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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 19th 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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Comments (319)

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

  • Toppcat says:
    19 Nov19 November 06:33

    Thanks again for to those of you who helped me with my complaint to BA and request for rerouting flight refunds after they cancelled my flight back from SEZ. We are now back in London, and Emirates J wasn’t too much of a hardship!

    BA have unsurprisingly refused my request to pay for re-routing via Dubai, and are sticking to only offering a refund (and £25 towards my several hundred pound phone bill)… I have asked if that is their final response, and if so we will head off to CEDR/MCOL…

    • BS says:
      19 Nov19 November 06:40

      You will win at CEDR, open and shut under EC261 rerouting requirements.
      Ensure you charge all your phone bills/time (make sure you provide the bill!), as well as lost avios (charge BA their own full commercial rate for buying them), as well as any refreshments/hotel bills required etc.

      • Lady London says:
        19 Nov19 November 09:48

        plus include 8% pa statutory interest pro rata on the total you claim, until full payment reaches your account.

        It’s not do much the legalities- BA are corporately trying it on and abusing people in this way – but the fact that British Airways abandoned you away from home, knew they had done this and couldnt give a to$$ that means they deserve to pay every penny you can claim.

    • The real John says:
      19 Nov19 November 07:47

      Why did you spend several hundred pounds on phone bills? If you have internet access at a hotel just get Skype, set to UK and call the 0800 number free

      • Toppcat says:
        19 Nov19 November 08:03

        WiFi was a bit glitchy. We did try that, but calls kept dropping – very frustrating when on hold. Mobile signal was pretty poor, so we were left with the hotel phone – hence the cost.

      • AJA says:
        19 Nov19 November 08:08

        Excuse my ignorance but my Skpe location in my profile is set to GB. Does the Skype app automatically reset location depending where you are? So if i changed it to USA would I be able to call tollfree US numbers for free even though I’m physically in the UK?

        • marcw says:
          19 Nov19 November 08:28

          Yes, you can call toll-free us numbers via Skype, free of charge

          • AJA says:
            19 Nov19 November 08:34

            Thank you. I never knew that! You learn something new every day. Good to know. I have lived a charmed life as I’ve never needed to do this before 🙂

          • Nick_C says:
            19 Nov19 November 09:55

            Not a fan of Skype. I use “Ringo” to call toll free to the USA.

    • Zark says:
      19 Nov19 November 07:49

      Toppcat,
      Booked to Seychelles in January ,so hoping …
      Where did you get your PCR test done at 48 hours before flight departure?
      How long did it take for the Seychelles authorites to turnaround your application and issue a travel health authorisation?
      Any other things to watch out for?
      Thanks

      • Toppcat says:
        19 Nov19 November 08:08

        Happy to help. We got the PCR test done with Concepto Clinic. Their Canary Wharf clinic isn’t in Canary Wharf, and is a bit grim, but we got the test results back in about 12hrs. I think it was £200 each.
        http://www.conceptoclinic.co.uk/

        We were a bit tight on time, so paid for the rapid authorisation turnaround by the Seychelles, and got a response in about 20 mins. Shouldn’t have bothered though – speaking to others on holiday turnaround was max a few hours on the standard submission.

        Don’t think there is anything else to watch out for, other than BA cancelling your flight home on the first day of your holiday…

        • Lady London says:
          19 Nov19 November 09:58

          OK, in that case if your holiday was, say, 10 days and you had to spend the equivalent of a day not able to do local tours/ lie peacefully on your sunlounger due to BA putting you in this panic-causing position on the first day of your holiday for the equivalent of what? a day? more? on how many days was your holiday disturbed due to having to deal with this? 10-20% based on number of days of your holiday, uplifted by a further day’s wort
          h due to the overall lack of inability to enjoy your holiday overall due to having this shadow cast over it.

          This was not a bucket and spade week in Malaga this was a serious luxurt holiday where you were meant to relax and BA spoiled it.

          CEDR can award what’s reasonable so go for it. Plus the 8% on the total.

