The HfP chat thread – Thursday 15th October

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

• Mark says:

  15 Oct15 October 11:47

  could someone sanity check my virgin rewards maths? I am looking at west coast redemption towards the end of next year (covid allowing). I have 1 voucher and I am a red member. If i apply my voucher for buy one get one 50% off it would cost:
  ticket 1: 135K, ticket 2: 67.5k total 202.5k miles.
  or i could booked PE for ticket 1 and upgrade to UC using the voucher (obviously only if reward availability being available) so the maths for this would be:
  Ticket 1 55k PE and voucher for upgrade
  Ticket 2: 135k
  Total 190 miles

  thats all off peak. Does that sound right?

  • AndyW says:

    15 Oct15 October 14:12

    Sounds right to me. Booked an Upper class with a voucher the other day to LA for next May costing me 55k miles (premium miles). Took a bit of work on the phone, I knew more about all the changes than the phone agent.

    • Mark says:

      15 Oct15 October 14:32

      Thanks!

• Aston100 says:

  15 Oct15 October 12:02

  Qatar World Teachers Day Promo.
  I mentioned previously how poor the W booking class availability is for this. This is the only booking class eligible for the offer.
  Pretty much nothing from most UK airports during the next 4 school holidays.

  I did find Jakarta and Muscat in May half term 2021. I was about to book Muscat, but the intense heat and the silly f&b pricing at IHG properties (£24pp for breakfast at a Crowne Plaza for example) put me off.
  I have now found Kuala Lumpur from my local airport at reasonable travel times and durations.
  Seems to be availability from MAN, BHX, LHR, LGW, EDI, CWL – though CWL flight times are not that good comparatively.
  You should be able to get 6 or 7 full days in Kuala Lumpur if you book a Saturday morning flight outbound and come back on the one that leaves KUL after midnight. Doesn’t work so well from Cardiff.
  All this assumes your half term is end of May / start of June 2021.

  Price was about £130 return for the eligible education professional and £444 for the 2nd passenger (booking class N or above).
  Cash price was something like £600 each, so worked out to be around 50% off, which is somewhat different from Qatar’s headlines of one free ticket and 50% off the second ticket. Granted, we all know this usually only applies to the base fare, but chucking in a caveat of booking class N or above for the 2nd ticket, and having virtually zero W class availability in the first 4 UK school holidays is a bit mean really.

  Anyway, just a data point for anyone who cares.

  • Aston100 says:

    15 Oct15 October 12:06

    I’m going to try and book the IC in Kuala Lumpur. Never stayed at one before. This one sounds average but it’s under 20k points per night at that time, and there isn’t really anything else in the IHG portfolio, other a HIX with no pool and a HI miles away near the smaller airport in Shah Alam.

    Is there a way to purchase club lounge access? If so, is there a pricing guideline (e.g. comparing cost of lounge access + reward points for standard room vs booking a club room).

    Thanks.

    • marcw says:

      15 Oct15 October 12:43

      Aren’t Kuala Lumpur hotels dirty cheap anyway? Don’t necessarily stick to IHG, shop around. Plenty of time left. You may also consider going and visit Penang or other nice cities and towns.

      • Aston100 says:

        15 Oct15 October 12:51

        Thanks, I’m already going to Malaysia in Summer 2021 with my very first BA first class redemption.
        Not spending any time in KL other than the first and last nights. So this May half term visit will be spent only in KL.
        I’ve got a bunch of points so I thought I may as well put them to good use in KL since my summer Malaysia trip will be in places without major IHG presence (still hoping for the Edison in George Town to come online).

        • Rhys says:

          15 Oct15 October 13:01

          Don’t spend too much time in KL. Not a huge amount for tourists.

        • AndyGWP says:

          15 Oct15 October 14:21

          Agree with Rhys – thanks for feeding back though Aston100 – I still haven’t redeemed the vouchers we have… it sounds like it may not be worth the bother 🙁

        • Aston100 says:

          15 Oct15 October 16:37

          I’m treating this as a hotel/city/foodie break. It’s only 7 days.
          Couldn’t really let the Qatar promo code go to waste, and KL seemed the best of the very restricted options open to me.

        • Crafty says:

          15 Oct15 October 23:02

          You shouldn’t stay in any hotel in KL outside the Hilton.

        • Polly says:

          15 Oct15 October 23:02

          Try taking the train from KL to Butterworth and ferry across to PEN. Interesting journey…we were planning this for next month, but all cancelled now, sadly.

    • Kevin says:

      15 Oct15 October 20:10

      The HIX is quite cheap and right around the centre of KL where you can go eating and sightseeing easy.

      Hilton and Shangri-La are good too. Try to avoid the Garden Inn as not in a good location

• melonfarmer says:

  15 Oct15 October 12:08

  Is anyone else being carpet bombed with marketing from Capital on Tap? I know Rob is an advocate, but it’s a pain in the ar$e. They’re working their way through each of our directors individually so the “return to sender, not interested” isn’t working.

  • ChrisC says:

    15 Oct15 October 13:55

    ‘return to sender’ rarely works for junk mail

    if there is an envelope included use that to send it back with a ‘cease and desist’ letter which you can knock up yourself.

