The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 29th September

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• Andrew says:

  29 Sep29 September 11:50

  Hi,

  I am fairly sure that I read in HFP that its possible to spend two 2-4-1 vouchers in a single trip. I’d like to take myself + 3 family members on a trip, so pay for myself and 1 other member using Avios and use the two 2-4-1 vouchers for the other 2 family members. The issue is that when I try to to do this on britishairways.com it does not allow me to select both 2-4-1 vouchers. Selecting 1 voucher deselects the other.

  Any advice please. I assume this is a known issue but cant find a resolution anywhere.

  • marcw says:

    29 Sep29 September 12:15

    If you own both 241 vouchers, you can’t as the voucher holder must be one of the passengers.

    • Ikaz says:

      29 Sep29 September 12:21

      There is actually an exception if you use 2 vouchers under your name, you can book for 4 pax. I am not sure how it works though

      • Genghis says:

        29 Sep29 September 12:23

        Need to call

        • Andrew says:

          29 Sep29 September 13:11

          Thanks, I will call BA Exec club then – something I was hoping to avoid (1 hour wait) as I sometimes get contradictory information.

        • Genghis says:

          29 Sep29 September 13:47

          For reference, here’s the term:
          “ If the Cardmember has two valid Companion Vouchers on their account they have the option to redeem both of them together for one flight booking allowing the Cardmember to travel with 3 companions and pay the Avios flight price for only 2 people travelling on the booking.”
          https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/executive-club/collecting-avios/credit-cards/uk

        • pauldb says:

          29 Sep29 September 14:06

          You should be able to select both if you use the “Book with avios” page, rather than the sidebar on your BAEC homepage. But the vouchers must be BAPP not basic card vouchers.

    • Andrew says:

      29 Sep29 September 14:06

      I looked it up in the T&Cs:
      A Member who has two valid vouchers on their account has the option to redeem both of them simultaneously on one flight booking, the Avios flight price must be paid for the Member and an additional individual in order than 2 Companions can travel on that booking.
      https://www.britishairways.com/travel/fsttandc/public/en_gb

      Just doesn’t seem to be doable in the web application

  • Jonathan says:

    29 Sep29 September 22:46

    Although I’ve never used one, if say one’s in your name and the other is your partner’s name and you’re both travelling with your two children for instance (if applicable), then you book one ticket and have one child as the ‘free traveler’ on your booking, then your partner makes another booking in their name and has the other child as the ‘free traveler’ on their booking. Subject to seat availability of course. Then that way, both the main cardholders are travelling on their respective bookings, as per the requirement.

• pinperl says:

  29 Sep29 September 12:08

  Hi, It’s probably been covered many times already, my apologies……
  Does travel insurance from amex platinum/gold cover travel to countries which were advised against travel by fco?

  • Harry T says:

    29 Sep29 September 12:16

    I don’t think so. Double check the terms and conditions yourself though – you shouldn’t trust people on the internet when it comes to things like insurance 😊

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    29 Sep29 September 16:33

    Here are the relevant exclusion terms:

    14) Trips in, or booked to, locations where a government agency has advised against travel (except in relation to
    pandemics or known events – see exclusion 15) or which are officially under embargo by the United Nations
    other than as specifically covered in Section 1.2 sub-clause (h).
    15) Any claim resulting from travel restrictions imposed by Governmental Offices relating to Trips booked after
    the World Health Organisation declaring a pandemic or known event.

    My interpretation is that you are covered in general if the FCO advises against travel solely because of C19, but you won’t be covered for claims specifically relating to travel restrictions (e.g. your destination won’t let you in, UK requires you to quarantine on return etc). Probably worth calling to check though as I don’t think it’s particularly clear.

• PolKuZZZ says:

  29 Sep29 September 12:18

  Very OT and silly question re ISA holdings in GBP, and my unease of being exposed to UK companies/Sterling:

  Let’s say I am invested in 2 funds with Vanguard. One is an S&P 500 ETF, and another one is one of their LifeStrategy products. I buy both of these funds with GBP and their price/gains/losses are reflected in GBP through the site.

  What happens to the value of these 2 funds should the pound crash after Brexit, or any other currency fluctuations?

  * The S&P 500 ETF prospectus says the base currency of the fund are in USD.
  -What exchange rate am I buying this in? Assuming GBP loses 10% come 1st of Jan, and all else stays equal (no market movements), does the value of my investment go up by 10% in GBP?

  *The LifeStrategy product’s base currency is in GBP. Same question as above – what happens in the event of currency fluctuations?

  I’m beginning to grow with unease at the exposure of Vanguard’s products to the UK, as well as GBP, but I really like their UI, simplicity, low cost and credentials. There are plenty of “ex-UK” funds within Vanguard (Developed World, Europe, etc.) but I’m not sure if anyone has any views on these.

  Any input appreciated.

  • Genghis says:

    29 Sep29 September 14:22

    The short answer is the base currency is just for reporting purposes and has nothing to do with actual currency risk.

