The HfP chat thread – Sunday 8th November

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• Graham says:

  8 Nov8 November 10:28

  Does anybody have experience of this? I opted for a FTV for a flight to London originally booked for the end of October. I then rebooked for the end of November. Lockdown then happened of course and BA have now cancelled the flight.

  Am I now entitled to a cash refund or just another voucher? If I have to take the voucher it’s fine I’d just like to know my options prior to calling. Any knowledge on this would be great.

  • Matt says:

    8 Nov8 November 11:33

    I used several FTVs to pay a holiday deposit. The holiday destination (Jamaica) was put on the “all but essential travel” list, at which point I got a cash refund without any problem.

    • Matt says:

      8 Nov8 November 11:34

      I should add that the FTVs were refunded by bank transfer, not to credit card

    • Graham says:

      8 Nov8 November 22:42

      Thanks for that! I’ll give them a call.

• Mco says:

  8 Nov8 November 10:56

  Had a flight on Finnair booked through Avios for Lapland which got cancelled today.

  I know that BA are rebooking you regardless of avios availability on their metal. What are my options for AY metal flights. There is no avios seats left so what will they rebook me on ? It’s for middle December so more then 14 days.

  The Manchester flights have some paid seats open on the same dates. Will they rebook me onto that?

  • Anna says:

    8 Nov8 November 11:08

    14 day issue is irrelevant except for compensation which is suspended anyway at the moment. You are entitled to re-routing regardless of how you paid for the flights. I would call them and try and negotiate a re-route on your preferred airlin, but be prepared for BA to try and tell you otherwise. If that’s the case you might have to book new flights and claim back.

    • Mco says:

      8 Nov8 November 11:56

      Thanks Anna. I will call them and ask for other options. In that case a friend had his Male flight cancelled for December. Can he ask BA to move him to QR, EK or EY who are still flying there? If they refuse and he rebooks is it a 100% chance that he will win a small claims court case even if they claim Covid as the reason for cancellation?

      • ChrisC says:

        8 Nov8 November 12:20

        In your lapland case they should just rebook you. Avios availabilty (or not) should only be a factor if you chose to change dates, In your case the airline cancelled and they should rebook you as per EU261.

        With your friends Male flight they are more likely to rebook you to QR as it’s another One World airline than the others especially in the case of an advance notice cancellation.

        I wouldn’t be as confident as some are that MCOL would rule in your favour if you went ahead and booked elsewhere and tried to claim the cost back from BA.

        • Mco says:

          8 Nov8 November 12:33

          Thanks ChrisC & Anna

        • Anna says:

          8 Nov8 November 12:50

          If BA refused rerouting you would be absolutely within your rights to book an alternative and claim it back – several people on here have had success with this.

        • meta says:

          8 Nov8 November 13:13

          Yes, BA will settle before MCOL hearing. They don’t want this to be ruled on, so they can continue denying rights to passengers.

          According to Flyertalk yesterday, BA is not willing to reroute on Qatar for Male flights, but policy might be evolving so better check the latest on FT.

        • Lady London says:

          8 Nov8 November 17:49

          yes you must always give the airline that cancels your flight whatsoever they are supposed to provide, before you arrange it yourself with the intention of claiming.

        • Lady London says:

          8 Nov8 November 17:52

          ….give the airline that cancels….*the chance* to provide…. before

          btw if you paid by uk credit card less painful if BA refuse might be to do a section 75 claim on your credit card as unlike chargeback.this would mean your card credits you any higher cost of replacement fare necessary.

        • A says:

          8 Nov8 November 18:22

          Re: @LadyLondon’s response – just a note that the liability of a credit provider under a section 75 claims does not extend to EU261 rights – those are rights given by statute. Section 75 claims are only for contract and some tort (negligence) claims. The sale of goods statutory rights are covered by section 75 because the sale of goods statutory rights are implied into contracts. EU261 rights are not. So do not rely on being able to bring a section 75 claim vs credit card company for EU261, especially if you are worried about airline solvency

• Buster says:

  8 Nov8 November 11:57

  Long time lurker- first post. Have benefitted greatly from the advice on this site.

  This may have been discussed recently? I have the old Hilton Visa card. The points for October have not posted. Before I try to chase, has anyone else had this issue? Thanks in advance.

  • Rob says:

    8 Nov8 November 13:03

    Everyone in the same boat it seems.

    • Buster says:

      8 Nov8 November 15:11

      Thanks for that! Glad it’s not just me!

  • Anna says:

    8 Nov8 November 13:09

    Yes it seems to be affecting most card holders and apparently is going to take 6 – 8 weeks to resolve!

• Ronald Jeremy says:

  8 Nov8 November 12:14

  This is now getting silly. These questions come up almost daily, many have said this ad infinitum. Don’t bother booking anywhere for leisure until the New Year. Save yourselves time, effort, and the inevitable heartache, and aggravation getting refunds and associated disappointment.
  By then there will either be a viable vaccine (unlikely) or the powers that be, will have to see sense and allow us to become adults again. Make our own decisions whether to travel based upon our personal circumstances and make our own risk assessments and therefore take personal precautions accordingly.

  • Mco says:

    8 Nov8 November 12:33

    Why wait till after New Years? What if some of us have made this decision already?