          • Toppcat says:
            19 Nov19 November 10:47

            @Lady London – That’s interesting. In reality we cut the trip short by one night in order to get back the same day as our original flight (as the connection in Dubai meant that the total travel time was about 60% longer). Plus, as you suggest, we spent (say) one full day of of our holiday trying to contact BA and resolve this issue / stressed about it before we reached our own resolution.

            Are you saying that CEDR could award me the cost of 1-2 nights of the trip, plus the 8% statutory interest, on top of the legally required EK flights and phone bill?

            I’m not normally inclined to take the mick on these sorts of things, but BAs behaviour has been so appalling, specifically just refusing to engage with their legal obligations and leaving us to work out how to get back from SEZ by ourselves, that I am inclined to stick them with every cost I can… Not least as it is the highest hotel bill I have ever paid!

          • ChrisBCN says:
            19 Nov19 November 14:15

            Topcat, I would say itemise out all these things –

            cost of 1-2 nights of the trip
            8% statutory interest
            legally required EK flights
            phone bill
            Additional compensation for the wasted days you were calling/worrying

            Stick the whole lot in and good luck!

      • Bob says:
        19 Nov19 November 11:56

        fyi UK is now labelled a category 2 country by Seychelles as of last week so you now have to spend first 6 nights in ‘quarantine’ and not 5 as was the case before.

        2.Visitors from Category 2 countries are required to spend the first (6) six nights in a designated establishment and may not leave the premises and must strictly adhere to all the conditions in place at the establishment.

        3. A repeat PCR test will be performed on the 6th day. If the test result is negative, the visitors will be free to continue with their planned holiday and follow terms and conditions outlined as per the Category 1 permitted countries.

        • Toppcat says:
          19 Nov19 November 14:13

          One more thing, actually, which may or may not be relevant. PCR tests for tourists are typically done in the morning, and you are free to leave your hotel if you don’t hear back with a +ve result within 24hrs. As such, you would be fine to book a change of hotels for your 7th night. This is what we did, and it worked out well.

          Obviously if you do test +ve then all bets are off in any case!

          • Tracey says:
            19 Nov19 November 20:15

            Does this mean a one week holiday with a very early flight home, may leave you with insufficient time to get to the airport for your return flight?

    • tical says:
      19 Nov19 November 11:52

      I am in a similar situation and, papers filed with MCOL and BA is defending the case (just got the papers) – so prepare yourself for a fight. BA have also refunded me avios and taxes for flight that was cancelled, which I did not ask for

      • Toppcat says:
        19 Nov19 November 14:15

        That’s interesting – I am up for a fight on this one!

        How similar is your situation to mine?

  • Mo says:
    19 Nov19 November 06:58

    Does anybody know what limits are when funding the Rev bank with Beardy?
    What amounts would be considered safe, especially on a regular basis?

    Also, would it be safe to immediately use this money to deposit into ISAs and the like, or will they shut you down quickly for this?

    • Maciek says:
      19 Nov19 November 07:06

      Beardy have slapped me with cash advance fee for rev…

    • Toppcat says:
      19 Nov19 November 07:16

      I would say that’s the kind of thing that Revolut will shut you down for pretty quickly. I have had warnings in the past for transferring out funds to builders etc, and financial services companies looks even more like cash recycling…

      • KBuffett says:
        19 Nov19 November 07:20

        Why are they warning you for paying builders? Is it because it looks like large amount are coming in and going out to personal accounts?

        • Toppcat says:
          19 Nov19 November 07:36

          Indeed

        • Toppcat says:
          19 Nov19 November 07:46

          Also because you cost them money. They pay fees when you top up using a CC, but don’t make anything on the other side if you just transfer out the cash as a bank transfer. If you use your card to make payments, at least they will make a bit of money and might be a bit more lenient.

          • Mo says:
            19 Nov19 November 13:53

            As many ISA/Investment providers can be paid through debit card, do you think Rev will be more lenient on that too or will it look too much like MS?
            Happy to do it regularly in smaller amounts, thinking that doing that once a month may make it more palatable for them?

        • The real John says:
          19 Nov19 November 07:49

          They don’t like it if your CC topups are regularly transferred out by bank transfer. If you paid builders using the card they wouldn’t be concerned about that.

