The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 13th October

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• Aston100 says:

  13 Oct13 October 11:13

  I saw a couple of comments in the last few days about charges imposed by Creation for using their card through Bendy to purchase Sandy Bondies.
  I contacted Creation to enquire about my recent purchases and they advised the following MCC codes were applied:
  Sandy Bondies = mcc 9399 (govt services or something)
  The Revolutionaries = mcc 4829 (wire transfers and cash advances or somesuch).

  I have no idea about MCC codes, but the agent felt there shouldn’t be charges for Sandy, but there will be interest charged for the Revolutionaries.

  And just because I like the sound of the phrase, I’ll just say it anyway: “Interconty Pointies, for Sandy Bendy Bondies”. Love that!

  • Travel Strong says:

    13 Oct13 October 11:32

    All looks as expected. There are regular posts flapping about failed bends, but they are rarely unexpected. Stick with your sandy bondies for intercont ponties and you’ll be fine.

  • bazza says:

    13 Oct13 October 12:38

    Can you phone them again and ask if they mind us using their card for Manufactured Sending?

    • Lady London says:

      13 Oct13 October 17:39

      🙂

    • Nigel says:

      13 Oct13 October 19:08

      Ha! I’m sure the customer agent got his full account details and flagged his account. Might as well have mentioned PayPal to add to the mix of curve, Revolut, bonds oh and ATM withdrawals

  • the_real_a says:

    13 Oct13 October 20:24

    …and some people wonder why those in the know dont speak about loopholes openly… ffs

  • BrianW says:

    13 Oct13 October 23:48

    Hopefully they shut your accounts. You’d be better with a Go Henry card, clearly far easier for you to grasp and your parent or guardian will need to sign for it so less chance you fail to answer the door hiding in your play room when the Postie comes to deliver it.

    • Rob says:

      14 Oct14 October 08:52

      My 12-year old has a GoHenry. They print your name in big letters at the top so it would say GoAston. You can pick your design too, we have a pineapple 🙂

      The snag is that my daughter has worked out how to log in as her parent and top up her card with my money!

• Nadeshka says:

  13 Oct13 October 11:29

  I asked here earlier this week for thoughts about time changes for a free cancellation for a BA 241 avios redemption. In case it helps anyone:
  I called up today & was told for this long haul flight (Japan) the policy is 4+ hours to be eligible to cancel for free
  I am entitled to change +/-2 days based on a less than 4 hour change (45 mins!)
  If I request a FTV for this and booked a cheaper redemption, the excess avios (in this case I pointed out it would be >100K) would be refunded, but the excess taxes (~£1K) would be issued as a new FTV.
  Obviously this is just one anecdote and YMMV but might be useful for others.
  Am now weighing up whether I can spend £1K before April 2022 or I should just take the £70 hit to book another redemption before the sale ends.

  • Nadeshka says:

    13 Oct13 October 14:53

    So as usual HUACA seems to be very effective…

    I decided to take the hit and cancel, as I want to rebook a cheap domestic redemption with the 241 before the sale ends, and I doubt the Japan flights will be cancelled/changed again as they are running at the moment.
    When I mentioned I was looking to do another booking after the cancellation (with fee) the agent mentioned that if I did the FTV route all excess cash and avios would be refunded to the original form.
    She said avios bookings using FTV will give change as refunds, NOT further FTV as the cash was for taxes (her words) not the fare so the rules were different to pure cash bookings.
    So all in all we saved ~75000 Avios by booking a new trip in the sale and additional 5000 on a domestic trip with no fees to cancel the original. Very happy (hoping these all go ahead)

• John says:

  13 Oct13 October 11:41

  Hi All

  re reward flight sale. Do the normal change rules apply? (£35 fee and subject to availability + travel up to 30th June). I have tried multiple times to get through but cuts off after an hour..

  • David says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:06

    Normal change rules apply. Re trying to get through to BA, I’m unsure if this has anything to do with it, but I had the same 1hr cut off calling on my phone with Vodafone, tried my wife’s phone who is with EE and got past the 1hr and managed to get through to someone. Don’t see how it makes a difference, and is only a sample size of one, but worked for us!