  • Boon says:

    8 Nov8 November 13:38

    “Don’t bother booking anywhere for leisure until the New Year….. By then there will either be a viable vaccine (unlikely) or the powers that be, will have to see sense and allow us to become adults again.”

    Are you on SAGE, that you have certain authority that by “new year”, that booking travel would be 100% certainty of not being cancelled, but not before?

    By offering the advice of “its safe from new year onwards” aren’t you also in the same boat as everyone else a few months back, who had booked for Nov/Dec, predicting that it will be OK by then? Pot, Kettle, Black.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      8 Nov8 November 20:48

      Like sage have any idea when a viable vaccine will be available for even a small subset of society let alone when travel will be back on the cards.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        8 Nov8 November 23:00

        SAGE is probably the best people to ask to make a guess out of the entire population, however weather their message gets out or is reciebed how intended is a different topic

  • Nick_C says:

    8 Nov8 November 17:26

    “Make our own decisions whether to travel based upon our personal circumstances and make our own risk assessments and therefore take personal precautions accordingly.”

    As long as you accept that if you do catch Covid, you do not expect to be treated by the NHS at the expense of other people, I think that approach would be a sensible one.

    • Capt Hammond says:

      8 Nov8 November 19:25

      What a nonsensical response, Nick. Wind your neck in

      • Nick_C says:

        8 Nov8 November 20:54

        In English please?

        Actually, don’t bother. You seem incapable of arguing your point (whatever it is)

        • Capt Hammond says:

          9 Nov9 November 10:17

          Your comment about the NHS is nonsense. If we follow this through logically, people who live unhealthy lifestyles and have a heart attack shouldn’t be treated by the NHS, someone who is doing 35mph in a 30 zone and has a crash wouldn’t be treated, etc,etc. The NHS isn’t there to dispense it’s services based on ethical judgements

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      8 Nov8 November 22:57

      To put it mildly, politically difficult but I 100% agree with your point. However many people on here seem to be hell bent on winter sun at any costs, even if that means killing your grandad / aunt / vulnerable relatives/ GP / nurse that treats you.

      Utterly irresponsible which is why we have these rules in the first place! Some people just don’t get it.

• Mco says:

  8 Nov8 November 12:35

  On a separate note. Does Amex charge their annual fees monthly when you come to cancel or daily? My monthly date is tomorrow so thinking if I should cancel to save the £50 or if I can wait a few more days for some more points to post.

  • MarkH says:

    9 Nov9 November 02:01

    Daily

• A270 says:

  8 Nov8 November 12:39

  I booked a non refundable rate with Hilton in January. During lockdown they announced all reservations for stays till 31st Augusts could be cancelled for a full refund and my stay was in late August. My flights got cancelled and I requested a refund via email (as advised by Hilton when I called) and someone from the hotel confirmed. However, sneakily, later on they marked it as a no show/late cancellation. Hilton are being extremely difficult about it. I’m not racist but all the replies for my case are coming from a call centre type location in South East Asia and they have completely lost me. I sent them my credit card statement but the amount in dollars is 100 quid less and my bank and it’s being offered by Hilton as a cheque (as the hotel is not responding) and I will be charged for depositing a USD cheque. No compensation at all and this has been going on for almost 3 months. I know the advise here was to do a charge back (paid by Amex Platinum) but since the hotel has slyly marked it as no show/late cancellation, will Amex honour it? I have an email showing I requested it weeks before the stay but it was a non-refundable rate and will Amex look into Hilton’s offer then to refund all stays. Just so frustarted by it all.

  • A270 says:

    8 Nov8 November 12:41

    Apologies for the typos. Typed too quickly.

    • meta says:

      8 Nov8 November 13:03

      Presumably you have written proof from Hilton that everything will be refunded?

      My experience. I know it is not the same, but I did a chargeback to Amex for a flight booked (and cancelled) with Expedia where they confirmed they will refund (full amounts) within 12 weeks. 12 weeks later no refund. Contacted Expedia, they said no refund is due only voucher. I then did Amex chargeback and submitted email confirmation of refund from Expedia (full amount, no admin fees deductions). No questions asked by Amex, money was back in my account. Expedia had until 2 October to dispute, but have not done so.

  • Harry T says:

    8 Nov8 November 13:51

    If you have proof in writing that Hilton would cancel your stay and refund you in full, then just initiate a charge back with Amex and provide the aforementioned evidence. I’ve done similar for Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic flights where they refused to refund my cancelled flights – no argument from Amex. It’s one of the reasons I’m loyal to amex – I know they have my back when other companies try to screw me over.

• Boon says:

  8 Nov8 November 12:59

  Q on Virgin Miles to Hilton Points transfer.

  Anyone do it earlier this year, and how long did it take? Looking to book a Hilton redemption but needing to do it quickly (i.e. within a few days).

  • Rob says:

    8 Nov8 November 13:01

    Can be slow, if I remember they transfer once per month?

  • Benilyn says:

    8 Nov8 November 13:23

    It took more more than a few days, i think closer to 7 days or so

• Benilyn says:

  8 Nov8 November 13:22

  London to Male Maldives direct with BA schedule- any ideas what it will be like for Winter 2021? And historically it was J only, but they released some F, is that plan for F in 2021?

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