The HfP chat thread – Saturday 31st October

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We have decided to run this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Ant says:

31 Oct31 October 08:36

I have a cancelled BA flight booked with a Lloyds voucher. Am I still entitled to rerouting? Just concerned as when you call you don’t deal with BA direct.
- Anna says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 08:43
  
  Yes you are entitled to re-routing, avios.com should be able to deal with this although your current options might be quite limited! If they refuse to play ball you may have to book your own alternative flight and claim the money back but they will have to pay up eventually.
Anna says:

31 Oct31 October 08:41

A couple of few ago I got the spend £1k, get 5k bonus points on Amex gold. Completed the spend yesterday, bonus points posted this morning – good result.
- Anna says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 08:46
  
  *Weeks ago!
- Harry T says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 10:24
  
  Nice! I’m not sure whether my extra two points per pound offer is better, but it will probably earn me more points if I live a shamelessly hedonistic lifestyle until January 😂
  - Cat says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 17:28
    
    😂😂😂
  - Cat says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 17:28
    
    Thanks for that Harry, I needed a laugh!
  - The Urbanite says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 17:57
    
    I’m well jel of that offer Harry T! They won’t give it to me, only a recurring bonus point on BA card spend!
- Matt B says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 12:49
  
  Did you ring up and just ask for a retention offer? Or just say i want to cancel?
  - Harry T says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 14:20
    
    I asked for a retention offer.
Ali M says:

31 Oct31 October 09:08

Booked Waldorf Astoria for points for 10 days next Oct half term – flights not yet bookable. Should I be booking as soon as they become available or wait for some ‘deal’ to come through. so hard to predict – lots of ‘special fares’ , ‘children fly free’ , ‘club fares’ around at the moment but wont know what the future holds. wait for a deal to come around or get in early and ‘secure’?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 09:12
  
  Which WA might help people give you some advice as they’ll know the destination
  - Ali M says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 11:42
    
    Maldives
    - Genghis says:
      
      31 Oct31 October 11:56
      
      It’s one of those things – do you, don’t you. All you can do is assess prices in the present and if you’re happy with them, lock in, and then don’t look back (unless refundable).
      
      It’s like buying securities – don’t think you could could have got them cheaper in the future because you just don’t know what’ll happen.
      - Ali M says:
        
        31 Oct31 October 15:11
        
        thank you
YC says:

31 Oct31 October 09:26

Anyone tried buying a bicester gift card online to trigger the Amex offer?
- Andrew says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 09:52
  
  Was wondering the same. Today’s the last day too.
  - YC says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 10:58
    
    I’ve just tried it. No email confirmation from amex (but this is normal). Mine is a complex case as had shopped in Bicester and bought gift card online to hit £300. It does also say it can take up to 48hrs to process so could be too late. Worst case, I’ve just given Bicester an unsecured loan till I next shop.
    - YC says:
      
      31 Oct31 October 11:00
      
      Pending on Amex though
    - Andrew says:
      
      31 Oct31 October 11:33
      
      My experience was that on the 3 occasions I used it in store and onsite for a gift card I got the email – they seem to be more reliable these days at doing that. But yes not conclusive and like you say nothing really lost.
- Ali M says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 16:37
  
  bought it today reading the comments on here – if it triggers it, it does,otherwise we go there once every few months any way
YH says:

31 Oct31 October 09:40

Regarding the potential month long lockdown starting on Monday. Do we expect this to ban international travel? I have flights to DXB in late November (purely leisure), would hate to miss it.
- New Card says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 09:58
  
  There’s always been an exemption for travel to leave England from self-isolation requirements so far.
  But if your travel requires a negative Covid test 96 hours before your flight, will travel to the test centre be exempt? Who knows…
- Anna says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 10:21
  
  I don’t foresee an international travel ban but to and from airports might be classed as non-essential (as in Wales where people have been forced to abandon holiday plans). My main concern would be insurance but I’ve completely lost track of what’s covered when as it’s now 14 months since I left the North of England 😢
  - The real John says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 12:49
    
    The earlier local lockdowns in Wales banned going in or out of the affected county/local authority. If someone were to travel internationally they would be leaving their local area and thus be in breach of the law, unless they could justify their travel
  - Brian says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 16:05
    
    Outgoing international travel, except for work, to be banned according to Peston.
- Harry T says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 10:25
  
  I don’t think they will ban you leaving the country. If anything, it’s helpful to have less people around!
- Brian says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 12:04
  
  I wouldn’t ask on here based on some of the wide of the mark “predictions” made on here over the last few months.
QwertyKnowsBest says:

31 Oct31 October 10:19

Re Maldives, thinking of booking flights for November. I have zero knowledge of Maldives so would appreciate any H4P wisdom, where to stay, what to know etc.

Thanks
- KBuffett says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 10:39
  
  Largely depends on budget. There are some goods deals there at the moment. Also, I think you need to have PCR tests.
  - QwertyKnowsBest says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 10:54
    
    Thanks, yeap was aware of the pre-departure test. Anywhere in particular to look for good deals?
    
    Thanks
- TripRep says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 12:53
  
  Suggest you check out my reviews from 2015 & 2017.
  
  Both have featured on hfp.
  
  I am planning to return (subject to pandemic)
  
  http://triprep.wordpress.com
  - TripRep says:
    
    31 Oct31 October 12:59
    
    Also..
    
    https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/?s=Maldives
Munch says:

31 Oct31 October 10:28

Data point for refunds – recently cancelled my trip to India / Maldives

BA – refund took 45 days
Virgin – refund took 28 days
Travelzoo – refund took 24 hours

I thought I would be chasing Travelzoo for a refund. Couldn’t believe it appeared 24 hours after cancellation.
Not sure if BA are refunding depending on status (I’m only Blue) – why when you cancel the agents says up to 10 days, when you call the message states 30 days and the refund finally is processed in 45 days??
- Craig says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 10:36
  
  I cancelled my Virgin rewards booking on the 18th, email through this morning showing refund processed, just waiting for it to appear on my credit card. Interestingly the refund has not shown a £30 deduction, wonder how much will appear. The flight was booked on the 26th Feb which I’m fairly certain was before any guarantees?
- Reeferman says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 10:38
  
  Rest assured it’s nothing to do with BA status.
  I am GFL, but still waiting for several refunds (despite many chase-ups) – 2 of which go back to 25 August.
  Last phone call I was told if nothing back within 21 working days (of the latest “escalation” of the issues) then I can phone again and it’ll be done manually at that time.
  I’m sure I’ll be given a different story when I call in 10/12 days time tho
- ChrisC says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 11:02
  
  With my BA refunds the agent has said ‘up to ten days’ but I’ve been getting them back in a couple of days
  
  But these are simple cash only bookings so don’t take much manual intervention.
- BP says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 18:48
  
  Been waiting since 7th October for a refund. Not ideal to be loaning BA almost £2k
Rob says:

31 Oct31 October 10:45

It should appear on your card on Monday, possibly under the ‘saved’ tab.
- Roselin says:
  
  31 Oct31 October 11:08
  
  Hope so! Thanks Rob