    The long(er) answer is that currency risk depends on the currency exposure of the underlying assets themselves, not of the fund. So in the S&P500, you’ll be exposed primarily to USD (and the currencies of the cash flows of the other S&P 500 constituents assuming those companies do not hedge). In Lifestrategy 100, that’s a global fund with a 25% UK bias. So the 75% is exposed directly to non-GBP (to keep things simple, but there will likely be some GBP flows there too) and the 25% UK exposure isn’t itself all exposed to GBP (81% or so of this is the FTSE100 which derives something like 75% of their profits from overseas; remember that after Brexit was announced the pound fell but the FTSE100 went up?).

    If the pound tanks, your portfolio goes up but then you buy less with new contributions, and vice versa.

    In the short term, I wouldn’t worry about it. In the longer term, keep a globally diversified portfolio (perhaps you have too much US and UK exposure?) which itself means a diversification of currency risk.

  • guesswho2000 says:

    30 Sep30 September 02:49

    At the risk of stating the obvious, Brexit has already happened. I would have thought that markets had already priced in an element of risk (there’s been enough unknowns related to Brexit to make the end of the transition period somewhat predictable), but I’m no expert.

• Harry T says:

  29 Sep29 September 12:19

  Travel insurance related “success” story. Couldn’t fly to Spain or Australia due to FCO advice changes. LV paid out for both claims once paperwork completed. Hilariously, I forgot there was a £50 excess, so received the princely sums of £11 and £18 for the Ryanair flights I couldn’t take 😂. Still, at least LV pay out for covid related cancellations. Going to need a couple of k off them for my HKG trip that’s going to be a no go.

• AnonThisTime says:

  29 Sep29 September 12:55

  Ok, I’m completely fed up with BA…

  If I board a flight at Heathrow with hold luggage, then change my mind and politely disembark myself (through the door) just before it closes.

  What happens next and how disruptive is that for them?

  • ChrisC says:

    29 Sep29 September 16:57

    Very disruptive for them but also every other passenger on the flight.

    It takes time to find luggage plus the flight will have likely missed its slot leading to a delayed departure and arrival. This could then have a knock on effect for the return flight.

    Doing this deliberately as some form of ‘stuff BA’ protest is selfish beyond words.

    • Peter North says:

      29 Sep29 September 18:16

      Yes it would be very disruptive, perhaps a tad selfish. I was on a flight a couple of years ago when I stood up and refused to sit next to an enormously fat woman who spilled out of her seat into half of mine, there was a considerable delay whilst the crew debated their next actions, eventually I got upgraded to club, as there were no other seats in economy.

    • old bob says:

      29 Sep29 September 18:32

      A bit harsh Christopher, I once inadvertently delayed a flight by almost an hour, I was going through duty free and got waylaid by a couple of attractive ladies, offering whisky samples, to cut along story short myself and Geoff availed ourselves somewhat liberally and forgot all sense of time. The good staff at Heathrow transported us to the gate on one of those electric golf cart type things, and we then did the walk of shame, fortunately only into CE, before a good lunch and and a mini bottle of champagne each before sleeping the sleep of the righteous

      • ChrisC says:

        29 Sep29 September 19:53

        My name isn’t Christopher. Please don’t presume.

        Someone who is apparently willing to deliberate delay a flight – and all the other passengers on it – because they have a beef with BA needs a harsh response.

        In your case BA should have just shut the door at T-20.

        • Amber Lynn says:

          30 Sep30 September 10:48

          That was too easy Bob, he/she or she/he has bitten first time, I raise a glass to you.

    • Lady London says:

      30 Sep30 September 18:08

      Yes and I wish I had done precisely that when due to mean gate staff I found myself in that position at CDG many, many years ago.

      The best thing I could have done was what you are suggesting. But in those days I knew nothing and frequent flyer knowledge wasn’t widespread.

      Careful how you handle it but if you’re being mistreated go for it.

• Lammy52 says:

  29 Sep29 September 13:17

  Advice please. We are looking to book Vancouver out and Tokyo return using 2-4-1 but cannot even get a price for a return cash ticket for this itinerary. There is availability on both routes and we wondered what are the implications of booking outbound online and then calling to add the return leg. Would this be on different PNR, and if so, what would that mean. Thanks.

  • Anna says:

    29 Sep29 September 13:36

    If it fits the distance requirements (I can’t be bothered checking), you should be able to get the inbound leg added to the same booking on the phone, as long as your seats are still available.

    • DZOO says:

      29 Sep29 September 13:59

      What Anna’s says – you can’t use a 2-4-1 as distance between Vancouver and Tokyo is greater than one or both of the legs you want to use your 2-4-1. Even if you had 2x 2-4-1s you can’t book this separately as bookings need to originate London.

      • pauldb says:

        29 Sep29 September 14:11

        No, you can book this because YVR-TYO is actually shorter than the BA legs. Because ex_JP surcharges are low, you should book YVR with the voucher then, if you have the avios to spare, book the TYP leg conventionally then call to get it “vouchered” (i.e. get half the TYO avios back without the taxes being recalculated).