    • Charlieface says:

      15 Oct15 October 15:16

      An old trick with incessant emails from sales people is to sign THEM up for marketing emails from aggressive marketers. In my industry Sophos and Cisco were always good ones to try…
      Although you appear to be talking about post. Order loads of pizzas to head office…

  • WaynedP says:

    15 Oct15 October 15:28

    Return to Sender with clear instructions written on envelope to remove from mailing list or future mail will be returned at cost of sender.

    If more follows from the same company, rewrite the return address on a new, blank envelope and write “Postage to be paid by Addressee” where you would usually place the stamp. Repeat previous warning in writing on the junk mail itself to remove from mailing list or future mail will be returned at cost of sender.

    This tactic has never failed me, especially since Royal Mail introduced more expensive postage for larger envelopes.

    • Lady London says:

      15 Oct15 October 18:00

      Mentioning GDPR is usually emough these days.

      I did a variant when a US survey co simply wouldnt stop sending invitations. Had told them 3-4 times to stop. Then GDPR threat. At that time they said it will take at least 2 months for our IT to stop sending. This was 5 times now this bull$hit and they had no intention of stopping.

      I lost my rag and sent them an email saying they had 48 hours from timestamp of this email to cease sending me emails, referring them to the number of previous attempts and promises to stop. Formally advised them my handling charge for each email received after 48 hours would be $5 per email and payment would be pursued to recovery through the courts if necessary.

      Know what? Never an email from them since.

• Nick Burch says:

  15 Oct15 October 12:25

  Any BA and EU-261 experts out there, who know about the current (COVID) situation?

  TL;DR can I ask BA to book me on another airline if they cancel my flight and only offer an alternative 12 hours before or after?

  Was due to fly to Vienna in November, at the time of booking BA were offering 4 flights that day. I opted for the evening flight (7ish pm) to fit in around UK morning meetings before an Austrian meetings the day after.

  BA have just cancelled all except the 7am flight that day. I can’t do the 7am flight the day I was booked, as I’ve got UK meetings until lunchtime. 7am the day after doesn’t really work either, very early start and won’t get me to Vienna in time for the current meeting there.

  However… Austrian airlines are still flying in the evening, they have a 7.30pm flight, almost the same timings as what I had booked. Completely wrong alliance though! Is there any chance I can get BA to rebook me on Austrian, given the BA alternatives are 12 hours earlier/later and not really suitable?

  • BS says:

    15 Oct15 October 12:54

    I think you would be able to argue you should get transferred to the Austrian flight.

    However BA are useless at honoring their obligations. You will likely have to book and pay for the alternative flight yourself, and then claim the cost off BA via MCOL/CEDR.

    • Nick Burch says:

      15 Oct15 October 15:36

      Just rang the GGL number. Their system won’t permit rebooking on Austrian, and no waivers have been set. In the time between posting here and phoning, they’ve also cancelled the return flight too!

      Have been directed to email the priority assistance bit of customer services. At least that gives me a paper trail if I have to go down the MCOL/CEDR route, which a phone call doesn’t

      • Lady London says:

        15 Oct15 October 18:19

        Clearly BA have never heard of the internet and the fact that it’s possible for them to use it to provide tickets they arw legally required by EC261 to provide to customers regardless of whether BA claims its GDS system wont do it.

        Time the CAA got tough on airlines using such limp-wristed excuses. Even the CAA guidance, IIRC, specifically says something that this is not an excuse.

        I would do s75 on credit card requesting replacement ticket on Austrian off the credit card as card is jointly liable and s75 covers increased ticket cost type of conseqential losses.

        Otherwise it’s chargeback if charge card which does not give you any increased money for new ticket.

        Travel insurance possibly also.Otherwise it’s MCOL and make sure you include 8% pa statutory interest accruing till full settlement in yout claim for replacement ticket costs and any other locally reasonable duty of care expenses.

        Going down from 4 flights per day and pushing everyone that booked any if the 3 cancelled flights onto the one remaining flight is also being done by Easyjet. Think yourself lucky BA is admitting they cancelled your flight as Easyjet is calling moving someone from a 10pm flight they cancelled back to the 7am flight, a “time change”. Even United Airlines only went as far as trying to claim that for changes to different flights up to 12 hours different 🙂

        You will get your money for the Austrian replacement flight from BA if you go to MCOL but for practicality you might look at card options.

        Please let us know what you decide and how it turns out.

      • Lady London says:

        15 Oct15 October 18:23

        note date and time of phone call and who you spoke to. Then emailing the department they suggest is strike 2 not 1. Generally 3 refusals or no positive result or not hearing, a over about 8 weeks – or BA saying final answer – is enough to show you made a reasonable effort before MCOL.

      • Sukes says:

        15 Oct15 October 20:43

        Nick definitely read the detailed CAA compliance guidance BS name checks, particularly pp6-7.

        To be somewhat fair to BA, the CAA state they expect the airline to first of all re-route you on the same day and if that is not possible to then look at other airlines that can re-route you on the same day. BA are “complying” with this guidance by offering you the morning BA flight therefore they will stop there and won’t see any imperative to move to step ii and put you on a competitor flight on the same day.

