The HfP chat thread – Thursday 17th September

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• Dee says:

  17 Sep17 September 18:00

  We have an EasyJet flight to Porto on 20th September and want to cancel but can’t see how to get a voucher in exchange for the flights. Also, on 26th September I have a party of 8 on EasyJet going to Malaga which we need a refund for. Can’t see how to do it on their website – can anyone help please?

  • Bill says:

    17 Sep17 September 22:01

    Look at the covid help hub

  • Connor says:

    17 Sep17 September 22:31

    Can’t get a refund. Only reschedule for fare difference.

  • Lady London says:

    17 Sep17 September 23:07

    you have to phone them this close in I think. allow time queues long. if you take a voucher they were adding a small amount.

• Clive says:

  17 Sep17 September 19:27

  Thailand and Singapore added to Travel Corridor. Now need both to reciprocate which would open some good opportunities the new Thailand 50% off promotion.

  Offer is valid for booking until 30 September 2020 for stay until 31 December 2021.
  Offer is valid for stays at selected participating properties in the Marriott International portfolio and is subject to availability.
  Reservation is subject to each property limited daily allotment. Level of discount is base on regular rate and may vary by hotel.
  Offer is fully yieldable and available on all channels. Blackout dates, early departure fees and deposit and cancellation restrictions may apply and vary by hotel.
  Offer does not apply to groups of 10 or more rooms.
  This promotion should not be combined with other select promotions, offers, room package vouchers, other loyalty program and discounts.
  Advance reservation is required via http://www.marriott.com with promo code ADP.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    17 Sep17 September 19:31

    Croatia is now falling below UK rate of 34 / 100k …

  • BJ says:

    17 Sep17 September 19:55

    I think there is zero chance of Thailand reopening any time soon. Their culture, economy, and health services leave them better equipped than most to weather the storm despite the importance of tourism. Thus, the people have no appetite to open their doors at this time and it would be a foolish government that did. I think our Christmas vacation is had it, next April at the earliest is my guess.

    • Harry T says:

      17 Sep17 September 20:02

      Yeah, I wouldn’t bet on anything approaching a proper opening up before 2021.

    • Clive says:

      17 Sep17 September 20:13

      Yes the medical infrastrucure for the Elite in Thailand is excellent however for the majority of the population it is not so good. Do you not think that there was some negotiation to maybe open a travel corridor or it is only to facilitate the “special” long stay snowbirds?

      • BJ says:

        17 Sep17 September 20:41

        Not only for the elites, the masses too based on WHO rankings. They typically feature in the top 10 and are usually ahead of the UK. @Vit is better informed but my feeling from what I’ve read and heard is that the government just wants to be seen to be contemplating the options but like the general population, doesn’t really want to take the risk at the moment. They seem to have their hands full enough with resurgent migration from Myanamar. There has been a very minor partial reopening and this may continue to be relaxed gradually into next year. But as @Harry T states nothing much before 21. I think they will want to see the winter flu season pass and will be hoping Easter and Songkran is possible. Most Thais are used to living on low incomes and working hard for them, family bonds are strong and they support each other. Most families still have farmland and/or small businesses to see them through this.

    • Michael C says:

      17 Sep17 September 21:30

      Fingers crossed, BJ – I ended up booking HuaHin for Aug. (returning Aug. 31 to just sneak into last day of BA vouchers!).

      • BJ says:

        17 Sep17 September 22:01

        It’ll be really devastating if we are not well on the way out of the pandemic by then. I’ve seen tbe reports that it could last for years but I prefer to take a more optimistic view and that the virus will be self-limiting.

• Clive says:

  17 Sep17 September 19:28

  Could someone remind me if you can get the miles from a FTV placed back in your Avios account?

  • Lady London says:

    17 Sep17 September 21:14

    All reports of FTV are once your avios booking or your cash booking is in an FTV BA wont let you take any out only rebook.

    There were a few reports that using an FTV derived frim an original avios booking, that did not need all the avios in the FTV for the rebook, had the extra avios and any extra ‘tax’ refunded during the rebook call.

    But I only saw 2 or 3 reports of this and subsequently at least 2 people said the remainder was left in the FTV for use on another booking and refund of the excess was not an option.

• YC says:

  17 Sep17 September 20:41

  Just tried to use my FTV and had to call up as didn’t work online. Was told they did not know the value of the voucher and have to ask the back office to process. However, price is not locked in and will be calculated when re-quoted. They expect to come back to me either tomorrow or saturday. Terrible for customers as exposed to price increases. Anyone have similar experiences or clever ways of minimising the price increase risk?

  • Anna says:

    17 Sep17 September 21:02

    That sounds ridiculous – the voucher is your original ticket so has to be worth whatever you paid for it in cash and/or avios. Of course the cash price of a new flight or holiday might be more than the original one, which is why it’s a gamble taking a FTV. I took one cash FTV which I used immediately against the cash element of new award flights, and one avios plus taxes voucher so that my companion voucher would be extended by 15 months to April 2022.

    • YC says:

      17 Sep17 September 21:20

      I had taken the FTV to immediately use on a new more expensive flight. Slight complication was initial flight aused a FTV, so this was a FTV on a FTV. I’m tempted to book a cash ticket now (make use of the free 24hr cancellation) just in case tomorrow they tell me the re-quote is more. However it does mean I’m just lining their pockets with more free unsecured loans in this situation. Am I right to assume the free 24hr window holds true as long as the flight is not departing in the next 24hrs?

    • meta says:

      17 Sep17 September 21:31

      When my partner used his FTV in July, the agent asked if he remembered how much was the original flight (cash only). He just read the exact amount from the original email and the agent just typed in the amount and said that’s right. I suspect they can type any amount without having the details. The system then throws yes or no or if there is any difference to pay. However, this might have changed with the introduction of eFTV.

• Oli says:

  17 Sep17 September 21:25

  Got an email from Emirates re: family accounts …”and now, you can also contribute up to 100% of the Miles you’ve earned with our bank, hotel, car rental, retail and lifestyle partners”

  Does this mean like BA HHAs, Emirates is now another route to pool small amounts of Membership Rewards between family members?

• Steve says:

  17 Sep17 September 21:26

  Revolut top ups via Virgin Atlantic Reward credit cards – are these treated as cash advance?

• The Urbanite says:

  17 Sep17 September 22:20

  Almost certainly.

• JM says:

  17 Sep17 September 22:37

  Likelihood of BA extending companion vouchers again?

  Had a voucher due to expire 4th July, currently extended to 4th Jan but unable to go anywhere long haul…

  • TGLoyalty says:

    18 Sep18 September 00:47

    My personal opinion is Unlikely but you never know.

    It’s been mentioned before by Rob and others that if you Book a short haul Avios flight (I’d book return but I don’t think it has to be) for you and your +1 then cancel for an FTV it will lock in your 2-4-1 until April 2022.

    • Anna says:

      18 Sep18 September 08:59

      Can be one way, I did this.

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