    • Hayfar says:

      9 Sep9 September 18:26

      Thanks Lady London. Really useful points and much appreciated. I will pursue further.

      • Nick says:

        9 Sep9 September 20:57

        Seat fees ARE included in vouchers though, that’s the point. You could have got a refund after the aircraft change but before requesting the voucher, but chose not to. How was BA supposed to know you wanted that when you didn’t ask for it? You haven’t ‘lost’ the money, it’s included in your voucher to spend at a later date. All within the T&C, no grey areas to hide behind.

• Sarah says:

  9 Sep9 September 12:43

  Not points related but thought this group might be able to help?
  I’ve been sent a cheque that’s in USD but I don’t have a USD back account. Does anyone know the best (cheapest!) way to cash this? It’s only for $100

  • Sarah says:

    9 Sep9 September 12:43

    *bank not back

  • Lady London says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:20

    Is there a way to get Paypal to take it? I maintain 3 currencies in Paypal and the rate’s reasonable when they use a cross-currency pot if I’m paying something.

    There are bureaux de change in London who will take a USD cheque and negotiate it but you will get seriously ripped off with any I’ve heard of.

    If you have an Amex I have a funny feeling they will take a foreign check and negotiate it – i.e. clear it and pay you the money – for free at bank rates. (They also used to pay out on personal cheques in any currency over the counter, anywhere in the world, on your account anywhere in the world, up to a reasonable sum if you were a cardholder). This used to be a little-known service of Amex. Make sure you’re talking to Brighton and not The Philippines if you call them.

    • Sarah says:

      9 Sep9 September 14:05

      Thanks I will try AMEX

  • Rui N. says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:31

    Just go to your bank and deposit it.

    • RussellH says:

      9 Sep9 September 15:44

      Who will credit you with about £55 in three or four months time, if you are lucky.

      Do the American banks still allow people to endorse checks (as they call them) over to third parties (who can then pay them into their own account) as a matter of routine? If so, do you know anyone here with a US a/c who could accept the cheque and give you an agreed value in GBP?

• Pete C says:

  9 Sep9 September 12:46

  Hello, I am looking to book a 2-4-1 CW redemption to Japan. My understanding is that the best option is to book the outbound online (and use the voucher to save half the Avios), then book the return online as well (paying full Avios for two people), then call to get half the Avios on the return leg refunded. Will I definitely get my second set of Avios returned to me this way?

  • Anna says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:32

    You will definitely get the avios refunded (but check you’re not losing out on the taxes/fees element by making 2 separate bookings). I made a booking for 4 of us using 2 companion vouchers a couple of weeks ago. I called to get the avios for the return legs refunded which needed 2 transactions, the fist lot of avios appeared in my account while the CSA was refunding the 2nd lot!
    Just be careful with overseas CSA’s – the one I dealt with initially thought I wanted to cancel my flights, which gave me a moment’s panic! Make sure you make it clear that you have booked your return leg online and would like the 2 4 1 to be applied.

  • Pete C says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:38

    Thanks, Anna. Taxes and fees tend to be more favourable on two separate bookings when heading to Asia, it appears.

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