The HfP chat thread – Sunday 1st November

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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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Category

General

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Keely says:

1 Nov1 November 10:16

Hi posted this last but the lockdown news overshadowed it….
2-4-1 to Singapore booked for Feb . 2-4-1 voucher expires May 2021 . Am I right in thinking I can call up , take the FWC voucher for the whole package and this will extend my 2-4-1 voucher…? Is this subject to a further time Limit? (I’ve already moved this trip twice …! I’d love to be going but can’t see that it will happen…) . Thanks
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 12:36
  
  Watching the answer to this one…
  - Keely says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 13:06
    
    Either nobody knows or they don’t want to answer lol. I’m going to call them
    . I’ll report back ….
    - Optimus Prime says:
      
      1 Nov1 November 15:44
      
      Let me know when you know!
      - Optimus Prime says:
        
        1 Nov1 November 20:26
        
        Can’t believe I got a clone by using this nickname…
    - Largo says:
      
      1 Nov1 November 16:52
      
      I replied to your question in yesterday’s post earlier today. Short answer is yes you can phone to convert to a voucher which will be valid until April 2022.
      - Keely says:
        
        1 Nov1 November 18:03
        
        Thank you, sorry I didn’t see the earlier response
      - AJA says:
        
        1 Nov1 November 18:18
        
        Assuming Keely bought the tickets after 3 March 2020. If not then its outside scope of the FTV though they could just pay £35 per passenger and cancel for a full refund.
josjsb3 says:

1 Nov1 November 10:40

Questions (no uproar please):

1) £100 Harrods credit: Do in-store giftcards count? Will seek to spend on something but cant decide yet. Barring this, can I buy something and return it, and if so would Amex clawback the £100?

2) £400 Marriott – I live in London and rules state no overnight stays other than for work:
a) How can they prove it isnt work? Would the onus be on the hotel or govt to report this? Cant see why I wouldn’t be able to still stay (and bring my laptop).
B) This lockdown will likely be extended, though I doubt Amex will extend their offer. Is there any way to purchase a gift card at a hotel or prepay a stay, and would this count?
- josjb3 says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 10:41
  
  Apologies for the formatting…clearly my android mobile browser is acting up!
- Rob says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 12:09
  
  1. Yes, as long as you do it instore. Easier to buy some wine though.
  2a. Need to see what the legislation says
  2b. No. Berners Tavern will sell you a gift card for the restaurant though, apparently. Even if you find a ‘pay in advance’ rate the hotel won’t actually charge it in advance – the last 10 or so bookings I’ve done like this, inc one last night for Rhys, were not actually charged.
  - josjb3 says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 12:20
    
    Much obliged!
  - Tical says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 20:36
    
    Berners Tavern site warns “We use a trusted 3rd party supplier, SK Chase, to process our vouchers. SK Chase will appear on your credit card statement.” So online gift card will not work
- Andrew says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 12:22
  
  To answer the second part of question 1, yes if you buy something and then return it, 99% of the time Amex claw back the credit a few days after the refund.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 13:22
    
    I’ll add a caveat here, unless you are able to refund it to a different Amex card 😉
    - ao40 says:
      
      1 Nov1 November 16:54
      
      Or buy multiple items and only return part. They do not seem to take the credit back even if the returns take the remaining purchase below the threshold spend.
Andrew says:

1 Nov1 November 10:48

Hope you stacked it with the current 20% Lloyds, BoS and Halifax fund return offer *and* the in-store 10% card offer with Airtime.
- Andrew says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 10:52
  
  Oops, managed to double post my comment to Anna on page 1.
Optimus Prime says:

1 Nov1 November 10:58

Does anyone remember when it was the last 25% bonus when converting to Avios from Voldemort site?
- Nick_C says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 16:15
  
  Looking at my previous conversions, November 2019. I also converted in April and July 2019.
  
  If there is no Avios bonus by the end of the year I’ll cash out to John Lewis for 6%. Even with a 25% bonus, I’m not sure its worth paying 0.8p to buy Avios any more. I’m sitting on a huge stack which I will not be using for the foreseeable future.
  - Crafty says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 23:17
    
    Can’t cash out John Lewis purchases to John Lewis though!
Mark says:

1 Nov1 November 11:01

Has anyone struggled to get through to Virgin to book an airmile seat? Tried for 8 hours yesterday, each time I get cut off after about an hour of queuing.
- ChasP says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 11:37
  
  text works fine usually reply same day
  - 747_Brat says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 13:39
    
    I booked a miles ticket last week over the text. They were very responsive over the text, and I managed to book the ticket on the same day.
    They send you a secure link to process your credit card payments.
- Rob says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 12:03
  
  I got throught the other day in an hour. I called at 9.40pm. Whilst they say they close at 10pm, they don’t. If you are in the queue you are answered – the guy told me he has worked until 1am some days (and this is really 1am as he was a UK person WFH).
  - Mark says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 12:07
    
    Will keep trying!
- dezbez says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 13:11
  
  I got through in 35 mins yesterday about midday. Evenings after 9pm are generally probably your best bet.
  As an aside, Virgin seems to be being very flexible with points usage currently- I was 2k short and they just transferred these over from my daughter’s account. In the past they’ve been happy to transfer but they’ve only done it when it’s been for the full amount of the flight rather than a partial amount
- ChrisC says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 00:48
  
  Is there a reason why you are phoning?
  