        • Genghis says:

          29 Sep29 September 14:23

          Exactly. It’s an example I like to quote in this so I have looked up the distances.

        • DZOO says:

          29 Sep29 September 14:46

          My apologies, so could you do the same with LAX (instead of YVR), and what site if not Google is best to calculate distance (TYO-LAX and LAX-LHR are very very similar distances from what I can tell!)? TIA

        • Genghis says:

          29 Sep29 September 15:44

          GCmap

        • Lammy52 says:

          30 Sep30 September 15:39

          I have spoken to BA CS today and they advise I can only do this if the return leg is outside of the 355 day rule for selling. I am not sure this sounds right, can anyone confirm, or otherwise. Thanks

  • Louie says:

    30 Sep30 September 00:01

    If it is close, GCMap will not do. Check using the BA Avios calculator. I’ve been caught out that way before when trying to arrange a multi partner award. For example, NRT – HEL is 4,877 miles per GCMap and 5,229 per BA!

• Sina says:

  29 Sep29 September 13:54

  Has anyone noticed the new Amazon American Express cards? 2% Rewards up to £120k!?

  • The Urbanite says:

    29 Sep29 September 13:56

    Are they for the UK market and open to the mass market?

    • Sina says:

      29 Sep29 September 14:12

      And apparently it’s a Metal card!

  • pauldb says:

    29 Sep29 September 14:12

    2% on spend at Amazon.

    • Rob says:

      29 Sep29 September 14:27

      We will be covering this, but it won’t be this week.

  • Charlieface says:

    29 Sep29 September 14:27

    Is there a referral on this card?

  • Connor says:

    29 Sep29 September 17:04

    Weird statement in the T&C’s. “2. If you are approved and spend £3,000 on purchases on the Account within the first three months of Cardmembership, 20,000 bonus Membership Rewards points will be awarded shortly after the end of the six months. Business Gold or Business Platinum Cardmembers who are enrolled or have been enrolled in the Membership Rewards programme in the last three months, are not eligible for the bonus. All introductory offers are subject to change and can be withdrawn at any time.”

    Nice to see it’s only three months between churning cards. No idea about the 20k MR bonus.

• Jody says:

  29 Sep29 September 14:11

  How do I get to speak to Brighton when I call American Express? I’ve tried the 0800 number and also the 01273. Having a nightmare with my new preferred rewards gold card. I mentioned on here couple of weeks ago that when I activated my card it had a negative balance, and had been incorrectly linked to my previous card that I cancelled in May.

  Called up about that, was told it would be unlinked and sorted. What they appear to have actually done is randomly give me 5000 reward points to take it out of a negative balance, but my anniversary date is still showing as May 2021 instead of September 2021.

  On top of that, applied for supp card for my husband. Arrived today, he tried to activate it, said his information was incorrect, so he called up. Chap he (and I spoke) to didn’t seem to have much of a clue, but basically said that none of his information from the application had been stored, so said he had to print off a form and send it in.

  I’ve called this afternoon to try and get a more sensible answer, but it didn’t really help. I was sent a link and told I’d be able to update all of his personal details in there, but it only seems to give the option for updating mine. I can’t change the card number to his, and it says I’ve got no-one linked to my account.

  I may be wrong, but I don’t believe either of the people I spoke to were at Brighton. I usually use the local number and get through to there, and have always spoken to people who seem to know what they’re doing.

  I’m pretty hacked off right now, the whole thing just seems to be one cock up after another.

  • Genghis says:

    29 Sep29 September 14:25

    Make a formal complaint and someone with a brain should (hopefully) review your case.

  • Andrew says:

    29 Sep29 September 14:26

    You have the call the usual number and as soon as you’re connected to an agent you ask to speak to Brighton and they will transfer you. This is the case for Platinum and Centurion members, not sure if this facility is available for cardmembers who pay a lower annual fee, but certainly ask. The ‘local’ number rather than the 0800 just gets through to the same system so there’s no direct number to Brighton as such.

    • Harry T says:

      29 Sep29 September 14:49

      I ring the number on the back of my Platinum card and ask to speak to Brighton.

    • Jody says:

      29 Sep29 September 15:23

      I must have been lucky a couple of weeks ago, as I called the local number an definitely got straight through to Brighton.

    • mutley says:

      29 Sep29 September 16:29

      Slightly O/T, I rang to cancel Plat yesterday and got straight through, they offered me 35000 Membership Rewards, and also offered the opportunity to pay the £575 over 12 months to stay….I graciously accepted.

  • Simon says:

    29 Sep29 September 15:49

    You can email there executive office , shout if u need there email

    • Jody says:

      29 Sep29 September 17:22

      Yes please Simon, that would be great.

      • Simon says:

        29 Sep29 September 18:31

        theexecutiveoffice at aexp dot com

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