The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 3rd November

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• Martha says:

  3 Nov3 November 14:07

  Has anyone received MR offer on any supp card?

  • TGLoyalty says:

    3 Nov3 November 14:14

    Always normally on the main card only.

    • 747_Brat says:

      3 Nov3 November 14:51

      But does the spend on the supplementary card quality for the spend target?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        3 Nov3 November 15:49

        Now that’s a good question. My last one was so ridiculous in ever went for it. I’ll know this time.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          3 Nov3 November 15:49

          I never*

        • 747_Brat says:

          3 Nov3 November 16:05

          My understanding is it should, because all the supplementary card purchases are billed to the primary card holder.

          But since only the primary card is targeted for the MR offers, it leaves it a bit uncertain. Better to put all the purchases on the primary card, where we can!

• Phil says:

  3 Nov3 November 14:16

  As of 14.00 today I have not be targeted for the Marriott £400 offer, the Harrods £100 offer, nor a MR spend/points offer. However, if I wanted; Jimmy Choo shoes (that don’t come in my size), to book a bunch of hotels in London (which I can’t because of lockdown restrictions), to get a Co-op Will (which I can’t because the offer doesn’t extend to Scotland), or any of the other pointless offers that I get continually targeted for… I’d be well chuffed. As it is, I suspect Amex are basically saying they don’t value my custom.

  Right, off to lie in a darkened room after that whinge!

  • Anna says:

    3 Nov3 November 15:07

    Don’t take it personally, it’s probably done with an algorithm and we know how accurate those are!

    • Harry T says:

      3 Nov3 November 16:53

      I heard that school students were just very bright this year and earned more A*s than ever before 😂

      • Anna says:

        3 Nov3 November 16:58

        Are you in Tenerife now, Harry? I imagine t it’s still daylight and rather warmer than it is here!

        • Harry T says:

          3 Nov3 November 17:53

          It’s very pleasant!

• AD says:

  3 Nov3 November 14:19

  Hi Guys, I need some advise please.
  My 1st class return redemption have been cancelled and downgraded to club world for the same dates by BA. They have also not refunded any Avios or taxes paid. What do you think are my best options going forward please?
  Could a request to change the travel dates in 1st class succeed? Any advise will be hugely appreciated. Many thanks

  • AD says:

    3 Nov3 November 14:22

    Also, do I need reward availability to change travel dates please. Both legs are showing as cancelled on the booking

    • Jonathan says:

      3 Nov3 November 14:47

      Are the flights cancelled (different flight number for your CW flights) or have they just changed the plane to one without First? If the former then you can request a full refund or rebook to a different date with a First cabin. If it’s the latter then you may be allowed to change dates but they don’t have to do this. You could ask for a refund or take the flight in CW & claim downgrade compensation.

      Personally I’d take the downgrade & compo for an F to J but not for J to W.

      • AD says:

        3 Nov3 November 14:50

        Many thanks for your help Jonathan. What kind of compensation could they offer please, any idea? thanks

        • AJA says:

          3 Nov3 November 15:16

          Take a look at this:
          https://www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Resolving-travel-problems/Delays-cancellations/Your-rights/Your-rights-when-you-are-downgraded/
          Bear in mind to receive a refund you will have to actually fly and claim afterwards

        • roberto says:

          3 Nov3 November 15:33

          When is the flight? Compo is only due if with 14 days.
          I had this recently , First to KUL downgraded to Club. There is no 1st to KUL looking forward so I accecpeted it gracefully and called to ask for the refund of the delta in Avios and that was done in days.

        • roberto says:

          3 Nov3 November 15:37

          And oftern there is no actual cash cost difference between First and Club when buying an award flight so you may not get any money back either.

        • ChrisC says:

          3 Nov3 November 18:13

          Roberto the reimbursement for a downgrade under EU261 is based on the price of the ticket you bought not the fare difference between cabins

          For a long haul flight you would get 75% of the price you paid (excluding proper government taxes and airport fees) for the downgraded sector’

          There is no compensation for a downgrade but reimbursement.

  • yorkieflyer says:

    3 Nov3 November 15:45

    i am in exactly the same boat

    • AD says:

      3 Nov3 November 20:13

      Many thanks AJA, roberto and ChrisC. Looks like accepting the downgrade is the most gracious option

• Tri87 says:

  3 Nov3 November 15:44

  Given lockdown (and highly likely extension beyond December) as well as the unlikely case that Marriott/Amex extend the £400 beyond Dec, the million dollar question for those who haven’t yet redeemed the offer:

  How are you planning on taking advantage of this offer? I’m not too keen on having a £400 meal at Berners Tavern…are hotels still accepting bookings for non-work reasons? How will the rules be enforced? I still see availability and rates for several hotels (JW Marriott being my target).

  Am sure given the creative bunch you all are someone has figured something out….

  • Rob says:

    3 Nov3 November 16:07

    A friend of mine has booked into the JW tonight even though he doesn’t need to. His view is that he can spend exactly up to £400 with a bit of food charged to the room and get a large slug of Marriott Bonvoy points. He is not confident of things reopening before 19th and is happy enough with a meal and the 10,000 points (£400 – VAT = £381 = $488 = 4,880 base + 2,440 Plat bonus + 2,500 promo bonus).

    If, as I suspect, Marriott is doing this to hit 2020 minimum income guarantees promised to the hotels, it won’t be extended beyond the year end.

    Some hotels are remaining open in London. If you say you are staying on business, it’s fine. Whether any on this list are open I don’t know. The Westbury is now shutting for a long time, as it is bringing forward the renovation it was planning for the New Year.