  • Mike says:
    19 Nov19 November 07:18

    Why the censorship and removal of ability to comment on Heathrow scraping free travel zone ? I like the HfP free speech

    • Brian says:
      19 Nov19 November 07:37

      It’s probably just a glitch rather than “censorship” or anything to do with “free speech”

      • Blenz101 says:
        19 Nov19 November 07:45

        Indeed. If anything should have had the comments turned off it was the Nutmeg article.

        Rob has always been pretty open about the commercial realities of running this website. The comments which have appeared are entirely predictable, repetitive from when the product last appeared and add zero value to anybody reading them.

        • BS says:
          19 Nov19 November 07:54

          Almost as if the Nutmeg article was predictable, repetitive from when the product last appeared and add zero value to anybody reading it…

      • Rob says:
        19 Nov19 November 08:07

        Weird. Hang on …

        EDIT: Now fixed. Absolutely no idea how the ‘allow comments’ box got unticked at our end, sorry.

    • memesweeper says:
      19 Nov19 November 08:47

      @Mike

      Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity 🙂

      • Rob says:
        19 Nov19 November 09:33

        This isn’t stupidity either 🙂 The box you need to untick to block comments is in a place where it is tricky to do by accident. All very odd!

      • Chris Heyes says:
        19 Nov19 November 09:44

        lol lol

    • Dan says:
      19 Nov19 November 09:34

      The second strange comment you’ve made about being Left wing/censorship in two days.

      • Rob says:
        19 Nov19 November 09:41

        There is no free speech on here and we apologise if we have ever given that impression 🙂

        If you are constantly posting random drivel / offending other posters / causing general offence / generally not doing your bit to make the world a better place at this difficult time then you will find your posting privileges removed.

        • AJA says:
          19 Nov19 November 10:44

          Rob, That is an attitude I fully endorse. People let’s be civil to each other. By all means disagree but there are ways and means of doing so without causing offence. 🙂

        • Olly says:
          19 Nov19 November 12:01

          Good to hear that Rob. I have noticed far too many negative comments being made on HFP over the last year or so compared to when I first enjoyed the site over 5 years ago (may be more but my memory isn’t what is should be) Lots of whingers, moaners and never satisfied types. It has put me off reading comments on a lot of things, which is sad because the comments section is where a lot of good advice can be found.

        • Super Secret Stuff says:
          19 Nov19 November 12:26

          I like the social responsibility. I applaud it. No doubt you will get some abuse for it tho.

        • The Savage Squirrel says:
          19 Nov19 November 13:52

          Bravo Rob. Dunno what external links are allowed, but here’s the perfect summary of for anyone who quotes “free speech” after their comments were deleted on an internet site or group.
          https://xkcd.com/1357/

  • Amit says:
    19 Nov19 November 07:46

    Amex platinum business, any way to use the £200 credit back to business for one large purchase or gift cards? Not sure if buy online, collect in store will work?

    • Rob says:
      19 Nov19 November 08:06

      No, seems not – best option is to order some £20 video games and eBay them …..

      • BP says:
        19 Nov19 November 08:25

        I got a good return from buying FIFA 21 and reselling to CEX. Currys had(has?) a £5 off voucher which made it more profitable. I think I was making £11 a game. Collected all orders from Currys and had pre-completed the CEX sales form online. Handed the games over in bulk and cash was in my bank a few days later.

        • Rob says:
          19 Nov19 November 08:30

          Thanks. Have just started ordering a few games in so will see if Cex is easier.

          Should be 1 hour of my life max so if I clear £100 will be happy.

        • Dave says:
          19 Nov19 November 09:12

          This probably won’t be as profitable now as Fifa 21 has come down in price considerably in the last few days

  • Sam 1.0 says:
    19 Nov19 November 07:52

    Could do with some advice on amex offers,

    I have held many cards in the past and offers then to populate fine but the offers have been less generous the last few months and I seem to get all the generic crap but none of the good stuff (Farfetch £120 credit, MR Porter £100/£75 credit etc) I did redeem these in the past consistently as they cropped up so not sure if that is why I don’t get them anymore…

    I had to get the harrods offer manually added to my harrods amex (£75 off £200) recently, the agent advised it wasn’t targeted so she could request back office team to add and I did not have to kick up a fuss

    My most recent platinum card opened 3/4 weeks has no offers expect for Qatar which appeared a few days after my card was activated, theres been a good amount of spend on it c.£6k?. I recently closed my gold credit card which seem to be the main card where the offers went to.