  If it’s a straight miles or even a cash + points booking you can do it on line
Travel Strong says:

1 Nov1 November 11:15

First time my comment has posted out of sequence – and it was definitely due to me minimising the browser and using other apps between hitting Reply and hitting Submit. Lesson learnt! (On android phone)
- Jon says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 12:07
  
  Be careful if doing that – not sure whether it’s the same for Android but certainly on iPhone, if you type a reply into the text field here (or indeed on any web site, or apps eg Facebook etc) then switch out to other app(s) before submitting, there’s a good chance your text won’t be there any more when you get back. Select All -> Copy before switching away is always a good precaution 😉 Something to do with the way phones manage memory when multiple apps are open, I believe. Learnt from bitter (yet somehow often repeated!) experience 😉
David says:

1 Nov1 November 13:28

Pls advise whether BA can/must refund Avios (using 2-for-1) 25/11 LHR MIA 18/12 MIA LHR if/while flight not cancelled now leisure travel ex-UK is banned – and, if so, whether they can 1) charge canx fee and 2) hold on to seat selection fees.
- marcw says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 13:35
  
  Well, it’s not BAs problem that you, as a citizen, are not allowed to fly. You should check with your insurance company.
  Your right to ask for a full refund only applies once the flight gets cancelled.
  - David says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 15:01
    
    It’s not their fault, but it’s certainly their problem; otherwise they wouldn’t have spent the last 8 months resisting refunds, steering unsuspecting online claimants towards vouchers, extending 2-for-1’s and promoting “book with confidence”. VS didn’t charge me anything (as a Lifetime Gold) for cancelling a comparable booking before they did; but BA (where I’m also Lifetime Gold) has been ambiguous.
- Sukes says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 15:32
  
  We have to wait and see what the legislation says. It is expected to be published Tuesday, voted on by Commons on Wed in order to come into force Thurs. If it is illegal for you to take your flight which looks like it will be the case (rather than just an advisory against travel) then it can be argued that your contract for service with the airline is ‘‘frustrated’ and a refund is liable because your contract has fallen. Clearly we’re in a grey area as to whether and how this principle would be enforced however given the unprecedented situation. Google ‘contracts that cannot go ahead due to lockdown laws’ for CMA’s 28 Aug 2020 statement on the matter.
  - David says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 16:13
    
    Thanks for very helpful steer.
  - marcw says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 17:17
    
    If I buy I bought a flight to Thailand in Jan 2020 to travel next week. I cannot travel to Thailand because I don´t fulfil the criteria to enter the country. Airline still flies… am I entitled to receive a full refund because legislation has changed and now, as a *fill in country* citizen I am not allowed to enter Thailand?
    - Sukes says:
      
      1 Nov1 November 18:18
      
      Hi marcw. Airline does not have responsibility for your fulfilment of border entrance requirements.
      
      They may be flexible to let you rebook/get refund but that is not a legal requirement under EU law (eg I was offered rebook for non-refundable non-changeable flights by Etihad in Sept when Abu Dhabi border was closed to air tourists but my flight from Dublin was still operating); alternatively have a conversation with your travel insurer re grounds for refund given you booked pre classification of Covid as a known event.
      
      If your flight is from England during 5 Nov- 2 Dec then you may have grounds for refund on the basis it could be illegal for you to fly (English legislation on this is expected to be enacted Wed). For more on this google CMA statement 28 Aug 2020 or review Which? article https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/11/uk-travel-ban-qa-what-new-lockdown-rules-in-england-mean-for-holiday-and-flight-refunds/.
      
      In short – you will likely need to negotiate with your airline and/or insurer as you don’t have clear cut consumer protections to obtain a refund based on the info you have provided.
      - Anna says:
        
        1 Nov1 November 18:52
        
        It’s very interesting (to someone who hasn’t got a holiday booked!). I am wondering if the government will make it incumbent on airlines not to carry anyone for leisure purposes (similar to the current requirement to ensure pax have the right immigration status). Otherwise I just don’t see how this is going to be enforced. What’s to say your trip to Tenerife (Harry T?!) isn’t an “educational” trip to practise your language skills?
- Harry T says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 19:55
  
  Exactly, Anna. It’s very strange. They will have to become much more aggressive with enforcement and tracking if they want this to work.
747_Brat says:

1 Nov1 November 14:43

I was wondering why the daily chat thread is so silent today. It turns out all the action today is happening in the comments section of the HfP travel ban article!
- Sukes says:
  
  1 Nov1 November 15:45
  
  Yes the comments on the travel ban article has descended into a tiresome slanging match of opinions. If only we could put all the posters commenting on an island, stop them leaving, and let them fight out their differences….oh but wait….
  - Lady London says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 16:30
    
    🙂
  - 747_Brat says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 17:42
    
    Lol 😛
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    1 Nov1 November 22:18
    
    It is a funny read tho… Its kind of shocking given the education level of many HfP readers…
    - BrightonReader says:
      
      2 Nov2 November 00:52
      
      lack of education more like!
      
      I’m often shocked by the level of ignorance shown by many HfP readers!