    (Just checked – 32 Marriott hotels are showing rooms for next Monday. JW Marriott is still around £250. No food will be available, of course, except possibly room service. If it comes down to it, I’ll book a room-only nearer to 19th December at the rate which gets me closest to £400, do a mattress run and take the 10k points. As I can sleep in my own house I’m not breaking any rules!)

    • meta says:

      3 Nov3 November 16:19

      I’ve rebooked Langley for 17-18 Dec. My view is they might end lockdown that close to Christmas. If not able to use it in the end, I will use it as a leverage to ask Amex for an additional retention offer. It will be at least worth a try even if they don’t budge.

      I don’t need those extra points that badly either given all the cancellations this year and possibly more cancellations in the new year.

    • Tri87 says:

      3 Nov3 November 17:53

      Think I’ll do the £250 rate at some point next week….may do 2 nights and happy to spend £100 to take time off and do something different! Even if it involves deliverooing dinner and exercising by walking around parks.

• James says:

  3 Nov3 November 15:46

  I’ve received a get £200 off £200 spend on onefinestay on my Amex? Anyone knw how to optimise it? Thanks.

  • Charlieface says:

    3 Nov3 November 15:58

    Call up and split payment across a few cards. Barring that, forget it as they have 2-night minimum stays

    • Amar says:

      3 Nov3 November 17:25

      I’ve enquired and due to COVID, all London stays are now 6 nights minimum 🙁

  • Rob says:

    3 Nov3 November 16:03

    You can’t. This has been on Plat cards for over a year with no ideas. They have high prices and high minimum stays. Someone said Bali is the only place they allow one-night stays, so you could have one night in Bali for nothing ….

• Dan says:

  3 Nov3 November 16:07

  Lots of reports on Platinum CMs getting spend X amount get Y MR points. Any Gold CMs have similar offers too?

  • Rob says:

    3 Nov3 November 16:17

    Yes, my wife has one – but a silly one.

• vol says:

  3 Nov3 November 16:15

  Just to say thanks @Raffles for the heads up re: £17.50 gig at Ibis Styles Kensington.

  We were upgraded to a “standard” room from a box room due to status.

  It’ was a simple hotel, but just *something* different to do before lockdown. Very clean (and quiet).

  Hotel staff were lovely 😊

• Aliks says:

  3 Nov3 November 16:31

  I’m curious about the exact wording of the lockdown legislation. Anyone know when and where this will be published?

  • Harry T says:

    3 Nov3 November 16:52

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1200/pdfs/uksi_20201200_en.pdf

    • 747_Brat says:

      3 Nov3 November 16:59

      Unless I have missed it, it doesn’t say anything about the international travel ban!

      • Anna says:

        3 Nov3 November 17:12

        I haven’t read it but I did say a couple of days ago that it would be incredibly difficult to enforce and I could see them quietly dropping it. It won’t stay quiet though, because if people are actually allowed to travel there is going to be outrage from people and businesses who have cancelled travel.

    • Rob says:

      3 Nov3 November 17:02

      No mention of travel, as far as I can see, except to the extent that you would breach other parts of the restrictions (eg being with other people). The word ‘travel’ does not even occur. The word ‘aircraft’ only occurs in other contexts eg doing stuff on aircraft in UK airspace.

      • 747_Brat says:

        3 Nov3 November 17:07

        Exactly Rob! There is also no mention that the UK borders would be closed. That means airlines can fly in and out, I believe.

      • A says:

        3 Nov3 November 18:11

        Regulation 5(1) prohibits a person from leaving (or being outside) the place where they are lviing without reasonable exclude. A non-exhaustive list of circumstances that are reasonable excuses is set out in regulation 6.

        If you leave home (or are outside home) for the purposes of travel abroad, I suspect the position of HMG is that you have left or are outside the place where you are living without a reasonable excuse and so are in contravention of Regulation 5, and so committing an offence under Regulation 20.

        • Aliks says:

          3 Nov3 November 18:34

          I think a few hotels in Tenerife will be organising business training courses . . . . .

    • Anna says:

      3 Nov3 November 17:03

      Are you there now Harry? Hope it’s a bit warmer than here! Are you staying at the RC Abama? I’m pondering that for my Easter Plan C if the Caribbean and Abu Dhabi don’t go ahead. Probably be absolutely extortionate then though.

      • Anna says:

        3 Nov3 November 17:10

        Though I’ve just had a look and with the meal packages they are offering, it’s actually not that bad!

      • Harry T says:

        3 Nov3 November 18:34

        Hey @Anna, I’m doing five nights at the Sheraton and six nights at the RC – thought it would be more interesting to mix things up a bit. I’m using the HJH rate.

        • Anna says:

          3 Nov3 November 19:00

          Ooh lovely didn’t realise it was a proper holiday as opposed to 3/4 nights! Keep us posted.

        • Optimus Prime says:

          3 Nov3 November 19:06

          The RC is very nice, we stayed there 2 years ago. My favourite restaurant was Txoko, I’d love to go back sometime!

          I remember the gym was quite good too, they even had an outdoor section with a squat rack.

        • Harry T says:

          3 Nov3 November 20:38

          @Optimus – good to know, I’m looking forward to it.

          @Anna – we were meant to go for six nights but we decided to book new flights and go early to avoid the lockdown and the covid testing. Gf’s birthday is next week so it’s a trip for that.

        • NHS hero says:

          4 Nov4 November 10:17

          Hardly a health hero Harry

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