• cinereus says:

  13 Oct13 October 12:44

  Like many I have ANA F flights booking with VS points in March. It’s looking like April is the earliest Japan is going to open up again. Is there any way to avoid paying the £30 cancellation fee so I can rebook later in the year given they probably won’t cancel until nearer the time and I don’t have enough points spare to have two live bookings at once.

  • Allan says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:12

    Why do you think April is when it is likley to reopen?

    • Bob says:

      13 Oct13 October 14:02

      reported in various articles who quote Japanese media stating this – “reopening as early as April 21”

    • meta says:

      13 Oct13 October 14:05

      There were reports, but mainly from English language sites. Reputable Japanese media haven’t reported it as enthusiastically and only in passing in the context of October opening for business and for students. Japanese government will only start looking into it in January depending on how current phase works out with numbers. It will also largely depend on whether Olympics take place or not. Otherwise Japan will not open up for a long time. I have a booking for end of March, but have also booked a back up.

• Rachel R says:

  13 Oct13 October 12:58

  Hi. Does anyone have any recommendations for travel insurance that provides cover for places where the FCO has advised against travel? I have a standard policy, but it’s invalidated by COVID/FCO advice and I am travelling to Portugal next week. Thank you.

  • Rob says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:11

    Staysure

    • Rachel R says:

      13 Oct13 October 13:28

      Thank you!

      • meta says:

        13 Oct13 October 14:11

        Staysure only covers if FCO hasn’t already advised against travel, so for Portugal because it’s a known advisory it won’t work.

        To be honest, I’ve checked most policies and none of them offer comprehensive covid protection. For Europe, I’d rely on EHIC for medical and book everything refundable. That’s the best insurance.

  • Lady London says:

    13 Oct13 October 17:41

    Battleface and Trailfinders have been mentioned.

    • meta says:

      13 Oct13 October 20:22

      Looked both. Not comprehensive enough. Battleface in particular is misleading as there is nothing in the policy wording about travelling against FCO advice even though they advertise as such.

• Chelseafi says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:10

  Anyone thinking of booking Domes Miramare for 2021? BAHol might have mixed up pricing a little, I’ve got 5n in June for 2 HB, Haute Living, flights total £1576, had dates for early May £1,100 for 2, which is amazing value, it’s coming up cheaper for HL with HB then standard accommodation BB. Let me know anyone wants more info.

• Christopher Ingold says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:12

  RE. Tesco Clubcard

  I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing issues with Clubcard crediting points from Tesco Bank spend within the last two week?

  I am missing many Clubcard points from Tesco Debit Card transactions. Others report similar findings, yet I seen nothing mentioned on the HfP chats.

  • chabuddy geezy says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:53

    Same here

  • Mr. AC says:

    13 Oct13 October 15:20

    Checked mine – not missing anything!

  • Blenz101 says:

    13 Oct13 October 16:43

    Are they transactions which should earn points or transactions which have previously earned points but were in a grey area?

    • chabuddy geezy says:

      13 Oct13 October 18:42

      It was a regular home delivery, no booze etc.

      • Blenz101 says:

        13 Oct13 October 21:04

        I think I am perhaps missing some for Sandy bondies or whatever the phase was upthread! Wondered if that had been closed after yesterday’s announcement / good times thread.

  • Genghis says:

    13 Oct13 October 19:18

    Yes. Some points which should have posted to my wife’s account last week have posted today. Due some more so tracking.

• PJJ says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:23

  Hi all. Any comments, good or bad about the Kimpton Muse in New York ? Was looking at 6 nights end Aug / early Sept and they came out at 160 per night inc taxes etc. At .4p per point, reward nights worked out at just over 260 per night. Hopefully might make it by then, ha ha ha
  T.I.A.

  • memesweeper says:

    13 Oct13 October 18:01

    The *Eventi* is great …. can’t say anything about Muse unfortunately.

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