        Of course the problem is the CAA guidance is generic and isn’t written to cope with your unique circumstances. I think it is therefore really important to state explicitly to BA when defending your case as to why their suggestion, even if technically compliant with eu261 and CAA interpretation, is not suitable for your circumstances. Provide evidence of your meetings and why their offer does not work. Of course your easiest option is to get a cash refund for your cancelled return flights and book on the competitor flights yourself if there is availability and no extra cost.

        • Nick Burch says:

          15 Oct15 October 21:37

          So, the good thing about being GGL is they answer your emails quickly! Doesn’t seem to actually help though…

          “Unfortunately, we are not able to rebook onto Austrian Airlines or reimburse
          any difference in price with another airline. If you wish to make a formal
          complaint, we are able to forward your email on to our Customer Relations
          team post travel who will look to see if any form of compensation can be
          offered. This is unfortunately not guaranteed however. Once again, I am
          sorry for any inconvenience caused. ”

          So, they’re refusing to rebook, refusing to cover the costs if I rebook for them, and refusing to consider a complaint until after the travel date has passed….

          I’ve gone back and asked them to confirm if that is their final answer for CEDR or Small Claims Court purposes

          (Austrian want about double what I paid BA, so while I’m happy to rebook myself on Austrian I want the extra 150 quid back from BA!)

  • BS says:

    15 Oct15 October 13:00

    Sorry replied in the wrong place – see below

    • meta says:

      15 Oct15 October 14:05

      I am MCOL stage because BA didn’t want to reroute me with another airline for a cancelled flight back from Porto. Refuse to reimburse it through and through even though they admit their liability. I have it in black and white their agent admitting they are liable, but telling me they are not going to pay it.

• Nigel W says:

  15 Oct15 October 12:46

  Heads up for any centurion card holders. You might be receiving a Harvey Nichols hamper! Just had one delivered!

  • Harry T says:

    15 Oct15 October 14:32

    That’s a nice gesture.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    15 Oct15 October 15:06

    How do they know what size you are 😂

  • Lady London says:

    15 Oct15 October 18:26

    For a card fee of £2,000 p.a. I should think a hamper is the least Amex can do 🙂

    • TGLoyalty says:

      15 Oct15 October 20:49

      They did get £350 back offer vs the £100 on Plat.

• BS says:

  15 Oct15 October 12:57

  I think you would be able to argue you should get transferred to the Austrian flight. However BA are useless at honoring their obligations. You will likely have to book and pay for the alternative flight yourself, and then claim the cost off BA via MCOL/CEDR.

  The CAA’s view on re-routing is clear: to find it google “Annex 1–Re-routing in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation EU261/2004 and the CAA’s view on compliance”

  • BS says:

    15 Oct15 October 12:57

    @Nick Burch

• BP says:

  15 Oct15 October 13:13

  Superior is the entry category. The hotel are effectively marking all rooms as club so that reward nights do not need to be made available.

  I’ve complained to IHG. If all hotels are allowed to do this it completely devalues the rewards programme.

  • memesweeper says:

    15 Oct15 October 13:35

    If *any* hotels are allowed to do this it devalues the rewards programme — complain away! The point of a points scheme is that you can earn and burn in the same place, or elsewhere in the chain. Staying in this hotel any number of nights would never earn you a free night. Absolutely not on.

  • Harry T says:

    15 Oct15 October 13:47

    The hotel must truly be desperate if they are trying to essentially opt out of the rewards program. IHG will not be impressed.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      15 Oct15 October 15:17

      IHG run The George directly!

  • xcalx says:

    15 Oct15 October 14:41

    Looks like part of the chat is missing

    • Aston100 says:

      15 Oct15 October 16:40

      Me too

  • Anna says:

    15 Oct15 October 14:58

    Still accepting Ambassador bogof bookings – though as an IC it might be harder for them to wriggle out of that!

    • Anna says:

      15 Oct15 October 15:04

      Which is actually one of the better Ambassador deals at the moment with the Club IC included!

  • Crafty says:

    15 Oct15 October 23:05

    Glad you made a complaint – thank you on all of our behalf.

• Optimus Prime says:

  15 Oct15 October 14:44

  Has there been any changes on the site layout today?

  On Safari I’m seeing the ads, latest articles and latest comments column on the bottom left, below the comment box. Yes, have cleared the browser cache.

  It looks good on Firefox, on the right hand side and next to the article text.

  • Rhys says:

    15 Oct15 October 14:51

    No changes. Sounds like a glitch. Let me know if it persists.

    • Optimus Prime says:

      15 Oct15 October 14:57

      I think it’s related to the long link posted by BS. On Safari it shows on one line whereas Firefox splits it in two.

    • marcw says:

      15 Oct15 October 14:59

      Yes, related to the link. in opera the same as safari, one line.

      • Rob says:

        15 Oct15 October 15:17

        Fixed it. This is a permanent issue now when long links are posted. Not sure if there is an easy fix except for deleting them. Sometimes links break naturally onto 2 lines, sometimes they break the site!

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