    My question is what should I do to trigger something in the system? order a new card? create a new online account and register my cards?

    Thanks

    • BS says:
      19 Nov19 November 08:11

      I think others have reported that removing it from your online account, setting up a new account with new login, and then adding it to this account will work.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      19 Nov19 November 08:26

      The only real formula to keep getting offers is to make sure you use the cards often.

      • Richmond_Surrey says:
        19 Nov19 November 09:59

        My husbands didn’t use his, but he did a few transactions when Amex sent a letter that they will close it. He tends to get better offers than I do on my cards, which are used all the time.
        He also gets Morrisons and Waitrose offers which I don’t get. I’m second card holder on his account, so when there’s good promo, I add it to my card and use it.

      • Nick_C says:
        19 Nov19 November 10:41

        I’m not sure it’s that simple.

        I have a supp on my partner’s free BA card. That account has had an average spend of £120 a month for the last 4 months, but I’ve got 48 offers on it.

        Most of our spending is going through my BAPP; £900 a month average. I’ve also got the ARCC which I only use if I get an offer on it. Average spend over the last four months has been £70 a month. I’ve had offers for Tesco, Co-Op Food, and Morrison’s on the ARCC but not on the BA card. I’ve also got spend £200, get 200 points.

        So I think the offers come if you use a card, but use it lightly.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          19 Nov19 November 11:43

          It’s deffo not simple. Also targeted offers are usually targeted to people who don’t use Morrison’s et al often or at all

          It’s deffo not a simple formula but if you don’t use it at all don’t expect lots of offers to turn up.

  • Mr(s) Entitled says:
    19 Nov19 November 07:53

    Which is a shame because JetBlue operate numerous international flights covering most of the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America.

    But speaking of comments, I am sure it has been mentioned elsewhere, but why do they now lag so badly on my mobile device?

  • pacman says:
    19 Nov19 November 08:00

    Loyalty Lobby is reporting that business class redemption tickets on Qatar will no longer include lounge access.

    • Peter K says:
      19 Nov19 November 08:47

      Mentioned in comments yesterday as well. Was in an Oz blog first, apparently.

      • Rob says:
        19 Nov19 November 09:33

        But it isn’t true, as David Flynn’s comment on here (which got caught in spam so I only just released it) confirms.

  • pauline says:
    19 Nov19 November 08:02

    What is the possibility that BA will further extend expiring 241’s. I have 2 expiring next August which I am not going to be able to use

    • AJA says:
      19 Nov19 November 10:49

      How long is a piece of string? August 2021 is still a long time to go. Why are you not going to be able to use them? Can you not use them for short haul? I know this is not the best value but I would still rather do that than lose them entirely. And quite frankly a short haul Club Europe ticket with RFS fee of £50 per pax is still a bit of a bargain.

      • Rob says:
        19 Nov19 November 11:10

        I think, given that we are looking at the first vaccines being given within 4 weeks, expecting further concessions is a bit risky.

        I get a feeling that Hilton may be regretting its decision to cut Diamond qualification to 30 nights next year, especially as it is rolling over this year and offering double credits. OK, 2021 will still be far worse than 2019, but Hilton is now massively inflating Diamond ranks for 2022.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          19 Nov19 November 11:45

          Think you’re over estimating the global effect of these RNA vaccines in the short term.

          • Rob says:
            19 Nov19 November 12:57

            Heavily into ‘it depends’ territory here, aren’t we? Especially in terms of whether countries will allow you in with no restrictions if you can show a certificate of vaccination. This will probably depend on whether you can still be a transmitter even if immune.

          • Mike says:
            19 Nov19 November 21:50

            Vaccines MUST be compulsory. There can be no other way. Anyone without a vaccine MUST be refused travel/hotel stays.

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

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